Hawai‘i Island Homeless Services Agencies to Receive $35,000

The Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association will present a total of $35,000 to two Big Island homeless services agencies today.

HLTA will present a $20,000 grant to HOPE Services Hawaii Inc. in partnership with the Institute for Human Services and a $15,000 grant to Hawaii Rise Foundation.

The presentation will take place in conjunction with HLTA Hawai‘i Island Chapter’s Charity Walk grant allocation ceremony at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, in which nearly $277,000 will be dispersed among 60 Hawaii County

The presentation will take place on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2017, at 5:30 p.m. at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa – Naupaka Ballroom in conjunction with HLTA Hawai‘i Island Chapter’s Charity Walk grant allocation ceremony at the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa, in which nearly $277,000 will be dispersed among 60 Hawai‘i County nonprofit organizations.

The Charity Walk is an annual statewide fundraiser produced by the HLTA and the visitor industry which raises funds for various nonprofit agencies. The 2017 Charity Walk raised $2.27 million for over 360 charities.

Officials expected to attend include HLTA President & CEO Mufi Hannemann, IHS Executive Director Connie Mitchell, Hawai‘i County Managing Director Will Okabe, Council Chair Valerie Pointdexter (invited), County Prosecutor Mitch Roth, HOPE Services CEO Brandee Menino, Hawaii Rise Foundation President Mike Sohriakoff, Waikoloa Beach Marriott General Manager and HLTA Hawaii Island Chapter Chairperson Steve Yannarell.

About HLTA
The Hawai‘i Lodging & Tourism Association is a nonprofit, statewide trade organization of lodging properties, lodging owners and management firms, suppliers, and related companies and individuals. It was founded in 1947 and is now the state’s largest private-sector tourism organization. Today, HLTA consists of nearly 700 members representing the Hawai‘i’s leading industry, 170 of which are lodging properties comprising more than 51,000 rooms.