Yee-ha!
Wilcox Health President and CEO Jen Chahanovich was joined by the Wilcox Health Foundation’s Andy Bestwick in accepting a $4,000 donation from Waimea High School 2022 graduate Casera Silva and her family Tuesday.
“Wilcox is thankful for the amazing benefit these two teens put together to support frontline health-care workers on Kaua‘i by making a difference, doing something they love, and getting people roped in,” Chahanovich said in a Hawai‘i Pacific Health release.
Silva, and Ki-yana Kanoho are both seeking careers in the medical field, and organized a senior project that included a “Kickin’ Corona” rodeo, with funds raised to benefit frontline health-care workers at Wilcox Medical Center.
“We wanted to do something for the people who put others’ lives first before their own,” Silva said. “We wanted to give back to these workers as an appreciation for all they’ve done.”
“As full-time rodeo athletes, we decided to make a fundraiser rodeo and call it ‘Kickin’ Corona Benefit Rodeo,’” said the aspiring MRI technician who will be heading to Central Arizona College to obtain a degree in radiology.
“If it wasn’t for the help of sponsors, volunteers, contestants, family members and Waimea High School teachers, this rodeo would not have been possible.”
Silva qualified for the national youth rodeo during the Hawai‘i State High School Rodeo earlier in June, but is opting out of the nationals because, according to her, she has much to do and needs to save money for her trip to college.
“Our goal was to fundraise $3,000,” Silva said. “But with the support of our Kaua‘i rodeo community, including the more-than 50 participants, we were able to achieve this end goal with some extra money. We are so happy that we get to donate to such a great cause because the pandemic has not only taken so much from our own lives, but also from the hospital workers. They’ve put their lives on the line to help our world get back to ‘normal,’ and we hope this donation will help express our gratitude for their hard work and dedication throughout the past two years.”
Kanoho was unable to attend the presentation. Her plans call for attending school in Washington where she hopes to become a veterinarian.
Bestwick, who in addition to serving with the Wilcox Health Foundation created the CAN movement, offered Silva a tour of the Wilcox radiology department at a time more suitable to the graduating senior’s schedule.
•••
Dennis Fujimoto, staff writer and photographer, can be reached at 245-0453 or dfujimoto@thegardenisland.com.
