Posted on: Sunday, January 21, 2007
Women's Fund works to improve hard lives
Advertiser Staff
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HOW TO HELP
The Women's Fund of Hawai'i needs volunteers and contributions. Information: womensfundhawaii, or call Sara Buehler, executive director, at 954-9653.
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Women's Fund of Hawai'i, the only grant-making entity dedicated solely to supporting organizations that help women and girls of Hawai'i become safe, financially secure and empowered, has made a fourth round of grants. Totaling $20,000, the grants fund a range of projects from providing healthcare to women on Lana'i to the purchase of educational textbooks to a special ladies' night out.
"There is a growing awareness among women that they can directly impact programs that help women and girls through the Women's Fund of Hawai'i," said Sara Buehler, executive director of WFH, in a written statement. "We are getting more and more women volunteering to help, and our fund is growing."
"The need is still greater than our support, but we're getting there thanks to the more than 400 women who are now joined together in this effort. We see that our grants are making a difference and it is an incredible incentive for doing more," stated WFH chair Gwen Pacarro.
Grant recipients for 2007:
$5,000 to Moloka'i General Hospital's Rural Health Clinic for its pilot project, the Lana'i Women's Center. WFH is providing increased funding to expand Rural Health Clinic hours on Lana'i. The goal is to decrease teen pregnancy and improve women's health.
$5,000 to Ka Hale Ola Makamae, a native Hawaiian case management service that uses traditional native practices and cultural values to stabilize the health and well-being of HIV-positive Native Hawaiians. Funds will be used for a new HIV education program for Native Hawaiian girls, ages 13-22. HIV-positive women will share their experiences at Wai'anae Intermediate and Kailua Middle Schools.
$4,176 to Kualoa-He'eia Ecumenical Youth Project. A workshop series will teach the girls how to stay physically fit, eat well, dress well and provide information on career options from various professionals. Overall goals are to increase self-esteem and confidence.
$3,762 to Legal Services for Children for the Wai'anae Women's Book Bank for Higher Education. One of the major obstacles for indigent women completing their education is the high cost of books. The majority of the women in this community college program are Native Hawaiian single parents who are raising their children and working outside the home. The purchased books will be saved for future generations of students.
$2,200 to Women of Wai'anae for a workshop series to encourage and help Wai'anae Coast women who are currently in or considering school.
WFH awarded these grants in conjunction with the endowment housed at the Hawaii Community Foundation.
