Grants
Advertiser Staff
$10,000 goes to Star Poets
The Starbucks Foundation has awarded Windward Community College a $10,000 literacy grant for its popular Star Poets program, which encourages creative writing through poetry.
The grant will be used for a series of poetry workshops led by teacher-writer Susan Lee St. John at public schools and other sites on O'ahu for students, teachers, parents and the general public.
Participating schools include Pauoa, Kapunahala, Ka'iulani, Makaha, Linapuni, Sunset Beach, Hokulani and Salt Lake Elementary, Wai'anae, Dole and King Intermediate, Kahuku Intermediate and High, and Kaimuki High.
"Our goal is to build on the enthusiasm generated by the Star Poets contest and reach more students of all ages," said Windward Community College Provost Angela Meixell.
"We want to encourage creative writing and thinking as well as provide a way for Hawai'i's students to share their island experience.
The grant also enables WCC students interested in teaching and community service to assist the poet-in-the-schools program for college credits and classroom experience.
Bank charity helps Marimed
Marimed Foundation has been awarded a grant of $5,000 from First Hawaiian Foundation, the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank.
The grant will support Marimed's education programs.
Marimed has been providing ocean-oriented residential treatment and educational services to Hawai'i's at-risk youth since 1990. Culturally aligned ocean-based activities are designed to build life skills through challenges.
Women project gets $75,737
A Hawai'i program with a successful track record of preparing women for high-tech jobs has received a $75,737 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to expand its two-year program.
The Women in Technology Project has been awarded one of 11 grants totaling $1,000,000 from the U.S. Department of Labor that help employers and unions establish apprenticeship programs, recruit women and help overcome barriers to women in nontraditional jobs.
Under the initiative known as Women in Apprenticeships and Nontraditional Occupations, the grants will help provide technical assistance to employers and unions that develop strategies to increase the employment of women in apprenticeship and nontraditional occupations.
OHA provides for Wai'anae
Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii has been awarded a grant of $35,000 from the Office of Hawaiian Affairs for their PowerUp program in the Wai'anae area.
OHA allows the Waianae Clubhouse of the Boys and Girls Club to provide daily access to the PowerUp program to more than 60 youth members, 70 percent of whom are of Hawaiian or part-Hawaiian ancestry.
"Two years ago we didn't have technology centers at our clubhouses. Through grants from organizations such as the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, our youth members now have access through the PowerUp program to bridge the technology gap, allowing them the opportunity to realize their full potential as productive, responsible and caring citizens," said David Nakada, executive director of Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii.
Camps receive Weinberg help
A $200,000 grant from The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation will help support Easter Seals Hawaii Camps for children of ages 7 to 20 with disabilities or special needs.
Easter Seals Hawaii President and CEO, John Howell stated, "The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation recognizes the importance of camp for children with special needs. Kids just want to be kids and a camp experience should be available to every child. For our kids at Easter Seals, we know that camp will help each one reach his or her personal level of independence."
Easter Seals Camps offer outdoor activities, camaraderie and an opportunity to build self-confidence. Skills to strengthen independence are also emphasized. For many campers this experience is their first time away from home.
Camp is a component of the Youth Services program at Easter Seals Hawai'i.
In addition, Youth Services provides a supervised program during nonschool hours for school-age youths with special needs. This program is therapeutically oriented with emphasis on the development of social, recreational and self-help skills. Participants take part in arts and crafts, music, sports, games and computer learning. Special activities such as the Ropes Challenge, therapeutic horsemanship, community outings and enrichment programs are also offered.
