HCF Opens its Door to the Hilo Community

The Hawai’i Community Foundation has opened its doors to the Hilo community with the recent announcement of a second Big Island office at the Hawai’i Innovation Center.

Donors and nonprofit organizations in the region will benefit from the East Hawai’i office. Residents will have the opportunity to meet with HCF giving officers in their community to ensure that their donations are going to organizations they wish to support.

Andrea Furuli, a senior philanthropy advancement officer, is leading the new Hilo office.

“I look forward to leading the work of the foundation as it expands its presence in the Hilo community and throughout the region,” said Furuli. “The people of East Hawai’i have shown incredible support and generosity for causes near and dear to them, and we look forward to working with them even more closely to transform their generosity into lasting change.”

HCF officials say Hawai’i County has seen an increase in philanthropic activity over the recent years. The increase in giving has been in part contributed to the regional East Hawai’i Fund that provides residents the opportunity to target their donations toward needs specific to the area.

Through the regional East Hawai’i Fund alone, over $200,000 in grants have been award to East Hawai’i organizations over the past four years. Of that $200,000, a total of $66,000 was reportedly distributed to over 21 charities in the past year.

“Hawai’i Community Foundation has long been a valuable resource for giving across the state,” said Barry Taniguchi, an East Hawai’i resident and past member of Hawai’i Community Foundation’s board of governors. “As the foundation develops deeper roots in East Hawai’i, it will provide more opportunities to focus on the community as a whole and help shape positive change and growth.”

Headquartered in downtown Honolulu, HCF has offices on Maui, Kauai, and now with the recent Hilo addition, two on the Big Island.