Maui Visitor Industry Hand Delivers Charity Walk Checks to Nonprofits

WAILUKU, MAUI – This week, Maui Hotel & Lodging Association (MHLA) distributed $1.3 million to over sixty Maui nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits were unable to receive their funding allocations at the Maui Charity Walk Reception Breakfastthat was postponed in wake of the wildfires. Therefore, MHLA responded by hand delivering awarded funds raised from the Maui Charity Walk to those nonprofits in need. Any nonprofits displaced due to the wildfires are asked to contact Maui Hotel & Lodging Association to arrange delivery or pick up of checks.

"Maui nonprofits are a needed support system for our communities,” says Lisa Paulson, Executive Director of the Maui Hotel & Lodging Association. “With the hardships of the recent wildfires, it was crucial to make this hard-earned money available to them immediately.”

Of all the nonprofit participants, the top fundraising nonprofit agencies this year were honored with awards for the following amounts: Maui Economic Opportunity, $93,993 coming in at 3^rd place, Hale Kau Kau, $105,168 coming in at 2^nd place, and in first place, Feed My Sheep with a total $150,410.

In addition to nonprofits, MHLA also recognizes properties and allied business members who raised significant funds for Maui County’s Charity Walk. The businesses who raised the most funds include VIP Foodservice in 2^nd place with $12,716 and AMP Restaurants in 1^st place with $13,849. The properties who raised the most funds include Hyatt Regency Maui in 3^rd place with $31,291, Grand Wailea in 2^nd place with $60,660, and The Westin Maui with $75,923.68.

Overall, this year’s 43^rd Maui County Charity Walk raised a total $1,331,856 for Maui County which exceeds last year’s total by over $200,00. This year, statewide charity walks brought in over $2 million combined and marks the 13^th consecutive year that MHLA successfully raised more than any other county in the state. Since MHLA started hosting the Charity Walk in 1980, Maui County has raised a cumulative total of $17.8 million with all money raised in Maui County benefiting residents of Maui, Molokai and Lanai.

Photo Caption: MHLA Executive Director, Lisa Paulson with CEO of Maui Economic Opportunity (MEO), Debbie Cabebe. Photo Courtesy of MEO.