Grants, awards
Advertiser Staff
Longs Drugs in Hawaii has donated more than $10,000 to the American Red Cross as part of the national effort to assist victims of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Gerald Saito, senior vice president and Hawai'i District manager of Longs, said the donation resulted from the sale of more than 8,000 American flags in Hawai'i since mid-September.
"The response was overwhelming," said Saito. "At one point, we actually ran out of flags."
Longs also has been selling three varieties of American flag t-shirts. A portion of the revenues will be donated to the relief effort.
• The American Lung Association of Hawai'i received a $15,000 check from the Building Industry Labor Association to sponsor the Association's Asthma Sports Camp.
The camp is held annually to help children learn to live normal lives in spite of their asthma.
"Children especially need to know that their asthma should not get in the way of leading a normal life, and the camp gives them confidence," said Peter Flachsbart, President of the Lung Association.
Activities at the camp include sports clinics, arts and crafts, excursions and educational sessions about asthma.
Co-sponsors of this year's event were Bank of Hawaii and the HMSA Foundation.
• The Victoria S. and Bradley L. Geist Foundation has awarded $11,5000 to Easter Seals Hawaii for development and implementation of a Fetal Alcohol Syndrome/Effects Diagnostic Clinic in Hilo, Hawai'i. Also involved in the project are Casey Family Programs, March of Dimes, Department of Health Public Health Nursing, Malama A Hoopili Pono Project and other agencies in East Hawai'i.
Fetal alcohol syndrome is a term given to a group of physical and mental birth defects caused by women drinking during pregnancy. It is an irreversible, lifelong condition that affects every aspect of a child's life. Children with FAS may have problems with learning, memory, attention span, problem solving, speech and hearing.
The Big Island has a disproportionate representation of social problems in the state, particularly in the area of substance abuse. Without the help of expertise on this issue in East Hawai'i, the exact magnitude of this problem is unknown. Part of the money will enable a team of delegates to receive training in the diagnosis of FAS.
• The Waipahu Community Foundation has awarded the following quarterly grants: $324, Girl Scout Troop 699; $2,477, Girl Scout Troop 157; $3,900, Cub Scout Pack 167; $1,160, Jr. Girl Scout Troop 694; $2,975, Waipahu Jackrabbits Association and $1,000, Nova Community Foundation.
• The Jessie Ann Chalmers Charitable Trust recently gave the American Cancer Society $4,000 for the 2001 Families Can*Sur*Vive Program, an annual family retreat for children newly diagnosed with cancer, their parents and siblings. The retreat offers education, guidance, support and referral services to every family of a young cancer patient.
