Biz Wrap: Island Groups Receive Grants

Here’s a look at what’s happening in business news around the island this week.

Hawaii Island Charities Receive $2M from Parker Ranch Foundation

Parker Ranch Foundation Trust announced earlier this week that it gave $2 million to four island charities in the North Kohala district.

North Hawaii Community Hospital received $960,000 while the Richard Smart Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation received $400,000. Hawaii Preparatory Academy and Parker School Trust Corp. each received $320,000.

Created by Richard Smart, a descendant of Parker Ranch founder John Palmer Parker, the trust was established to benefit the Waimea community through these four beneficiaries.

Since 1996 the trust has provided the four charities with almost $23 million in cash and land.

HMSA Donated $668,800 to Local Charities

Earlier this week HMSA announced it was opening a new medical office in Keaau. This week the HMSA Foundation announced that in the fourth quarter of 2012 it provided grants to 11 local health programs and community organizations totaling $668,800.

Of the 11 grants awarded, two were specifically for Hawaii Island groups. Ka‘u Rural Health Community Association, Inc. received $40,000 for its Ka‘u Rural Health Academy. The program will use the grant for a demonstration project that focuses on wellness activities and health screenings.

Meanwhile the Arc of Hilo received a $4,300 grant to support its Chronic Disease Self-Management Program. The program will provide workshops on diabetes prevention and management, cardiac rehabilitation, asthma, and other health-related issues for clients, families, and the community.

Health plan dues from HMSA members and employer groups are not used to fund Foundation grants. Foundation grants are funded with annual investment income earned on its original endowment.

Century 21 Realtors Recognized

Walter Sinicki, Jeffry Beban, Joe Todd, and Rhonda M. Scheller of Century 21 All Islands were recently recognized as Masters Ruby Award winners.

An exclusive recognition program for sales associates, the Century 21 Masters Awards Program honors unparalleled effort and quality service of highly dedicated sales associates.

Sinicki and Beban are in the firm’s Kona office while Todd and Scheller are in the Century 21 All Islands Waikoloa office.

If your business has an opening, closing, promotion, retirement, new product release, special event, award, new location, or expansion, please let us know. Email us at newsdesk@bigislandnow.com.