When Yoshiko “Dimples” Kano reflects on 20 years of being the driving force behind The Garden Island/Zonta Club Christmas Fund, she says one word sums up things up: “Grateful.”
“Not everybody and everyone gets this kind of experience,” she said. “I take a lot of warm feelings with me on this. I’m really grateful I’ve had the chance to work with the community.”
She paused during a phone interview with TGI on Friday, then added, “I want to thank everyone after all these years for the help.”
Despite friends urging her to rest, to take it easy, Kano was determined to remain involved with the program that has helped thousands of people and raised over $100,000 in the last five years.
But at 94, even she says this is her final year of being involved. Not that she hasn’t said that exact thing before. This time, she says she means it.
Really.
“I’m in my 90s. It’s time I step down,” she said.
The Zonta Club of Kauai began on April 1, 1952, and in the ’80s added the Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, a nonprofit for fundraising. All Zonta Clubs are a member of Zonta International, active in 63 countries with over 30,000 worldwide. The mission statement of the club is to empower women through service and advocacy. Zonta International celebrated its 100th year Nov. 8.
In the 1980s, Zonta Club of Kauai partnered with TGI to publish stories — with the information provided by social-service agencies — about their clients’ needs, so they could have a brighter Christmas.
Through Christmas Eve, The Garden Island shares daily, front-page stories about families (we don’t use their real names) facing challenges and who would appreciate a little help.
The Christmas Fund is an avenue for everyone to provide that assistance. This year, hundreds applied for help.
Each donation is accounted for and recorded. There are no administrators collecting salaries. It’s all taken care of by volunteers.
When Kano came on board, the fund was bringing in a few thousand dollars a year. This year, it’s well over $20,000, and it’s not over yet. The community rose to the challenge of an anonymous donor who pledged, up to $5000, to match donations of $150 or more.
She said she loves how the community and visitors embrace the program. And, as is her style, she deflects credit for its success.
“A couple of them have written to me, thanking me,” she said. “It’s not me. It’s them, responding.”
Kano loves hearing the stories of how those donations bring happiness to so many keiki on Christmas. She has been privileged, she adds, to meet a few of the families who received help.
“The response has been greater than even I expected, in some respects,” she said. “Just knowing how much it has meant to people, the joy, the unbelievable joy, they experience.”
Kano said if the Zonta Club Foundation members are willing to let her, she would still like to be of some help next year. Maybe give advice or be a sounding board. But she doesn’t want to get in the way.
“This is my farewell, but I’ll still be involved quietly and in the background,” she said.
She’s used to that, working effectively and wholeheartedly in the background with little fanfare. That’s how it’s been, and that’s how she likes it.
She does admit to some satisfaction.
“It makes me feel good. I’ve been there,” she said.
It makes the rest of us feel good, too.
Donations may be made to: The Zonta Club of Kauai Foundation, PO Box, 3032, Lihue, 96766, or by way of their website: zonta-kauai.org.
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Bill Buley, editor-in-chief, can be reached at 245-0457 or bbuley@thegardenisland.com.
