Posted on: Thursday, April 10, 2008
HELPING HAND
Hawaii Self Storage offers charity-donation rent option
Advertiser Staff
Hawaii Self Storage has added a new program to its Community Pride outreach initiative that gives its customers the option to donate their first month's rent to the non-profit organization of their choice.
With an average of 300 new customers a month at Hawaii Self Storage locations in Pearl City, Salt Lake and Kaimuki, and lockers ranging in price from $50 to $580 per month, "these donations could really add up for local non-profits," the company said in a news release.
"As a locally owned company, we've made it our mission to help the community, and we support programs aimed at enhancing literacy, education and teamwork among Hawaii's youth," said Daniel Ho, Hawaii Self Storage president.
As part of its outreach program, Hawaii Self Storage also:
Has provided more than $109,000 in $1,000-a-year renewable scholarships for graduating seniors to apply to their higher education costs for up to four years.
This year, students from Mililani and Kapolei are also eligible to apply, since two new locations are expected to open in these areas this summer.
Collects books every fall to benefit Hawaii Literacy's Book Mobile, which serves the Wai'anae Coast, by offering customers a $2 credit for every donation. Last fall, Hawaii Self Storage's three locations collected more than 4,000 books and educational games.
Provides two books to local public school first-graders to promote literacy. With every new locker rental, Hawaii Self Storage donates $2 from its profit to this fund. With lockers turning over an average of once a year and a total inventory of nearly 5,000 lockers in the three facilities, Hawaii Self Storage expects to purchase more than $9,000 worth of books in 2008 for 15 elementary schools.
Sponsors two youth athletic teams per storage location, donating approximately $4,000 per facility to the sponsored teams. Hawaii Self Storage in Kaimuki made a $1,500 donation to help the state Division I high school champion boys' basketball team, the Kaimuki Bulldogs, in 2007.
Partnered last year with the Lokahi Giving Project, through with people can donate — goods, cash equivalents, enriching experiences, and advocacy — to help struggling individuals and families.
Hawaii Self Storage is an official drop-off location for the well-known project, raising awareness of the business location while giving back to the community by storing these much-needed donations during the fundraising drive.
