Ironman Foundation donates $350,000 for 2 mobile trailers for Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center
The new trailers will be converted into fully equipped clinical spaces to help fill the void while the health center undergoes extensive repairs due to damage from Hurricane Lala.
Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center has received a $350,000 donation from The Ironman Foundation to support the purchase of two mobile health trailers that will help restore access to essential healthcare services in Nā’ālehu following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Lala.
The largest single donation in The Ironman Foundation’s 23-year history will allow the health center to bring comprehensive care back to the rural Big Island town while its flood-damaged Kaʻū Family Health and Dental facility undergoes extensive repairs, which could take up to a year.
The health center, situated near the severely damaged Punaluʻu Bake Shop, was inundated with floodwater, deep mud and debris, leaving the building without power or connectivity and unsafe for patient care.
The new trailers arrived last week and are being converted into fully equipped clinical spaces designed to provide all aspects of health care, including medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy support services.
After Lala struck, representatives from the the Office of Mayor Kimo Alameda joined health center staff in assessing damage to the nonprofit health center. This led to the Mayor’s Office connecting the health center with Diana Bertsch, Ironman Senior Vice President and longtime Kona resident.
She told the health center “we have a philanthropic arm” that would be able to step up “during times like this,” according to a press release.
It was determined the fastest way to help would be the mobile health trailers.
“This extraordinary gift is an investment in the health, strength and recovery of the entire Kaʻū community,” said Victoria Hanes, incoming CEO of Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center. “Because of the Ironman Foundation’s generosity, our patients will not have to wait for our building to reopen before they can access the care they need.”
Audra Tassone-Indeck, executive director/vice president of The Ironman Foundation, added: “We wish this gift had never been necessary; and that the people of Kaʻū had never experienced the devastation that made it so urgently needed. But when the island that has welcomed and supported the Ironman World Championship for so many years needed help, we knew we had to respond.”
Each year, the Ironman World Championship brings athletes, volunteers and supporters from around the world to Kailua-Kona. The next championship is this Saturday, with championship events happening all this week.
