Large gifts aid Island charities

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawai'i's social service agencies had been struggling to meet a sudden and unprecedented demand for help when they finally got a boost of good news yesterday with the gift of nearly three-quarters of a million dollars.

The descendants of sugar baron James Campbell met last week to consider the plight of Hawai'i's needy and announced yesterday that they are giving $538,850 to the Aloha United Way campaign, which was $1.2 million behind in contributions.

The James & Abigail Campbell Foundation also is donating another $194,000 among the Hawai'i Foodbank ($50,000), Institute for Human Services ($50,000), Salvation Army ($50,000), Child & Family Service ($24,000) and Helping Hands Hawai'i ($20,000).

On Tuesday, the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation also gave $50,000 each to Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Honolulu, Hawai'i Foodbank, Helping Hands Hawai'i, Institute for Human Services and Salvation Army.

Grateful social service officials stood behind a makeshift podium of black, plastic milk crates at the Hawai'i Foodbank yesterday and said they hope that others are inspired to give.

Hawai'i's network of social service agencies already were struggling when the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks led to more than 11,000 layoffs in Hawai'i.

"Our economy has been literally devastated," said Irv Lauber AUW president. "We have thousands of newly unemployed people. ... There's an unprecedented demand for additional services."

The donation from the Campbell family members will cover nearly half of the AUW fund-raising shortfall. AUW's overall goal this year is $13.6 million.