Christmas Fund sets record
Advertiser Staff
In a year marked by personal uncertainty and economic turmoil in Hawai'i, The Honolulu Advertiser Christmas Fund raised a record $181,218.64.
Thanks to the generosity of readers and the thousands of people who took part in the annual Jingle Bell Run, donations to The Advertiser Christmas Fund surpassed last year's total of $105,000.
Proceeds from the Jingle Bell Run totaled $15,312.93. The largest single donation came from an anonymous Santa who matched the first $25 of each donation.
"Santa's" donation exceeded $28,000.
"The willingness to help others and share what we have is what makes Hawai'i such a special place," said Advertiser staff writer Rod Ohira, whose stories chronicled the needs of many struggling to make ends meet.
All of the money raised went to Helping Hands Hawai'i, which works with 171 agencies serving the needy statewide with donations of goods and contributions of services.
Among the groups assisted are Catholic Charities, United Cerebral Palsy, Healthy Start Wai'anae and Child and Family Services.
