Sixteen Hawai'i non-profit organizations will benefit from $100,000 as part of the NFL Charities Pro Bowl Grant Program, the NFL announced yesterday at a special Pro Bowl Kickoff Rally in downtown Ho-nolulu.

For more than a decade, NFL Charities has provided grants to Hawai'i-based groups. The organizations undergo a rigorous application process and must be focused on youth programming, education and physical fitness.

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii Inc., Friends of the Library of Hawaii and HUGS (Help, Understanding & Group Support) each received $10,000. The Waikiki Community Center, the Waikiki Health Center and Hawaii Children's Cancer Foundation each received $7,500.

Earning $5,000 each were: Honolulu Armed Services YMCA, Education-1st Hawaii Inc., Girl Scout Council of Hawaii, Special Olympics Hawaii, YMCA of Honolulu/Camp H.R. Erdman, Ohana Komputer, Making Dreams Come True/Valley of Rainbows Inc., and KAMP Hawaii. Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii and Lighthouse Outreach Center AOG received $4,000 each.

CHARGERS

KIEL AVOIDS JAIL TIME

San Diego Chargers safety Terrence Kiel pleaded guilty yesterday to felony and misdemeanor drug charges for shipping codeine-based cough syrup to Texas, part of a plea bargain that could allow him to avoid jail time.

Kiel was ordered to do 100 hours of volunteer work, including talking to young people about the dangers of drugs, and undergo counseling for gambling.

If he does that before his Aug. 7 sentencing and doesn't break any laws, the felony conviction will be dismissed and he'll be placed on probation, said San Diego County Superior Court Judge Stephanie Sontag.

Kiel was in court, but didn't speak. He also didn't comment afterward.