Hawai'i's kindness and generosity reached new heights in 2007.

Thanks to hundreds of generous donors, The Advertiser Christmas Fund raised $254,057.42 for the needy, beating the 2006 total by $39,540 and setting a record. The old record, set in 2005, was $220,861.

"I always get nervous this time of year, and every year it's just better and better," said Maria Chomyszak, program manager at Community Clearinghouse. "People come through, and they're generous. And this year is just outstanding."

Nearly 1,760 people donated money to the fund between Thanksgiving and last week. The Advertiser's "secret Santa" also matched the first $25 of every donation to the fund. The anonymous philanthropist gave $41,326 in 2007, up from $32,600 in 2006.

The fund received a few large donations, including $5,000 from a woman in memory of her late husband and $10,000 from a foundation. The average donation was $121, up from $111 in 2006.

People also donated goods for the needy, from clothes and books to beds and washers.

The Advertiser undertook new efforts in 2007 to boost donations, including partnering with KGMB-9 television, which featured a needy family every week after Thanksgiving.

The Advertiser also collected $5,500 at the Dec. 1 University of Hawai'i football game with the help of Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona and KGMB's Ramsay Wharton and Grace Lee. And Advertiser employees were encouraged to make their donation go twice as far with Gannett employee donation match forms.

All the money from the fund supports the Community Clearinghouse, which not only helps brighten the holidays for the needy but provides emergency financial and material assistance to thousands of families and individuals throughout the year. The year-round program depends primarily on money raised during the holiday season.

People in the Islands responded to the call for help.

Schools adopted needy families, and second-graders handed over their allowance money to help children who had little. Businesses and organizations pooled their resources to buy families items such as toys, diapers and even furniture.

In all, people dug deep into their pockets to help others.

"KGMB-9 is very proud to be part of this effort," said KGMB news director Chris Archer. "From our point of view, to be able to read these stories in The Advertiser and then see these families and their needs come to life in our newscasts was very powerful, and clearly the very generous state of Hawai'i has responded.

"We would get calls almost immediately of people wanting to donate an item that the family wanted."

Honolulu Advertiser president and publisher Lee Webber said: "It's just so heartwarming to see the outpouring of ... aloha from the community to the people in need, and the fact that we exceeded last year by almost $40,000 is just amazing. It really does show the spirit of aloha in Hawai'i and how people really do care about each other in this state.

"We just thank everyone from the bottom of our hearts for their contribution to this worthwhile cause."

RECENT DONATIONS TO THE ADVERTISER CHRISTMAS FUND

Secret Santa $41,326.50

Willis & Anna Pflugh $2,000

Kathryn & Ned Weldon $1,000

William & Joyce Hunt $500

Ashley N.M. Ching $360

Dept. of Education, Central District Office Annex $285

Chantel-Juleanne Liu $250

Kin & Lenore Ching in loving memory of Jane K. Hu $200

Joy & Adam in loving memory of George & Rachel Kagehiro $200

J S Omonaka $200

Michael Betz $150

"The Machine Shop" at Hawaii State Hospital $100

Abby Brown-Watson & David Watson $100

Stanley Chang $100

Walter Chong $100

Patricia Field $100

Ann Freed $100

Roger & Ruby Fujioka $200

Pepito & Estrella Guevarra $100

Lea & H. John Heide $100

B. Franklin & Carolyn Jackson $100

Dennis & Helen Klein $100

John Kotake $100

Jolene & Samuel Nakamatsu $100

V.P. & I.S. Tengan $100

In memory of Quirino & Dorothy Puzon $100

Kelly & Kym Lopes $75

Aloha Airlines Airports, Cargo, Contract Services & PSA $60

Matthew Chong $50

Bruce Clark & Diane Kelly $50

John & Jeanette Hoag $50

Tracy Kiyabu $50

Paulette Leong $50

Rodney & Lena Matsumoto in memory of Hideo & Kiyoko Muramoto $50

Rodney & Lena Matsumoto in memory of Isao & Etta Matsumoto $50

F. Miyamoto in memory of Isa $50

Judy Murata $50

Keith, Eileen & Kylie Sakoda $50

Sunset Homes LLC $50

Charles & Lillian Tamabayashi $50

Judith & Wendell Weatherwax $50

Kenneth & Julie Yoneda $50

Frank & Debra Flores $40

Honu12 and son $40

Jeanne Warner $35

Marketing Services Dept. at Hawaiian Electric Co. $30

Michael & Wendy Sorakubo $30

D.W. & S.A. Duelks $25

Alan R. Gano $25

Kerry & Percy in memory of Leo $25

Jenny, Shawn & Zander Mida $25

Larry & Pat $25

In memory of Robert C. Souza & Walter Halloran $25

Carl Robertson $25

Rose Stewart $25

Nancy & Stephen Takashima $25

Ethel Yamamoto $25

Andrew Yiannakos $25

Anonymous $1,000

Anonymous $500

Anonymous $100

Anonymous in loving memory of Miyuki & Travis Hosaka, Dean Morita & Sharnell Onaga $50

Anonymous $40

Anonymous $25


Total $ 50,971.50

Previous total $ 203,085.92

Total to date $ 254,057.42

Reach Lynda Arakawa at larakawa@honoluluadvertiser.com.