KALAHEO — Seven months ago, under its Adopt a Class program, Aloha Angels set out to raise sufficient funds to award $700 to each of the homeroom teachers at Kauai’s 13 public elementary schools.
On Wednesday, at Kalaheo Elementary School, that goal was achieved. Aloha Angels President Ric Cox told 21 teachers there that each would receive $500 for classroom supplies and $200 for a field trip.
Teachers greeted the news with applause, cheers and even tears.
“Thank you,” several shouted.
That faculty meeting was the 12th and final stop on a good will tour Cox began on July 23. At each school, he delivered the good news, while wearing his furry white halo.
All told, Aloha Angels awarded $157,500 to all 225 teachers at the 12 schools. Cox credited the generosity of 78 donors, whose gifts ranged from $5 to $56,000.
“As a Rotarian, I am proud that 75 percent of the money raised for Adopt a Class was donated by Kauai’s five Rotary clubs and their members,” he said.
The largest gift came from the Rotary Club of Kapaa Foundation, from reserves it had accumulated from Taste of Hawaii, its annual fundraiser. That foundation adopted all 48 classes at Kapaa Elementary and all 21 at Kekaha, two of the island’s neediest schools, plus 11 at other schools.
“For several years, we’ve been looking for an exciting program to support in a big way,” said Jim Saylor, who heads up the foundation. “We decided that Adopt a Class was it. This is a wonderful way to support teachers in their efforts to inspire every student.”
Kapaa Rotary’s foundation contributed an additional $48,000 to other Aloha Angels programs, for a total gift of $104,000.
Other major contributions to Adopt a Class from Rotary clubs and their members include $44,000 from Hanalei Bay, which adopted classes at several schools, and $17,000 from Poipu Beach, which adopted all 20 classes at Koloa plus three at Kula Aupuni Niihau.
Donations totaling $24,000 were received from 20 businesses. The biggest corporate gift was $10,000 from Saltchuk Hawaii, which adopted 14 classes at Kalaheo.
The individual who adopted the most classes — four at Kalaheo — was Paul Horner, general manager of The Club at Kukuiula.
“The children of many of our employees attend Kalaheo,” he said. “This is one way I can show them, and the teachers, how much they are valued.”
Teachers are using their Angel funds for a variety of things, including hiring buses to take students on outings, buying pencils and notebooks, funding subscriptions to print and online materials, iPads, a biological projection microscope and other science equipment and, for each of two kindergarten classes, a tank for two turtles.
“Angel funds make the difference between bare bones and an exceptional classroom,” one teacher said.
To Cox’s disappointment, Angel funds he raised never made it to the 13th school. The principal there declined the $20,000, insisting that his teachers don’t need more money.
Cox said just as important to the success of the program are donors who follow their money into their adopted classroom.
“Our happiest donors are those who tutor an hour each week,” he said. “Some have done so for four years.”
Through its donor advised fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation, Aloha Angels has raised $326,000 since April 1. Already, $230,000 has been distributed to fund its eight programs. Among the largest grants awarded were $18,000 for after-school clubs at five schools, $23,000 for Growing Our Own Teachers and $25,000 for Junior Achievement classes at four schools.
Key goals for the 2016-17 school year are re-adopting all 225 teachers and funding more after-school mentoring clubs. Their ultimate goal is to give away $1 million every year.
“Our best hope of achieving that breathtakingly bold goal is to enlist the support of philanthropic individuals and institutions with ties to Kauai,” Cox said. “We are reaching out to wealthy business people and celebrities. Opening their hearts, and their checkbooks, to help Kauai’s vulnerable keiki is the dream, and the challenge, that gets me going every day.”
Info: AlohaAngelsFund@gmail.com, or Facebook.com/AlohaAngels.
