The Hana Youth Center will soon have a permanent computer lab thanks to a $5,000 donation from the Hagar Family Foundation. Sammy Hagar–a part-time Maui resident–and his Hagar Family Foundation has supported the Youth Center for years.
The donation supplements the center’s previous fund-raising efforts, meeting its $10,000 goal to provide students with much-needed computers and software.
“We are grateful to the Hagar Family Foundation for their generous donation,” said Keoki Kalani, executive director for the Hana Youth Center. “We live in a rural community, so for many of our members, the only access to a computer is through the Hana Youth Center. The new equipment enables our students to have Internet access for research projects, do school work, and generally broaden their knowledge of the world outside of our small town.”
The center previously relied on loaned computers from a local nonprofit, which had to be returned after the lease was up. The new computer lab is expected to be operational in time for the New Year. In appreciation of their ongoing support, the permanent lab will be dedicated to the Hagar Family Foundation.
The Hana Youth Center was established in 1986 and currently serves 210 youth, with an average of 42 attendees per day. Regular programming includes “talk story” sessions and homework time; Kids Café–the Food Bank’s Feeding America program; and Youth Aide and Alu Like Inc.–offering students employment opportunities.
The Hana Youth Center also partners with the Hana Senior Center (Hale Hulu Mamo) and Hana Family Resource Center (Ohana Makamae) to organize a Movie in the Park event seven times a year.
If you’d like to make a donation to the Hana Youth Center, mail a check to P.O. Box 464, Hana, HI 96713; checks can be made out to “Hana Youth Center.” For more information about the Hana Youth Center, call 808-248-8504 or visit hanayouthcenter.org.
Photo courtesy Hana Youth Center
Comments
comments