The Kiwanis Club of East Hawaii recently presented a $10,000 award from the Harry &Jeannette Weinberg Foundation to Family Programs Hawaii. ADVERTISING The Kiwanis Club of East Hawaii recently presented a $10,000 award from the Harry &Jeannette Weinberg Foundation to
The Kiwanis Club of East Hawaii recently presented a $10,000 award from the Harry &Jeannette Weinberg Foundation to Family Programs Hawaii.
The two-part Weinberg Friends Project included a partnership with the Downtown Improvement Association and its members in a recent cleanup, planting and weeding project in downtown Hilo. Thirty-two volunteers came out in full force to help earn the credit and manpower hours to designate a grant recipient for the Weinberg Friends Project award.
Family Programs Hawaii will use the funds to help with its Project Visitation and Camp programs. Project Visitation offers monthly visits and special events for brothers and sisters separated by the foster care system in a safe and neutral environment. The 2015 Project Visitation Christmas event had eight youth participants, 26 sibling sets and 16 volunteers. For more information about Project Visitation, call 935-2876, ext. 228.
“We had the opportunity to see firsthand how much of an impact these programs have on the children in foster care,” said Cecily Nago, Weinberg project chairwoman. “Our Kiwanis members opted to volunteer at the 2015 Project Visitation Christmas event instead of having an annual Christmas party.
“These children experience much trauma in their lives. To see the siblings interact when their time together is limited is very humbling. There are many things we take for granted, yet these children are so grateful for what these programs offer,” Nago said.
