Kauai Social Service Agencies Unaffected by Oahu Decision »»
Recent news articles have reported that Aloha United Way (AUW) has decided to restrict its funding to four specific social service areas. This decision effectively eliminates funding to a number of long-time AUW agencies. It has no affect on Kauai social services at all.
Aloha United Way focuses its funding exclusively on Oahu and is one of five United Ways in the state. Kauai United Way (KUW), wholly independent of Aloha United Way, provides funding only for social service programs that serve Kauai people. Money raised on Kauai by Kauai United Way stays on Kauai.
Each year, volunteer community leaders from the Kauai United Way Board of Directors re-evaluate the social service needs of our island and direct funding where it is most needed in our community, unbounded by social service categories. All agencies must re-apply every year and new agencies are also invited to apply annually. In this way, on-going needs as well as emerging issues can be addressed in the ever-changing social service landscape of our island.
Well-established organizations on Kauai such as the YWCA and YMCA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Hospice and Salvation Army receive KUW funding for their crucial programs. The volunteers sometimes also choose to fund less well known organizations ? like Kauai?s Friendship Club, which boasts world-class success in re-integrating Kauai adults with serious mental illness into society or Kauai?s Catholic Charities, which works hard to prevent homelessness by helping keep Kauai families secure in their own homes ? to support their vital work in our community.
Kauai United Way supports dozens of social service programs, all on Kauai, that improve the lives of tens of thousands of Kauai people every year. Of course, those receiving these direct benefits are better off. But so are their families and friends and co-workers and neighbors. In fact, when you think about it, it?s not hard to understand that when people in need in our community receive the help they deserve, every one of us lucky enough to live here benefits ? everyone!
"We have a saying that goes, 'When you give help, you give hope' and it's true. Funding from the Kauai United Way goes a long way towards helping The Arc to help others."
