Gov. Neil Abercrombie today announced the release of more than $1.52 million for various capital improvement and operating grants to Hawaii-based nonprofit organizations whose missions benefit island communities, including some for one Big Island organization.
“Nonprofits play an integral role in addressing the needs of our communities,” Abercrombie said. “These funds will provide important services and facilities to those in need to create a better Hawaii for all of us.”
The Hawaii County Economic Opportunity Council will get $170,000 in the form of a capital improvement grant for three vehicles for its transportation program and equipment to help maintain its fleet at lower costs by being able to perform some maintenance work in-house. HCEOC is a private, nonprofit organization established in 1965 under provisions of the federal Economic Opportunity Act of 1964. Its purpose is to prevent, alleviate, and eliminate poverty in Hawaii County by mobilizing and channeling private and public resources into anti-poverty actions, to stimulate new and effective approaches to the solution of problems, to strengthen communication, mutual understanding, planning, coordination and implementation of anti-poverty programs in the community, and to educate children and youth to become responsible, contributing adults in society.
The Pacific Renal Care Foundation received a $500,000 operating grant to be used statewide in supporting the care of individuals with risk factors for progression of chronic kidney disease through training and education of immediate family and community caregivers in an effort to improve disease management and minimize cost in treatment. Established in 2006, Pacific Renal Care Foundation is a nonprofit corporation. The grant will fund the Integration for Kidney Excellence, which is an outreach program, whose mission includes charity for individuals with chronic kidney disease and education to prevent or slow the disease progression. The program is designed to support immediate family members who are often the primary caregivers for end stage renal disease patients in isolated rural areas.
Ku Aloha Ola Mau received $38,000 to be used statewide to cover residual shortfalls in dosing and medical monitoring expenses. Ku Aloha Ola Mau has been providing comprehensive treatment programs for substance and alcohol abuse since 1976, offering mental health consultation, social work, primary care, pharmacotherapy, medication management, case management, counseling and outreach services. While the agency provides drug treatment for cocaine, methamphetamine, prescription drugs, alcohol and marijuana abuse, its primary mission is to offer comprehensive methadone treatment for opiate addiction.