Friday night, Imua Family Services’ Executive Director Dean Wong took the stage at Fantasia Ball and announced the completion of the organization’s Center for Childhood Development. The new 10,500-square foot center will not only be home to Imua, but will house Imua Family Services’ newest program: Imua Family Services Inclusion Preschool. The one-of-a-kind preschool will be the first private inclusion preschool in the state of Hawaii.
“The right place can give an organization a new sense of identity, a new sense of ambition,” said Wong. “In the past, we performed our services from an office space, and though it wasn’t an ideal space for what we had grown into, we made it work for us. With the future in mind, we worked to build a space that not only had the room to house our staff, but included spaces that were specific to our work with children.”
Three years ago, Wong announced a partnership with Easter Seals Hawaii and embarked on its first capital campaign to renovate the old Maui Land & Pine office building on Wakea Avenue. That announcement also was made at Imua’s annual gala. Last year, at the 67th Anniversary Gala Fundraiser, Wong announced the completion of the $1.9M capital campaign and the commencement of building.
The Grand Opening Celebration for the new facility is set for Friday, April 17, 2015 at 10:30am and everyone is welcome, Wong said. At the blessing, Wong will announce a new chapter in future development of Imua Family Services as they expand their services to include the island of Molokai, making Imua Family Services a county-wide organization for the first time in its 68-year history.
“We have been providing services on Maui and Lanai for many years and have always wished to include services on Molokai,” Wong said. “However, we were very cognizant of not trying to force our way in. We were blessed this past year to receive a very specific invitation from the island community, and we are humbled and honored to accept and embrace the Molokai community.”
Since 1947, the nonprofit agency has been providing services to Maui’s keiki with special needs, concerns and developmental delays. Imua Family Services provides comprehensive therapeutic services to children and their families with the resources they need so they can reach their full potential in life. To learn more about Imua Family Services, visit Imuafamilyservices.org or find them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and You Tube @imuafamily or call them at 808-244-7467.
Artist’s rendition of the new Imua facility courtesy Imua Family Services
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