 WAILUKU, MAUI – The Maui Visitor Industry recently celebrated 30 years of giving back to the community with its annual Charity Walk on Saturday, May 17th. Over 1,100 walkers gathered at the War Memorial Soccer Field for a fun morning of exercise, camaraderie, good food, great prizes and fabulous entertainment, raising an impressive total of $294,637 for various Maui charities.The bulk of the participants included visitor industry workers, non-profit agencies and business representatives. Many of these hard working walkers begin their fundraising efforts months prior to the event by collecting individual pledges, hosting bake sales, chili & stew cook-offs, benefit luaus, car washes, even dunking booths.
Top individual fundraiser was Kelsey Wiegman representing Hawaii Canines for Independence who collected $12,287. The Grand Wailea took in top honors of the property bringing in the most with over $20,380. Oceanic Time Warner was the business who raised the most at $4,006. Winning the award for non-profit raising the most was repeat-awardee Hale Makua who collected $28,571. A challenge amongst some of the hotel properties took place with the Sheraton Maui Resort sweeping the competition by wining first place for “Best Food” with their fried rice, corned beef hash, eggs and pancit and “Best Booth Décor” for their elaborately decorated tropical booth.
“We are proud to host this annual fundraising event. The Charity Walk represents the visitor industry’s commitment to giving back to the community -- all monies raised on Maui County, stays on Maui County,” said Carol Reimann, Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association. “Our ability to provide for Maui’s non-profits is a direct reflection of the integrity & philanthropic conviction of our fine industry. And Maui has always done it in grand style – our island continues to raise more funds per capital than any other island in Hawaii.”
The Visitor Industry Charity Walk is a statewide event that takes place simultaneously on Maui, Oahu, Kauai and the Big Island. A group from Molokai also hosted their own walk to benefit the event. The 2008 Charity Walk is one of Hawaii’s largest single-day fundraiser with over 8,600 walkers raising over $1,050,000 to benefit charity.
Mark your calendar for next year’s Visitor Industry Charity Walk – May 16, 2009.
|
