LIHU‘E — The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i was recently the beneficiary of an $800 grant which was generated from a partnership between the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union and the Kaua‘i Family Magazine. The grant will be utilized
LIHU‘E — The Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i was recently the beneficiary of an $800 grant which was generated from a partnership between the Kaua‘i Community Federal Credit Union and the Kaua‘i Family Magazine.
The grant will be utilized to support one-to-one mentoring programs for keiki offered on Kaua‘i, states a Big Brothers release. More specifically, the funding will be used to provide support for the one-to-one match relationships and activities in the School and Community Based Programs by the BBBS.
BBBS was selected as the beneficiary of the proceeds raised during the 2nd annual Kaua‘i Family Magazine Keiki Cover Search which was held at Kukui Grove Center in May and presented by KCFCU.
During the cover search, keiki were selected in four different age groups with winners appearing in future covers of the publication.
More than 110 contestants graced the stage and participated before more than 300 spectators with help from community partners including the Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative, the Kaua‘i Fire Department, the County’s Life Choices program, Showtime Characters, Kukui Grove, Bandwagon, the Kaua‘i Police Department, Ho‘ola Lahui Wellness Program, Aloha Dance Studio, PhotoSpectrum, Aloha Island Properties, Game Kids, Kaua‘i Mini Golf, Specialty Balloons and others.
A special appearance by The Cookie Monster and Elmo triggered the many keiki and families to heat up the concrete in the Kukui Grove stage area at the food court.
“Big Brothers Big Sisters of Kaua‘i is extremely grateful to our partners and supporters Ms. Chrissy Schechter of Kaua‘i Family Magazine, Mr. Mel Chiba’s dedicated team from KCFCU, Terri Kaniho, Irving Soto and the entire KCFCU ‘ohana,” said Kaulana Finn, BBBS Kaua‘i community director. “We truly appreciate the hard work put into this successful event and for their most generous donation. We thank you for supporting our mission of providing one-to-one mentoring for Kaua‘i’s Keiki.”
The mission of BBBS on Kaua‘i is to provide quality, caring and supportive role models through the one-to-one mentoring relationship.
“It is our goal to help each child to reach academic success, socio-emotional competency and to avoid risky behaviors,” Finn said.
BBBS on Kaua‘i has been in operation since 2007 and most recently, unified statewide to join Big Brothers Big Sisters Hawai‘i. The consolidation now includes Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu, Kaua‘i, Maui and Hawai‘i Island.
“We have grown to enable many volunteer mentors all over the island to make a positive and lasting impact on local children simply by sharing their friendship, guidance and support,” Finn said. “Our mission is to help children become responsible adults by matching them with qualified volunteer mentors, contributing to better schools, brighter futures and a stronger community.”
National studies conclude that children who are mentored are significantly more likely to complete college and attain financial self-sufficiency. Seventy-three percent of those young people served by BBBS showed improvement in the areas of educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors and socio-emotional competency, the release states.
BBBS Kaua‘i is located at 4273 Rice Street, Suite 1, in Lihu‘e. Visit www.bbbshawaii.org or call 855-2905 for more information, or to register as a volunteer.
• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.
