Yamaguchi adopts Hawai'i foundation
By Kapono Dowson
Advertiser Staff Writer
For years, Olympic gold medal ice skater Kristi Yamaguchi's Always Dream Foundation had supported many groups with grants of $5,000 to $15,000. But the group yearned to do more than just give money.
Hawai'i Centers for Independent Living
"We wanted to adopt a program, embrace it as well as support it," said executive director Dean Osaki.
Olympic gold medalist Kristi Yamaguchi meets with Mark Obatake, executive director of Hawai'i Centers for Independent Living, to plan for this week's youth camp.
From the area that the foundation serves — California, Nevada and Hawai'i — it chose the Hawai'i Centers for Independent Living and its Youth Development Empowerment Program.
The goal, Osaki said, is to help the Hawai'i project be self-sustaining after three years.
The group will receive $60,000 each year for two years. with the possibility of renewal in the third year — the largest grant that the foundation has ever awarded. And the foundation, along with the Hawai'i Centers for Independent Living, will operate a special camp this week at Camp Erdman on O'ahu's North Shore to help 60 children and to promote awareness of the Youth Development Empowerment Program and build community support.
Thirty children with disabilities and 30 children without disabilities will begin a four-day integrated camp tomorrow. The participants, ages 11 to 18, will sleep, eat and play together. They will share secrets and dreams and watch the stars and have the best opportunity to make friends, said Mark Obatake, executive director of Hawai'i Centers for Independent Living.
"You know that in camping, it's not the place or the activities — it's the dynamics of the relationships among the individuals that make it meaningful," Obatake said. "We want to create an experience that deepens understanding between all the participants."
The camp will be star-studded. Yamaguchi and her husband, hockey player Bret Hedican of the Carolina Hurricanes, will be volunteers there. Olympic gold medalist and cancer survivor Scott Hamilton will be on hand. Members of the musical group Hiroshima will teach taiko drumming.
Honolulu's retired police chief Michael Nakamura will give a pep talk, Obatake said. Yamaguchi's father, Jim, will be there as a volunteer, along with her brother Brett and his bride, Michelle, who will be ending their Maui honeymoon to help out.
Most of the young participants at camp will be from O'ahu; six youths will be from the Neighbor Islands.
The children come from public and private schools, Shriners Hospital and other programs. Some of the youths have cognitive difficulties; some are amputees; others have cerebral palsy or spina bifada.
Besides 30 volunteer counselors and two paid staffers, there will be a volunteer support staff of 30 who will provide medical and safety support to the the young campers and assist some in basic functions such as eating, bathing and using the restroom.
The mission of the Hawai'i Centers for Independent Living is to promote independence and full community integration for individuals who have disabilities. Its year-round Youth Development Empowerment Program targets young people with disabilities, Obatake said.
The program offers classes in cooking, money management, housekeeping, transportation and interpersonal skills. There are social and recreational activities available to help bring the young people out of isolation, Obatake said, and participants can take on leadership roles.
Hiroshima will give a benefit performance for the youth program at the Hawaii Theatre on Friday. Tickets are still available, but the Always Dream Foundation's benefit dinner on Saturday is sold out, said Osaki.
Anyone interested in the Hawai'i Centers for Independent and the Youth Development Empowerment Program may call 522-5400.
Reach Kapono Dowson at kdowson@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8103.
