The Harold K.L. Castle Foundation is giving grants totaling $372,324 to six community organizations, including a partnership between the Waimanalo Health Center and a public elementary school, to provide dental services to Waimanalo children.
The $43,000, 18-month grant to the health center will bring dentists and dental hygienists into Blanche Pope Elementary School to provide 175 students in pre-kindergarten to fourth grade with education, brushing/flossing skills training and plaque screening.
The grant will cover the cost of classroom instruction, screening and follow-up monitoring.
“The Pew Center on the States’ report on children’s oral health gave Hawaii an ‘F’ because of its poor record in oral health prevention and treatment,” said Terry George, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Castle Foundation. “Poor dental health contributes to an achievement gap because children with untreated dental problems do less well in school. This grant will help close that gap by providing much-needed dental care to our Waimanalo keiki.”
The foundation announced the grants April 1. Other grants were $150,000 to Malama Maunalua to restore Maunalua Bay; $85,500 to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation for conservation of coral reefs near the Wahikuli and Honokowai watersheds on Maui; $35,000 to the Pacific American Foundation for a stewardship program in Anahola Bay, Kauai; $41,244 to the University of Hawaii Foundation to improve college completion rates for students; and $17,580 to the Council on Foundations as membership dues for 2013.
Other grants:
>> About $570,000 in federal funding is heading to Hawaii to help veterans who are struggling with homelessness.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development announced May 29 that they will give $60 million to local public housing agencies nationwide. The money will fund permanent housing for about 9,000 homeless veterans across the nation.
HUD said homelessness among veterans dropped by 17.2 percent between 2009 and 2012. The agency said more funding is expected to be announced this summer.
>> Hawaii Baptist Academy has given $40,585 to the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma Disaster Relief to support efforts in Moore, Okla., which was hit by a massive tornado May 20.
“This tragedy happened in a place we are all too familiar with — a state with several HBA ohana connections,” said Cindy Gaskins, Christian ministries coordinator at Hawaii Baptist’s elementary school. “That is why we were especially moved to reach out and help.”
HBA’s Parent-Teacher Fellowship donated $36,000 in proceeds from the school’s annual Fun Fair.
The fair is HBA’s largest fundraiser.
The school’s third-graders donated $1,000 from proceeds from their annual Mini Market Day. Other HBA students donated more than $2,300 to the campaign. Additional donations were provided by school supporters.
>> Catholic Charities Hawaii received a $300,000 grant for a volunteer program that will help create a culture of philanthropy within the organization and throughout the state. The donor wishes to remain anonymous, a news release said.
“We saw a need to further engage staff and existing supporters as well as address the influx of requests from parishes, schools, service organizations and businesses for volunteer opportunities,” said Jerry Rauckhorst, Catholic Charities president and chief executive officer. “With this generous donation we will be able to get the program started and immediately begin cultivating a spirit of innovation, entrepreneurism and philanthropy.”
The project, called the Volunteer Services and Community Engagement Program, aims to increase volunteer opportunities, bring together community members and organizations, and provide resources to the people most in need.
Catholic Charities helps about 40,000 clients through more than 30 programs statewide.
>> Central Pacific Bank awarded Maile Greenhill and Megan Hazen each with a $1,000 CPB Works for You Scholarship for the 2013-14 school year.
Greenhill is an ‘Iolani School student, graduating with cum laude honors. She was a National Merit Finalist and will be attending Wesleyan University in Connecticut this fall. Hazen is a student at Pitzer College in Claremont, Calif., where she is majoring in sociology and Spanish and will be graduating in May. She graduated from Seabury Hall in Makawao, Maui.
