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Welcome to the Women's Fund of Hawai'i

Women are doing well in Hawai'i - there are countless examples of successful women in a variety of professions. But that's only part of the Hawai'i story.

Far too many women in the Hawaiian Islands live in poverty. They cannot even meet the basic needs of food, shelter, medical care and transportation. They have a history of substance abuse, incarceration, violence or sexual abuse. Many are in poor physical and emotional health and have inadequate job opportunities. Others became mothers at too early an age.

These women have children. They, too, are living in poverty, and unless there is help, the cycle of poverty is destined to continue.

Without your help, too many women will fail. That is why the Women's Fund of Hawai'i was established.

We believe that when one woman is not financially secure, safe and empowered, we are all less so.

When women thrive, families and communities prosper.

 
Fall 2009 Grants

The Women's Fund is happy to announce the recipients of this spring’s round of grants to support women and girls!  Thank you to the donors and volunteers who made this community support possible.

If you are interested in all our grantees, go to our List of All Grantees.

Kokua Kalihi Valley - $2500 This is a project that we funded before that is a small capital sewing project to provide sewing classes for recently immigrated Micronesian womne, to develop job skills and promote self-sufficiency in a culturally appropriate fashion.  The grant will also be used provide sewing machines tor use by these women for income-generating activities.  This orginial project will be continue and be enhanced in that intensive sewing classes planned for women who want to expand their sewing abilities.  Additionally, some of the machines will be made available for use for personal income generating activities.  This year, KKV will also pilot a micro-loan program.  We were happy to see this program is thriving and expanding.

Waimanalo Health Center - $1000   This grant will help fund their very successful Teen Clinic program which provides family planning services for teenagers 14-18 with the purpose of preventing unintended teenage pregnancies.  These monies will help provide incentives for the teenage girls to access the clinic which will provide birth control supplies free of charge.

Po'o No'ono'o Foundation - $3000  The purpose of this project it to help the girls incarcerated at the Hawaii Youth Correctional Facility develop self confidence, further positive identity formation, provide knowledge of various cultural/global issues and reinforce the importance of higher education and financial independence.   Once a month a different book, magazine and or film is provided to the girls incarcerated.  The once a week, there are discussion groups about the material that are tied into issues of self independence and leaning about decision making using newly acquired information and their own intellectual power.

Hawaii Island HIV/AIDS Foundation - $3000  Monies will be used for the expansion of the SISTA project "Sisters Informing Sisters on Topics about AIDS".  This is a group-level intervention serves to lower HIV risk taking behaviors and thereby lower HIV infection rated among women.  This program seeks to teach life skills, relationship skills and empower women to prioritize their health.

KaHale Pomauka'i  $3000  This is an organization that works toward strengthening families who have one or more members in recovery from addiction by addressing this member's homelessness through providing safe and sober therapeutic shelter with supportive treatment services.   This grant is for a special budget addressing a specific issue for the women clients in recovery on Molokai.  The purpose of this project would be to give gas vouchers and child care vouchers for women to help them gain access to treatment services.