About Town: 09-05-18

Chad Cabra
Subscribe Now Choose a package that suits your preferences.
Start Free Account Get access to 7 premium stories every month for FREE!
Already a Subscriber? Current print subscriber? Activate your complimentary Digital account.

Big Island nonprofit CEO recognized

The Board of Directors of Boys &Girls Club of the Big Island congratulated its CEO, Chad MK Cabral, for an award he will receive from the Hawaii Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO).

Cabral was named HANO’s 2018 Emerging Leader Awardee and will be honored at this year’s annual nonprofit association conference Oct. 5 on Oahu.

Each year HANO considers nonprofit executive leadership candidates throughout the state of Hawaii and selects one individual that embodies exceptional qualities for aspiring nonprofit professionals. The Emerging Leader Award recognizes a standout community leader in the nonprofit industry that has exemplified organizational and professional excellence, community spirit, innovation, personal integrity, and has made an impressive impact in supporting communities.

HANO has graciously selected Cabral to receive this year’s statewide honor. Cabral has been at BGCBI’s helm, the organization has been transformed.

Recognizing hunger as a major problem, BGCBI opened a commercial certified kitchen on Hilo Club grounds in May 2016 which has provided over 60,000 healthy meals and snacks to community youth.

Cabral also realized that West Hawaii youth are critically underserved and in Sept. 2017 opened the first West Hawaii youth program in Kealakehe. This site is in close proximity to Hawaiian Homelands and several low-come housing projects and quickly had more member applications than could be accommodated in the available space, necessitating a waiting list.

The achievements were accomplished while turning around a $500,000 budget deficit that preceded him.