Foundations and entities that contributed recently to Maui County community nonprofits and others are as follows:
* The Haiku Elementary School Garden recently received a $20,000 grant from the Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. to expand the school's organic garden started by Robin Imonti and other members of the Haiku community. John Kondo, the regional corporate community manager from Scotts, said that the company wanted to give the gift "to further enhance this wonderful organic garden" and applauded the program that "involved the children in something positive and productive."
Jenna Tallman, Haiku School Garden coordinator, said that they are going to use the funds to rebuild all the raised beds in the garden and for a tool shed and a germination room. "The students love to work in the garden, and we can create areas for them to journal and keep track of garden growth," she said.
Article Photos
Carolyn Suzuki (from left), Galen Nakamura, Dawn Tongi, Darby Gill and Lady Lynn Maga appear at a check presentation for A Keiki’s Dream, which received $5,000 from the Weinberg Foundation through the Maui High School HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) program.
* 9th Life Hawaii has won a $1,000 prize in the first round of voting in The Animal Rescue Site's 2012 $300,000 Challenge in conjunction with Petfinder.com. The Makawao cat sanctuary got the most votes in the state during this stage of the contest.
* The first annual Empty Bowl Project on April 14 at Star Noodle raised $5,000 for the Maui Food Bank. Star Noodle and the Maui Organization for the Ceramic Arts came together to help support the food bank. Party attendees were able to purchase handcrafted ceramic bowls made by MOCA members, with the proceeds donated to the food bank.
The Empty Bowl Project is an international grass-roots project to help fight hunger.
* The Maui Economic Development Board was awarded $10,000 during the recent Auwahi Wind farm blessing.
Half of the money will go toward early placement of Auwahi Wind farm in the newest version of the Clean Energy STEM Hawaii iPad app. This includes an identified "pushpin" map location and brief description of the wind project.
Another $5,000 will be dedicated to the Native Hawaiian translation of the wind renewable energy module in MEDB's Island Energy Inquiry curriculum for teachers and students.
In addition, Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, the developers of Auwahi Wind, pledged to serve as a sponsor for the third consecutive year at the annual MEDB Ke Alahele Education Fund dinner in August. The money goes to support science and technology grants and programs.
* The Maui High School HOSA (Health Occupations Students of America) presented a $5,000 check to the A Keiki's Dream program at its annual HOSA banquet. The students through the "Educating the Heart" program, sponsored by the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, learned about the work of A Keiki's Dream and Ka Hale A Ke Ola Homeless Resource Center, facilitated a child-directed Dream Day for children from the shelter and then were able to present the check from the Weinberg Foundation to A Keiki's Dream to pay for more "dreams come true."
* Patagonia awarded a $5,000 grant to the Save Honolua Coalition to continue funding port-a-potties at Honolua Bay for the next 10 months.
The coalition also received a $500 donation from Silverscreen Alta Productions Inc. to pay for April's port-a-potty services.
The Save Honolua Coalition is raising money for land acquisition at Honolua as well as management. All donations are tax deductible and can be sent to P.O. Box 11904, Lahaina 96761.
