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WAILUKU, MAUI – The Maui Hotel & Lodging Association announced today that $331,000 was raised during the 30th annual Visitor Industry Charity Walk, held this past May in Wailuku, Maui.
The Charity Walk is one of the largest single-day fundraising events in Hawaii. Statewide, over $1.1 million was collectively raised during walks on Oahu, Kauai, the Big Island and Maui -- with Maui County continuing to raise more dollars per capita than any other island. Since the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association started hosting the event in 1980, a cumulative total of over $5 million was raised, benefitting numerous Maui County non-profit organizations.
In a special reception held at the Maui Beach Hotel today, over 60 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 agency raising the most funds
3rd place – Wailuku Hongwanji Pre-School - $17,238.40
2nd place – Hawaii Canines for Independence - $18,027.50
1st place – Hale Makua Foundation - $28,571.18
Business category – raising the most funds
3rd place – Monsanto Company $1,892
2nd place - First Hawaii Title Corporation $3,791
1st place – Oceanic Time Warner Cable $3,886
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| Donna Gomes of Hawaii Canines for Independence, Laura Echiverri of the Wailuku Hongwanji Pre-School, Carlayna Nakamura of Hale Makua, Nancy Chaplick of Oceanic Time Warner Cable and Tony Krieg of Hale Makua were recently honored in a special reception for their top fundraising efforts during the 2008 Visitor Industry Charity Walk. |
Also of note, the top individual fundraiser was Kelsey Wiegman representing Hawaii Canines for Independence who collected $12,287; and the Grand Wailea took in first place for the property bringing in the most at $20,380.
“The annual Charity Walk is the Visitor Industry’s way of giving back to the community. We are 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 pleased to award funds to 60 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.”
Mark your calendar for next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk – May 16, 2009. For additional information, please contact the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association at 244-8625 or info@mauihla.org. | 
