The September 11th attack
Charities finding no lack of aloha
• Graphic: Hawai'i gives to charity
By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer
The people who plead for donations in Hawai'i suddenly found the rules of fund-raising rewritten after Sept. 11.
Foundations that historically take their time to review requests for donations instead have given hundreds of thousands of dollars without being asked. Employees who traditionally donate to organizations such as the Aloha United Way are now lining up for services themselves.
At the same time, money continues to flow into organizations such as the Honolulu Symphony, which meets a vital community need but does not deal in such basics as food, clothing and shelter.
But one thing has remained consistent.
In a state that historically gives more proportionally than the Mainland, somehow the people who can least afford to give continue to do so.
Victoria Suyat, director of development for Catholic Charities of Hawai'i, recently received an envelope containing three $1 bills, eight quarters, two nickels and two dimes.
"Somebody must have banged open their piggy bank," she said.
On the outside of the envelope, in a child's handwriting, was the message: "God bless America."
"I get $1 bills all the time," Suyat said. "A $1 bill here, and a $1 bill there. They all add up. I can't say that people aren't being generous and giving what they can, because they are."
The Sept. 11 attacks led to a catastrophe for Hawai'i's economy, triggered by massive layoffs and an unprecedented demand for social services.
Fund-raising officials worried about the dual effects that a weakened tourist economy and thousands of unemployed workers would have on donations. Aloha United Way officials projected a $1.2 million shortfall until the family of sugar baron James Campbell donated $538,850 last week.
Today, fund-raising groups aren't sure what the new fund-raising picture looks like.
No one has taken a comprehensive look at donations from the major groups — individuals, businesses and foundations since Sept. 11.
But on Nov. 15, more than 200 fund-raising officials are scheduled to meet at the Honolulu Academy of Arts to compare their experiences and perhaps come up with a plan.
"I'm not surprised that there's a mixed message," said Irv Lauber, president and chief professional officer for the AUW. "It's the nature of the beast. Community response, even under the best conditions, is not consistent."
Some groups are finding success.
Hawai'i Public Radio met its fund-raising goal of $347,000 two days early. Catholic Charities is just $1,000 short of its $10,000 summer goal.
Perhaps the nicest surprise since Sept. 11 has been that major foundations such as the James & Abigail Campbell Estate have offered hundreds of thousands of dollars without being asked, Lauber said.
"It's really kind of unprecedented," he said. "This is just very, very heartwarming and special. I've never seen anything like it, to be perfectly frank."
At the same time, Lauber worries about the loss of untold employee donations through company-led AUW campaigns. Together, the individual contributions make up nearly 65 percent of the annual AUW drives, Lauber said.
"The very people who supported United Way are now the people who need the services," he said.
In a 1999 study, the Hawaii Community Foundation found optimistic threads running through Hawai'i's philanthropy.
Eighty-eight percent of Hawai'i households contribute to charities each year, compared to 69 percent on the Mainland, the study found. Hawai'i households combine for a half a billion dollars worth of donations — half of which goes to churches.
The Hawaii Community Foundation, a nonprofit organization that gives $12 million per year, could not determine how much foundations, trusts and businesses donate.
Today, the feeling is that businesses, in particular, have cut back on giving, said Kelvin Taketa, president and CEO of the Hawaii Community Foundation.
"Business people are trying to keep their people employed," Taketa said. "Every discretionary dollar they have is going to survival."
But people in Hawai'i still are finding ways to give, Taketa said.
"People here feel very connected to the community," he said. "And now is a time when they want to reaffirm those community values."
David Earles, president of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Aloha Chapter, sees the sentiment in "the tons of $5, $10 gifts. That's where Hawai'i's strength is," he said. "Everyone here is generous."
Suyat said the spirit of Aloha is why donations continue to flow in.
"That's just what it is," she said. "People are just more compassionate here. You can call it 'ohana, you can call it the spirit of the family. It's all the same thing."
Reach Dan Nakaso at 525-8085 or dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.
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