NUKOLI‘I — Bernie Tangalin was installed as the president of the Kaua‘i Chapter of the Family and Community Education. And for the second straight year, the FCE, Kaua‘i Chapter, lent its support to Project Grad programs at Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i and
NUKOLI‘I — Bernie Tangalin was installed as the president of the Kaua‘i Chapter of the Family and Community Education. And for the second straight year, the FCE, Kaua‘i Chapter, lent its support to Project Grad programs at Kapa‘a, Kaua‘i and Waimea high schools Sunday during the KAFCE Achievement Day luncheon at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort.
With Dolly Brierly narrating, Tangalin was joined by vice president Sanae Morita, secretary/treasurer Marina Pascua and historian Marty McHenry. Each of the officers were presented with paper link chains with the respective kuleana of office melded together with links from the five different clubs on Kaua‘i.
Outgoing President Lenore Klass was unable to attend the Sunday luncheon at the Kaua‘i Beach Resort due to her volunteering at the Sony Hawai‘i Open golf tournament on O‘ahu, but made it a point to recognize all of the FCE members who played a significant role toward the success of the club over the 2012 year.
Jo Shimamoto, chair of the Awards Committee, announced the FCE, Kaua‘i Chapter’s support for the Project Grad programs, introducing representatives Lynn Tamashiro from the Waimea High School Project Grad, Cassie Camara from the Kapa‘a High School Project Grad and Darnell Aquino from the Kaua‘i High School program.
“For the second year in a row, KAFCE is proud to award each of the three Project Grad programs with a $500 grant each,” Shimamoto said.
“The reason why the Project Grad programs were selected is because the programs’ objectives complement KAFCE’s mission of strengthening our communities.”
Shimamoto said Kaua‘i’s Project Grad programs are funded solely through private contributions, and the leaders say the events are held each year because of the generosity of parents, private citizens and the business community.
Tangalin, newly-installed, recognized each of the programs’ leaders for their hard work as lead agents of their respective programs, which offer graduating seniors a venue for a safe and enjoyable celebration.
Tamashiro said Waimea High School Project Grad will be fundraising Sunday during the Lawa‘i Cannery Self Storage and Warehouse garage sale from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
“Last year, Waimea High School graduated 156 seniors with 134 attending Project Grad, or 86 percent of the class attending,” Tamashiro said.
“Our goal is to get at least a 90 percent attendance. It takes a lot of hours, and with help from the community, we want to be able to provide scholarships to those students who need help in order to attend.”
Camara said Kapa‘a High School, in 2012, graduated 190 students with about 180 students attending its Project Grad celebration, and Aquino, who hosted a fundraising McNight event Wednesday, said Kaua‘i High School graduated about 260 seniors with about 240 attending its Project Grad program.
Camara, the Kapa‘a High School Project Grad chairperson, said on Feb. 9 it will host a Zumba fundraiser from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Bernice Hundley Gym on the Kapa‘a High School campus.
Entry will be a $10 donation for a “Zumba” workout with Kaua‘i’s Zumba instructor Anna Velasco and her crew.
Advance tickets are available at Waipouli Variety, Popo’s Cookies in Kapa‘a, Hawaiian Music Store in the Princeville Shopping Center and Kaua‘i Business Services in Lihu‘e.
Aquino said the Kaua‘i High School Project Grad will host another McNight fundraiser in March.
KAFCE, a nonprofit organization active on Kaua‘i for more than 60 years, currently is made up of five clubs hosting about 65 active members, two of its eldest, Dorothy Higuchi and Bernice Kubota, being celebrated for 93 years during the Achievement Day luncheon.
Affiliated with the National Association for Family and Community Education, the mission is to strengthen individuals, families and communities through continuing education, developing leadership and community action.
As a member of the State of Hawai‘i’s Association, KAFCE focuses on family issues, life-long learning experiences and community action through service.
In cooperation with the University of Hawai‘i Cooperative Extension Service, research-based information is shared with the community with the goal of promoting a healthier and better life through fellowship, continuing education and service, ultimately strengthening communities.
On Kaua‘i, some of the KAFCE annual activities include providing books to newborns and young children as part of the national “Books for Newborns” program, organizing the Home (Economics) Show at the Kaua‘i County Farm Bureau Fair which showcases the community’s talents in local heritage skills, and facilitating the “Character Counts!” a nationwide character education program.
