PO‘IPU — The rains, thunder and lightning from overnight Tuesday could not overshadow the excitement at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa. Doug Sears, the general manager of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, turned over a check for more than
PO‘IPU — The rains, thunder and lightning from overnight Tuesday could not overshadow the excitement at the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i Resort and Spa.
Doug Sears, the general manager of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i, turned over a check for more than $24,000, representing contributions from the employees of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i.
Scott Giarman, executive director for the Kaua‘i United Way, was ecstatic, being joined by Lynnette Medrano-Stine, the Kaua‘i United Way Campaign and Community Services Coordinator, in accepting the contribution.
Giarman said the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i contributions to the Kaua‘i United Way 2012 Annual Campaign is more than double its contributions from the prior year.
“This contribution represents the second largest single employee group to the Kaua‘i United Way Campaign total, ever,” Giarman said. “We are tremendously grateful for the fantastic support for our community demonstrated by Doug Sears, his management team and the entire staff of the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i. It is so wonderful they see themselves as such an integral part of our community.”
Sears said in his recollection, he believes the $25,000 contribution is the largest made by the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i employees.
He said employees contributed more than 95 percent of the total contributions instead of having the resort having to fundraise.
The Kaua‘i United Way campaign, prior to the Grand Hyatt Kaua‘i contribution, was at 67 percent, or $428,553, of its goal of $635,000, according to the thermometer on the KUW website.
Kaua‘i United Way is an independent, Internal Revenue Service-certified nonprofit organization, which has been dedicated to serving the social service needs of the entire island since 1943.
Money raised on Kaua‘i, stays on Kaua‘i, Giarman said.
As the island’s umbrella charitable organization, KUW provides an easy and powerful way for anyone with an interest in helping Kaua‘i’s people make a big impact in the community.
Visit www.kauaiunitedway.org or call 245-2043 to help the thermometer reach its goal, or for more information on the Kaua‘i United Way.