Healing Our Island Community Fund helps isle's helpers to help

Mini-grants provide boost for public's battle against drugs

Numerous community organizations battling drug use among minors have been assisted in their outreach efforts over the last several years by the Healing Our Island Community Fund, a mini-grant program for grassroots organizations that promote healthy drug-free Hawaii Island communities.

In 2003 the Healing Our Island Community Fund was established as one of Mayor Harry's Kim's strategies for fighting the "War on Ice." The State Legislature was asked to provide funding for community-based anti-drug efforts in Hawaii County in order that "the residents of Hawaii Island could collectively Heal Our Island from within their own communities."

The program is designed to provide support for these grassroots efforts. Before Healing Our Island, grassroots groups did not have access to grant opportunities that IRS tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations enjoyed, explained a spokesman for the program. The fund is administered by the Hawaii County Resource Center in the Department of Research and Development, and grants of no more than $2,000 are awarded.

"We support community-based programs and collaborative grassroots efforts that provide drug-free lifestyle education and substance-abuse prevention measures for community members of all ages. Our goal is to keep Hawaii Island a healthy and safe place for our children and our families," said fund coordinators.

For example, two recent recipients were the new Punahele Resident Association and the Keaau High School Grad Nite committee. Each group sponsored events geared to keep young people safe and off the streets and teach alternative thought processes and positive behaviors.

Lots of kokua for the groups' events came, as well, from various community resources: police outreach efforts, school employees, businesses, parents, families and other concerned individuals.

"These funds were used to better educate the youth in the community about the negative aspects of drugs and violence through a fun-filled day called Healing Our Youth/Drug Prevention and Awareness," said Punahele Assocation President, Mark Gomes. "The Punahele Resident Association was established in February to build a better community for our keiki."

The Keaau graduation night celebration was started seven years ago, part of a national effort to promote a safe and drug-free environment for graduating high school seniors.

"The funds were used toward the renting of Hilo Lanes and the YWCA for the event festivities," reported chairwoman Judi Houle. "It provided the graduates with fun entertainment for an all-night celebration."

Mini-grant applications are accepted by the Hawaii County Resource Center on an ongoing basis and reviewed monthly. The current Healing Our Island application form, complete instructions, guidelines and contact information are available on the Web site: www.healingourisland.com.

Healing Our Island helps Volcano community

The Volcano Community Assocation has received a grant of $2,000 from the Healing Our Island Community Grant Fund, a state grant in aid project administered by the Hawaii County Resource Center, a program of the Department of Research and Development.

According to Mililani Hughes, VCA spokesperson, the funds will be used to celebrate and share the cultural practices of our kupuna in a community event, Makahiki Ma Ka Ma'ukele on Oct. 18.

"In the debut of this signature event, we are working as a community to promote an event that is a source of education, entertainment, and pleasure, all within a drug and alcohol-free environment," said Hughes. "We will have a lei-making workshop, lei competition and exhibition, a konane tournament, slack key guitar workshop with Cyril Pahinui, and the evening will be topped off with a community luau with lots of entertainers."

Makahiki Ma Ka Ma'ukele honors and supports Hawaiian cultural practitioners, musicians, artists, and organizations by providing a venue to share information and grow interest in the arts of our kupuna.

The primary sponsor of the event is the Volcano Community Association, which began in 1980 and has a long history of community involvement and action.

Community partners in this event include the Rotary Club of Volcano, the Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Volcano Art Center, Cooper Center Council, Halau Hula Kalehuaki'eki'ekia'iu, Ke Kula 'O Nawahiokalani'opu'u, Big Island Resource and Conservation Development Council, County of Hawaii Parks and Recreation, Hula Halau 'O Kanoe, Halau Ke Olu Makani o Mauna Loa and the Volcano School for the Arts and Sciences.

For more information on the event, check out the Volcano Community Association website at www.volcanocommunity.org.

2007-2008 Healing Our Island
Information & Application Packet
is available for download.

Pay It Forward Foundation

Amount: One-time only mini-grants up to $500 (because funding is limited, projects requesting smaller amounts will be given priority)

Eligibility: Service-oriented projects that are done by youth to benefit school, neighborhood, or community

Deadline: Three deadlines per year-January 15, April 15, and October 15

Who may apply: Schools, churches and community youth groups (with an adult
sponsor) may apply for funding. Youths or adults may write the application.
Groups whose members are all over the age of 18 must include work with youth under the age of 18 as part of their projects.

Use of Funds: Funds may be used for supplies, materials, equipment or transportation to a service site. Funds may not be used to pay for personnel, to replace state or local school funds, or for celebration food and drinks.

Application Process: Complete the online application and submit it by e-mail to grants@payitforwardfoundation.com. Proposals, including application and budget, must not exceed three pages. Limit one application per project.
Applicants will be notified of a decision within 60 days of application deadlines. If approved, applicants should receive funds within 30 days.

Reporting Requirements: A final report on the results of the project must be submitted to the Foundation within 30 days of completion of the project.

A Pay It Forward project is defined as one or more service activities that benefit a school, a neighborhood or the greater community, and that include learning goals for the youth participants. Only projects that clearly contain a "pay it forward" focus-that is, projects on the concept of one person doing a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, with the results growing exponentially-are given consideration in the grant making process.

The application form includes the following:

* Date
* Organization
* School District (if applicable)
* Grade(s) and Principal's Name
* Federal Tax ID#
* Address and telephone number
* Name of Project
* Contact Name and e-mail address
* Youth Representative(s) (the names of one or more young people who
are class, organization, or project leaders)
* Number of young people involved in project serving and learning
* Unique characteristics of youth involved
* Approximate date(s) and/or time span of project
* Total Cost of Project and Total Pay It Forward Mini-Grant Amount
Requested
* Up to two pages that include the project description and budget:

Project Description: Describe the young people involved in your project, the benefits of the project to your school, neighborhood or the greater community, and the learning goals for youth participants.

Provide sufficient information to enable the Pay It Forward Foundation Selection Committee to have a clear understanding of your project (when applications are written by youth, the age of the authors will be taken into
consideration.) Specifically address the "pay it forward" focus of your project-the concept of one person doing a favor for others, who in turn do favors for others, with the results growing exponentially.

Budget: Provide a budget for your project, including materials, supplies, equipment and/or transportation costs and listing quantity, unit costs and taxes. Show the total budget for your project as well as the specific amount you are requesting from the Pay It Forward Foundation.

The Foundation provides these tips to remember when completing an
application:

* Provide all information requested, including your Federal Tax ID Number
* Explain the project thoroughly
* Include specific details about its educational value
* Attach a clear and concise budget
* Adhere to the Pay It Forward concept; your application will not be
considered if there is not a clear demonstration of how the benefits will multiply exponentially. We receive many projects that simply state a positive impact. We do not denigrate them, but they are not Pay It Forward projects. If you are not familiar with the Pay It Forward concept, please read the book Pay It Forward or read one of the excerpts posted on the Foundation Web site before submitting an application.