WAILUKU - More than 1,200 walkers raised $266,524 at Saturday's Visitor Industry Charity Walk.
The event marked the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association's 31st year of giving back by sponsoring what has become a popular fundraising event. Walkers gathered Saturday at the War Memorial Soccer Field, where they enjoyed a morning of exercise, camaraderie, food, prizes and entertainment.
The bulk of the participants were visitor industry workers, nonprofit agency employees and business representatives.
The top individual fundraiser was Mitch Mitchell, representing Hale Makua. He collected $10,375 in pledges. The Royal Lahaina Resort earned top honors for a hotel property, bringing in $25,242.
The business raising the most funds was Oceanic Time Warner with $3,000. Hale Makua won for the second time the distinction of nonprofit with most money with $29,710.
"We are proud to host this annual fundraising endeavor. The Charity Walk represents the visitor industry's commitment to giving back to the community - all monies raised in Maui County stay in Maui County," said Carol Reimann, executive director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association.
"Our ability to provide for Maui's nonprofits, especially during these tough economic times, is a direct reflection of the integrity and philanthropic conviction of the fine businesses in the visitor industry," Reimann said. "Our island continues to raise more funds per capita than any other island in Hawaii."
The Visitor Industry Charity Walk is a statewide event that takes place simultaneously on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. This year, the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association also hosted a walk on Molokai.
The Charity Walk is one of Hawaii's largest single-day fundraisers, with thousands of walkers raising more than $1 million to benefit charity.
The 2010 Visitor Industry Charity Walk will be held May 15.
