Fund-raising struggle subject of workshop

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

HILO — The Big Island United Way is sponsoring a workshop in December for nonprofit agencies facing fund-raising challenges from recent events.

"Strategies and Survival Skills in a Challenging Economy" will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Dec. 5 in the Kilohana Room of the Hawai'i Naniloa Hotel.

Nonprofit groups are suffering from falling revenues as their usual pool of donors struggle with the economic downturn caused by the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

The United Way in Hawai'i County is inching toward the halfway point in its $1.34 million campaign that started in June. The fund-raising rate is about 8 percent behind last year's pace, said campaign chairwoman Alberta Dobbe.

Some major hotels have asked to put off United Way campaigns because of recent layoffs and talk of wage concessions.

"It's going to be a real challenge but we still hope to make it," Dobbe said.

Meanwhile, the Hawai'i Island Food Bank is struggling to keep up with the demand for more than 5,000 pounds of groceries daily. The Salvation Army is reporting a 56 percent increase in demand for emergency food, and requests for assistance from the East Hawai'i Coalition for the Homeless are up 30 percent, officials said.

They said the situation will only worsen when federal rules cause almost 300 Big Island families to lose their welfare benefits.

Other sponsors of the Dec. 5 workshop are KTA Super Stores and T&T Electric Co. The cost is $60, which includes lunch and materials.

The deadline for registration is Monday. To register or for details, call (808) 935-6393.