The Hawai'i High School Athletic Association's "SOS" call for help in fund-raising for public school athletics is being answered at a blistering pace.

The drive — named "SOS" or "Save Our Sports" — received an additional $95,000 yesterday thanks to a $70,000 donation by Great Aloha Run/Carole Kai Charities and $25,000 from DataHouse. That pushes the total amount raised to more than $525,000, just six days after the effort kicked off with an announcement July 28.

HHSAA executive director Keith Amemiya said the large donations have been complemented by a steady stream of individual donations ranging from $25 to $1,500.

"The response has been overwhelming," Amemiya said.

Amemiya announced the effort last week with donations totaling $430,000 from the Clarence T.C. Ching Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank, Bank of Hawaii, the GIFT Foundation and Amemiya and his wife, Bonny.

The money will go toward public schools hit by budget cuts that reduced their total state allocations by more than 35 percent.

"We want to be sensitive and responsive to what is going on in the community," said Kai, co-founder of the Great Aloha Run. "I want to thank our board — Larry Okinaga, Randy Hiraki, Jean Hagi, Mike McCartney, Robin Campaniano, Mar Labrador, Hans Strasser ... We talked about it and we all agreed we want to support Keith and the schools."

Amemiya said Carole Kai Charities already has contributed more than $100,000 to the HHSAA Foundation through proceeds from the annual Great Aloha Run, which is billed as the state's largest participatory fundraising activity.

Likewise, DataHouse — a Honolulu-based high-tech consulting firm — has contributed tens of thousands of dollars to the HHSAA through sponsorship of softball and wrestling state tournaments, and building and maintaining the HHSAA Web site.

"They've been with us from the start," Amemiya said.

DataHouse chairman Dan Arita said he was inspired by last week's kickoff announcement and wanted to get involved quickly.

"We looked at what a great event this is, and there is a lot of good feeling about it," Arita said. "I see the need, and we've got to keep the ball rolling. We hope to set an example for other businesses and individuals to keep the momentum going."

To contribute, make checks payable to "HHSAA SOS Account" and send it to HHSAA, P.O. Box 62029, Honolulu, HI 96839.

First Hawaiian Bank branches also will serve as collection points for donations (checks only) through Sept. 30.

The Advertiser plans to publish names of donors and the amounts given, similar to The Advertiser Christmas Fund, every week. Anonymous donations will be listed as such.

For more information, call 587-4495.