Car wash aids good cause
by brian mcinnis Andrew Shimabuku | The Honolulu Advertiser
Directors, CEOs and presidents rolled up their sleeves and got busy scrubbing, polishing, and helping out for a good cause in Nu'uanu yesterday.
About 35 volunteers — including six or seven bigwigs — spent their hours in the midday sun washing cars and raising money for the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific's "Make Your Boss Wash Your Car" fundraiser.
Proceeds from the event, estimated at more than $2,000, went toward the hospital's Louis Vuitton Creative Arts Program for disabled people.
The workers, represented primarily from the MW Group, Communications Pacific and Nordic Construction, washed about 56 cars during the four-hour session.
"It was definitely a success," said event coordinator Denise Nakano, 35, who works at Diamond Head Theater. "We're thrilled with the turnout and how much money we raised."
Nakano said the event raised more than $500 more than last year, the first year it was tried. She said the money will be used for brushes, paint and other art supplies that are needed.
Tickets — sold at $10 for cars, $15 for SUVs — were distributed to employees of the various businesses beforehand so they could come down and enjoy watching their bosses go to work.
Steve Metter, chief executive officer of the MW Group, was hard at work scrubbing an SUV with with his two daughters.
"It's one of those super feel-good things," Metter said. "You can just give away money anytime — this is much more fun."
MW also put aside an additional $20 for each hour its 25 volunteers put in.
Volunteer Colin Yokoyama, 36, of the MW Group, was taking a break in the shade while Metter and MW managing director Tom Ocasek scrubbed away.
Yokoyama smiled at the situation.
"It encourages all the employees to get out here, and help the community where we can," he said.
Other executives who participated included: Mike Wood of MW; Glen Kaneshige and Ken Spence of Nordic Construction; Kitty Lagareta of Communications Pacific; Ko Miyataki of the Rehab Foundation; and Stuart Ho of the Rehab Hospital.
Advertiser Staff Writer
Greg Wood of the MW Group polishes a wheel of a car that had just been washed during the "Make Your Boss Wash Your Car" fundraiser in Nu'uanu. About 35 volunteers washed some 56 vehicles during the four-hour event, which raised more than $2,000.
Glen Kaneshige, an executive at Nordic Construction, washed a car during the Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific's fundraiser. Proceeds benefited the Louis Vuitton Creative Arts Program for the disabled.
