Burger King Hawaii restaurants raised more than $14,000 during the holidays in partnership with Aloha United Way for the Salvation Army Angel Tree Program.
The money was used for Christmas gifts requested by children with the help of Aloha United Way and Salvation Army volunteers.
From Nov. 9 through Dec. 13, Burger King customers made cash contributions and signed “Angel Tree” tags that were posted in the stores.
“The Angel Tree Program is such a great and rewarding initiative, and I am really happy that we have been able to contribute three years in a row,” said Denise Yamauchi, managing director for Kazi Restaurants Burger King operations. “It is so heartwarming to know that we are helping to grant Christmas wishes of children who need it the most.”
In other grants and awards:
>> The Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers Educational Foundation, organizers of the Hawaii MATHCOUNTS competitions, received $10,000 from Hawaiian Electric Co. for the 33rd annual MATHCOUNTS Oahu Chapter competition next month.
“We are very appreciative of the continued partnership of Hawaiian Electric, and we could not run the Hawaii MATHCOUNTS program at the high level that it does without their generous support,” said Barry Nakamoto, chairman of the Hawaii MATHCOUNTS program.
MATHCOUNTS promotes middle-school mathematics achievement. The top four “mathletes” selected at the state competition will compete at the national competition in Washington, D.C., May 7-10.
The Oahu Chapter competition is Feb. 13 at Kamehameha Schools, and the state competition is March 12 at Kamehameha Schools.
>> The Ku‘ikahi Mediation Center received a $5,000 grant from Hawaii Electric Light Co. to support its East Hawaii Peer Mediation Elementary School Pilot Project.
“We appreciate Hawaii Electric Light’s ongoing commitment to working with local charities and other nonprofit organizations toward a vision of a better Hawaii,” said Ku‘ikahi Executive Director Julie Mitchell. “Peer mediation directly contributes to Hawaii Electric Light’s focus on community programs aimed at promoting educational excellence. Our East Hawaii Peer Mediation Elementary School Pilot helps keiki reach their full potential.”
Last school year, 40 fourth- and fifth-graders were trained in mediating disputes among students at Laupahoehoe Community Public Charter School. This year 73 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-graders have been trained in the first semester at Laupahoehoe, Keaau and Keonepoko elementary schools. Additional schools will participate in the second semester.
