33rd
ANNUAL VISITOR INDUSTRY CHARITY WALK FINAL TALLY IN AT $492,304
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Visitor Industry Gives Back to the Maui
County Community –
WAILUKU, MAUI – The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association
announced yesterday that the final tally for the 33rd Annual Visitor
Industry Charity walk on Maui totaled an impressive $492,304 ($135,000 more than
last year). Held earlier this year in
May, the event drew over 2,100 walkers and it was preliminarily reported to
have raised $475,101. Since May, funds have continued to be collected
culminating with today’s grand total announcement.
In a special Charity Reception held at the Wailea Beach
Marriott Resort & Spa earlier today, over 70 non-profit organizations were
honored in appreciation of their participation in the event. The following non-profits
and businesses were singled out for their top fundraising efforts:
Non-Profit Agencies Raising the Most
Funds
3rd
place – Maui Humane Society - $14,336
2nd
place – Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation - $17,653
1st
place – Hale Makua - $59,382
Properties Raising the Most Funds
3rd
– Marriott’s Maui Ocean Club - $14,336
2nd
– Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & spa - $32,930
1st
– Grand Wailea- $50,015
Businesses Raising the Most Funds
3rd
– VIP Foodservice - $3,701
2nd – Oceanic Time Warner Cable - $5,020
1st – Bank of Hawaii -
$8,615
Also of note, the top individual fundraiser was Mitch
Mitchell representing Hale Makua who collected $33,800.
The Charity Walk is one of the largest single-day
fundraising events in Hawaii.
Statewide, over a $1 million was raised via walks held on Oahu, Kauai, the Big
Island, Maui and Molokai. Maui continues to raise more dollars per capita than
any other island; and for the second year in a row raised more money than any
other island in the state! Since the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association
started hosting the event in 1980, Maui raised a cumulative total of $6.1
million was raised, benefitting numerous non-profit organizations on Maui,
Molokai and Lanai. All of the funds raised on Maui, stays in Maui County
to benefit the local community & its residents.
Over the years, there have been many heart-warming stories
about generous individuals who go above-and-beyond in raising funds for their
non-profit during the Charity Walk. Because
of these amazing stories, a new award entitled the “Charity Walk Inspiration
Award” began this year. This award recognizes an individual who has a
compelling story that exemplifies the true meaning of giving. The winner of the
inaugural “Charity Walk Inspiration Award” was bestowed to Declan Levin. An
8-year-old boy who rather than receiving birthday presents, asks his friends
and family to make donations to his favorite charity, Hawaii Canines for
Independence. Declan is the son of Doug
& Maureen Levin of Wailuku. In
addition to winning a silver slipper trophy, a $500 donation in his name was
given to his favorite charity.
The
annual Charity Walk is the Visitor Industry’s way of giving back to the
community. Many MHLA property & business members work year round to raise
funds for this worthy endeavor. “Our industry remains committed to providing
for and positively impacting the lives of the people of Maui County,”
says Carol Reimann, Executive Director for the Maui Hotel & Lodging
Association. “This year, we are thrilled to have raised $135,000 more than last
year which has enabled us to award significant and valuable funding to over 70
worthy Maui County organizations from the event’s proceeds. The range of
services of these recipients touches many residents’ lives from children to the
elderly, from athletic organizations to service-related agencies; from health
to housing. It is our goal to impact many lives by supporting a variety of
charitable organizations that provide valuable services, and to ultimately
improve our community.”
MHLA is a nonprofit organization founded in the 1980’s to advocate
for the Visitor Industry. The organization also provides educational
opportunities via the Academy of Hospitality & Tourism and scholarships for
UH Maui College students; and benefits the
community via the annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, Excellence in Education
golf tournament and Kupuna Dinner. For
additional information, contact MHLA at 244-8625 or info@mauihla.org.
Mark your calendar for next
year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk – May 12, 2012.
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Photo Caption: Mufi Hannemann of the Hawaii Hotel &
Lodging Association, Carol Reimann of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association
and Bill Countryman of the Wailea Beach Marriott award top charity fundraisers
Carlayna Nakamura of Hale Makua, Lindsey Nicolas of the Maui Humane Society,
Lisa Varde of the Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation.
Photo Caption: Charity Walk Chairman Bill
Countryman of the Wailea Beach Marriott and Carol Reimann of the Maui Hotel
& Lodging Association honored 8-year old Declan Levin as the “2011 Charity Walk
Inspiration Award” winner
