Annual Campaign from Aug. 17 to Oct. 2 will Support 342 of Hawai‘i’s Nonprofits
HONOLULU, Hawai‘i – Aloha United Way (AUW) invites the public to come together in support of Hawai‘i’s nonprofit community by participating in its 2015 giving campaign season, which runs from August 17 to October 2. Funds raised through the campaign will be used to deliver services and programs to help hundreds of thousands of local people.
“Aloha United Way’s annual giving campaign offers individuals and businesses a safe and easy way to give back to our local community,” said Thomas Kiyabu, division manager of UPS Hawaii and chair of Aloha United Way’s 2015 giving campaign. “This campaign also makes giving back fun, from creative workplace fundraising activities to the annual kick-off and rally at Tamarind Park.”
United Way and UPS have long been partners in strengthening communities around the world, with a special focus on driving results in education and financial stability. They were the first company to raise $1 billion in contributions to United Way Worldwide, targeting improvements in education and financial stability. Last year, UPS had 90 percent employee participation.
“We are pleased to have Thomas Kiyabu and UPS leading our campaign this year,” said Cindy Adams, president and CEO of Aloha United Way. “UPS’ corporate philanthropic strategy is the foundation of their local commitment to Aloha United Way, a commitment that is now in its 30th year.”
Over 1,300 companies and organizations support AUW with workplace campaigns every year, ranging from locally-owned small businesses to the Honolulu headquarters of global corporations. The campaign, which is in its 96th year, collects funds for hundreds of nonprofit organizations that AUW supports year-round, addressing a variety of issue areas and causes.
AUW will host its annual campaign kick-off event on Friday, August 28 from 6 to 9 a.m. at Tamarind Park in downtown Honolulu. The kick-off will feature hundreds of campaign participants, who will sign wave along Bishop Street and King Street to raise awareness and encourage community participation. Social media users are encouraged to also participate online with the hashtag #LIVEUNITED.
This year’s campaign, which highlights the theme “Wants vs. Needs,” includes several public service announcements, currently running on local television and radio stations.
Individuals and organizations may sign up for a workplace campaign or donate directly via mail, phone or online. For more information, visit http://auw.org/campaign or contact Pam Maeda at 543-2242 or pamela@auw.org.
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