We believe that all people in Hawaii have unique strengths, inherent self-worth, and deserve equal opportunity to reach their potential. This belief has been challenged in 2020 as never before. Community safety nets are pulled thinner and have become far more frayed.
In Spring 2020, our Directors approved $1.2 million in pandemic related basic needs grants to 30 organizations. We followed this with another round of grants totaling $250,000 to 10 organizations this fall. We are grateful for community partners like Key Project, Hau‘ula Community Association and Hui Mālama O Ke Kai Foundation that feed, house, clothe, counsel, educate and support Windward residents.
Despite taking action, the need grows. In October, we joined with the A‘ali‘i Alliance in hosting small conversations with more than 70 Windward residents, from students to clergy, business leaders to social workers.
These conversations offer a searing reminder of just how much mental, physical, and emotional anguish our neighbors feel. One resident reminded us that “there is so much uncertainty about basic survival and that weighs on us a lot”. We asked what more the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation could do in 2021 and the full summary of these conversations can be found on our website.
As a result of what we heard, we are thrilled to announce two new investments. The first is a data-driven strategy to prevent 500 Windward O’ahu residents from being evicted while the second empowers our community who are closest to the problems to enable solutions for Windward O‘ahu. Both efforts will unfold in the first quarter of 2021 and we encourage you to learn more and remain connected.
Mālama pono,
Terrence R. George
President & CEO
Click here to see the results of our November 2020 focus groups
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