Building community, strengthening lives

BUILDING HOPEN E W S L E T T E R O F F A M I LY P R O M I S E O F H A W A I ‘ I

Winter 2016 | Volume 12, Issue 1

ʻWe will never forget your kindnessʻ

By Sam and Yuki

Thank you so much for creat-ing a new start and for a chance to start thriving in a new life. This moment in our lives was the most crucial and most challenging for us, and yet we made it to our first steps with some guidance and the most help we have received since we came back to Hawaii. Things took a turn fast and before we knew it, we were in the one spot we never thought we would end up: homeless, eight months preg-nant, and no family to help us. We

Continued on page 2

ReflectionsMary SaunderS, executive director chriSty MacPherSon, PrograM Manager

2015 was a wonderful yearWe are into our third month of 2016 and

I am still adjusting to the fact that 2015 has ended. Last year was a wonderful year for Family Promise. Here are some highlights:

▶ In 2015, 243 parents and children were served in our program.

▶ The average stay for our guests was 97 days.

▶ 10,268 bed nights of lodging and 30,804 meals were provided.

▶ Financial counseling and case manage-ment services were provided to all fami-lies.

▶ 100% of our families secured/main-tained employment.

▶ 1,500+ volunteers provided over 30,000 estimated hours of service.

▶ 80% of guest families secured housing.We are even more excited for new op-

portunities and partnerships this year. We are continuing our HousingASAP program with the Hawaii Community Foundation through 2017. As part of a capacity building grant we will be surveying our volunteer stakeholders to gather valuable feedback

and gain resources for housing and employ-ment. We also recruited our first non-con-gregational host site, Building Futures, LLC. They began hosting our families in early January and within a month housed three families in their rental apartments. We are so grateful for this partnership to shelter AND house families. The Metro Rotary Club will also assist with apartment repairs for families in order to make it easier for a landlord to rent to our families.

American Savings Bank is another exciting new partner who will be provid-ing enhanced financial literacy classes for current and graduated families this year. The Na Lei Aloha Foundation will provide rental incentives to graduated families who complete a series of these ASB courses.

We are proud to report that from 2014 to 2015 we increased the number of clients we served by 16% and decreased our shelter stay by 8%. Our new partnerships help ensure for a smoother transition for our families. They are truly blessed to have such a supportive and car-ing community as part of the FPH ohana.

FAMILY PROMISE HOST AND SUPPORT SITESHOSTBuilding Futures, LLCCentral Seventh Day Adventist

ChurchCentral Union ChurchChrist Church Uniting Disciples and

PresbyteriansChrist United Methodist ChurchChurch of the CrossroadsCommunity Church of HonoluluFirst Christian Church of HonoluluHoly Trinity Catholic ChurchJapanese Seventh Day Adventist

ChurchHonpa Hongwanji Mission BetsuinJikoen Hongwanji MissionKailua Christian ChurchKailua Seventh Day Adventist ChurchKailua United Methodist ChurchLife ChurchManoa Valley Church Moiliili Hongwanji MissionNuuanu Congregational ChurchParker United Methodist ChurchSt. Christopher Episcopal ChurchSt. George Church, WaimanaloSt. John Lutheran ChurchSt. John by the Sea Episcopal ChurchSt. John Vianney Catholic ChurchSt. Mark Lutheran ChurchTemple Emanu-elTrinity Missionary Baptist ChurchUnited Church of Christ Judd StreetWesley United Methodist Church

SUPPORTChrist the Foundation Anglican

ChurchCity Church of HonoluluCommunity of Christ KalihiCongregation Sof Ma’aravEmmanuel EpiscopalFirst Chinese Church of ChristFirst Church of the NazareneFirst Presbyterian Church of

HonoluluFirst Unitarian ChurchKahaluu United MethodistKailua HongwanjiKaumakapili ChurchKeolumana United MethodistKilohana United Methodist ChurchLDS—Keolu WardMevlevi Order of America SufiNew Hope-KailuaNew Hope VoyagersSt. Clement’s Episcopal ChurchSt. Mark’s Episcopal ChurchSt. Andrew’s Episcopal ChurchSt. Ann’s Catholic ChurchSt. Anthony of Padua ChurchSt. Augustine Catholic ChurchSt. Luke’s EpiscopalSt. Peter’s Episcopal ChurchThe Church of the EpiphanyWindward Christian ChurchWindward Unity Church

didn’t know what to do. We called many shelters around the island but every single one had a long waiting list. My husband finally came upon Family Promise and we were overjoyed to hear we could have a roof over our heads and food to fill our stom-achs. Most importantly, our baby never had to live on the streets.

Once we were in the program, we were provided everything we needed from per-sonal hygiene to baby stuff. Family Promise provided us a place to stay during the day and we were able to do laundry and cook meals. At the end of the day, we would have our dinner and sleep at various host sites. We had hot meals and a nice bed to sleep in every night without having to worry about the outside weather or bugs. We also had the opportunity to have a great Christmas

for our baby. They gave us so many gifts it was hard to believe our eyes. From all those loving thoughts and giving hands, we were able to find a place and received money to start our new life on a better path.

They provided us the time to save some money and helped pay our first month’s rent and deposit. Now that we have our own place, it’s refreshing and rewarding to be able to start anew with a new family addition and we are less worried about the future. Thank you so much for giving us a chance to thrive in this difficult time. Thank you for helping us get through burdens and many hardships that we could not have fought ourselves. We will always feel blessed from everyone who helped us and we will never forget everyone who thought of us. We will never forget your kindness.

ʻWe will never forget your kindnessʻContinued from page 1

Volunteersyvette Pacheco, coordinator, St. george catholic church

A family and community affairMy family, Michael and son Aidan,

now 6, came to Hawaii from New York in December 2013. I sought out our local par-ish church, St. George in Waimanalo, and dragged my husband and son to Mass one Sunday morning in January, 2014. I needed to feel connected with our new community and go back to my “Catholic” roots. Before the start of Mass, the pastor Father Scott Bush asked who were newcomers or visitors. We were greeted with flower leis and a warm welcome. During this time, St. George was a Family Promise support congregation for Kailua Methodist Church. Father Scott asked for volunteers to bring home-cooked meals for the homeless families at KMC. Michael and I looked at each other and knew right away we would volunteer. We loved the con-cept of sitting with the families and engaging with them. Back in New York, together with our friends, we provided hot cooked meals to homeless families living in transitional shelters. So hearing about Family Promise felt right at home.

We enjoyed “talking story” and breaking bread with the families at Kailua Methodist. It was amazing to see the children interact so easily, even though two of the kids only spoke Chuukese. Adults can learn a lot watching children play, despite their situ-ations, backgrounds or language barriers. Our son Aidan was so thrilled playing with the kids that he asked when were we com-ing back. We continued as a support parish until Family Promise asked Father Scott if

St. George could participate as a host. He accepted and St. George began its first host week in January, 2015. I was now the lead coordinator and excited to be part of the Family Promise community. The volunteers of the parish and Waimanalo community rolled up their sleeves and came through like champions. The volume of ono food and contributions was so immense, we had enough to feed the homeless families on our beaches of Waimanalo. We continue to practice whenever we are blessed with an abundance of food.

January marked our first year anniver-sary serving as a host. My son Aidan always gives a big cheer of “chee hoo” when it’s our turn to host. He has made many friends along the way. He’ll ask where the kids are from the last round and I explain to him that it means they have found housing and that this is a good thing. He understands and makes new friends. We bond with the fami-lies in a very deep human level. If one of the kids is having a birthday, we celebrate with a cake and candles. If any of the new parents needs us to hold their newborns so they can eat, our volunteers happily holds or feeds the babies as families do.

Isn’t this what it’s about? Sharing our time, talents and food with families in need? This is what our church teaches us and it is truly a blessing and an honor to live the word of Christ through service with Family Promise. Thank you!

FAMILY PROMISE OF HAWAI‘IHONOLULU CENTER245 North Kukui Street, Suite 101Honolulu, HI 96817808-548-7478Fax: 808-548-7485

KAILUA CENTER69 North Kainalu DriveKailua, HI 96734808-261-7478

WEBSITEwww.familypromisehawaii.org

MISSION“To mobilize existing community resources to aid families with children experiencing homeless-ness and help them transition to sustainable independence.”

BOARD OF DIRECTORSPRESIDENTJennifer Armstrong

VICE PRESIDENTEllary Kim

VICE PRESIDENTPokey Richardson

SECRETARYNancy Grekin

TREASURERWendy Saito

MEMBERSNancy DownesSusan Au DoyleJulian LipsherBeverly MaricaSandra SimmsWhitney SwobodaLaura ThielenSandy Toma

STAFFEXECUTIVE DIRECTORMary Saunders

PROGRAM MANAGERChristy MacPherson

VOLUNTEER COORDINATORKristin Hamada

DONATIONSFamily Promise of Hawai‘i is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization. Send tax-deductible donations to the addresses above.

BUSINESS DONORSArbor Global LLCBeachside LightingCarr, Gouveia + Associates, CPAs, Inc. Central Building Company, LimitedComplete Construction Services Corp.EAN Holdings, LLC Group 3699Elroy Chong Inc.Foodland Give AlohaHanaumawan.com LLCHawaii Dermatology Centers, Inc.Hawaii Life Real Estate BrokersHealth Ministries Of HawaiiHEMICHonolulu Friends MeetingKOPEsetic Enterprises LLCLeighton Lam Designs, Inc.Matson Navigation CompanyMorning BrewNohea Gallery (Honolulu

Woodturners)Pacific Marine and Supply CompanyPacific Retina CareProgressive Electic Co., IncRiches Hawaii, Inc.

CONGREGATION DONORSCentral Union ChurchChurch of the CrossroadsCommunity Church Of HonoluluEmmanuel Episcopal ChurchHawaii Conference UCCHoly Nativity Thrift ShopHonpa Hongwanji Mission Of HawaiiKahaluu United Methodist ChurchKailua United Methodist Church Kawaiahao ChurchKeolumana United Methodist ChruchManoa Valley ChurchNu`uanu Congregational ChurchPearl City Community ChurchSt. Ann’s Church & Model SchoolSt. Christopher’s Episcopal ChurchSt. John Lutheran ChurchSt. Peter’s Episcopal ChurchThe Parish Of St. ClementWesley United Methodist ChurchWindward United Church of Christ

FOUNDATION DONORS3M FoundationApex Oil Company Charitable

FoundationAumakua HawaiiBank Of Hawaii FoundationBill Healy FoundationFirst Insurance Charitable FoundationFriends Of Hawaii Charities, Inc.Gloria Kosasa Gainsley Fund Harold K. L. Castle FoundationHawaii Bowl FoundationHawaii Community Foundation

Hawaii Hotel Industry Foundation,HMSA FoundationJHamandas Watumull FundKenneth and Diane Matsuura

FoundationKosasa FoundationNa Lei Aloha FoundationOffice of Hawaiian AffairsOmidyar Ohana Fund The Benevity Community Impact Fund

A Fund Of American Endowment Foundation

The Cades FoundationThe Gift Foundation of HawaiiThe Harry & Jeanette Weinberg

FoundationThe Ifuku Family FoundationThe Seto FoundationThrivent FinancialU.S. Charitable Gift Trust

COMMUNITY GROUP DONORSCatholic Women’s GuildCFA Society HawaiiGood Samaritan Society-Pohai NaniHui `O Ko`olauKoolau LodgeLe Jardin AcademyPacific Buddhist AcademyRotary Club Of Windward OahuSt. Theresa SchoolWindward Luk Tung Kuen

INDIVIDUAL DONORSAbbott, Ethan & JeanAdolfi, Frank & Anne-MarieAeby, Jack & JeanneAkina, CharmanAllison, CarlaAnderson, DarlaineAnderson, LisaArciero, LeanneArmstrong, JenniferAsato, Herbert & RuthAsman, Reverend Don & Mrs. JudithAu, KathrynAu, RandallAyabe, Gloria DooAyres, JonaleeAzeri, NancyBaclig, Ernesto & AlisonBaker, Richard & MargaretBalkin, Dr. Peter & MarthaBarboza, Ricardo & ArleneBarstis, MichaelBartlett, JenniferBecker, Lawrence & DianeBerg, Francoise M.Berry, RobinBilkiss, Howard & KathrynBlack, Martin & LauraBlaser, Donald

Blitman, William & ElaineBloom, Dorothy & AlfredBordine, JenniferBowman, Lee AnnBoylan, Dan & GloriaBrady, John & SallyBredberg, JamesBrede, CarolBrossy, Frederic & FrannieBrown, Carey & Leudtke, DavidBrown, RonaldBrown, TeresaBurke, JerilynBurns-Glover, AlysonButler, PhyllisCabacungan, PaigeCall, Jeff & AmyCamacho, ShaunaCarson, Peter & LeeChang, Matthew & RebeccaChang, NormanChina, TrudieChing, Donald & LorettaChing, Philip & GerryChing, Winifred K.O.Chong, ElroyChun Oakland, SuzanneChun, Geary & Ogasawara-Chun,

EileenChung, LadonnaChung, MaryCisco, Cliff & AmyCoarsey, C. KentCoel, Dr. Mark & Elaine Cofield, MarleneColquitt, MelvinCorba, WilliamCox, HeatherCox, Sam & Ripple, Barbara GraceDaeler, CurtisDarrah, WilliamDavis, Lee & AnneDay, Paul & MicheleDay, TerryDeCosta, Tom & MarleneDee, ColleenDiamond, David & CarynDiane Farkas & Larry SteinbergDownes, Patrick & CathrynDownes, Nancy & MichaelDownes, StephenDoyle, Susan Au & KevinEber, LaudraEnglish, Richard & KathleenEspinoza, AbigailEstes, RobertEstrella, JuliaFahrenwald, EleanorFailla, Sam & MargaretFairbanks, SharonFay, Bill & VickyFern, Timothy E.Fink, Arthur & Alice

Finley, Dr. James & Stice, JadeFlom, BettyFloyd-Johnson, CarolynFoil, JackieFragas, Thomas & EthelFujimori, DoriFurukawa, Ed & GraceFurumura, JeffGaeth, BillGamble, Ana R.Gamundoy, LisaGebhard, Jim & DeonGilliland, Leroy & ArlineGodsey, BenjaminGoldman, JudithGono, StanleyGoo, Ted & FrancesGoodhue, SusanGouveia, RonaldGreaney, Ed & BerniceGregson, RandallGrekin, NancyGriffin, PorscheGriswold, RhondaGurowitz, William & SandraHackbarth, Fred & FranHammond, MaryHashimoto, Mark & KathleenHawkins, EmilyHayes, MarkHee, Jo AnnHee, Michael & KarleneHenmi, DrewHiga, Kevin & BettyHildebrant, Mark & HollandHill, FaithHill, SevilHimeda, SylviaHirayama, MyrtleHoag, John & JeanetteHobson, RichardHoffenberg, Peter & Schwartz, SaundraHolt, Walter & JoHottinger, ErinHughes, HeidiIjima, Charles & MargeIshihara, Howard & AliceIshihara, Wayne & JoyIshikawa, John & LoriIto, IrisIto, Mark & LillianIwatani, HelenJaber, LisaJames, Mark & RhodaJardine, StephanieJeanneret, Bradley & AmyJenkins, Tyrie & Norcross, GeorgeJohnson, LynneJohnstone, Paul & ClaudiaNishihara, Jon & MyrnaJones, Donald & JacquelineJones, EdmondJones, W.L. & Fay

Mahalo To Our Generous 2015 Donors!

Jones, WesleyJudd, Lawrence & Silva, CarolJuneja, SatinderKahawaii, CeciliaKaimuloa, LoKakehi, Gary & KarenKalama-Kidder, TishaKamemoto, AllenKamida, Clayton A.Kaneshiro, AileenKashiwahara, KenKatahara, Kyle N.Katz, Lewis & EleanorKawamoto, Gary & JoanKay, Alan & PatKearns, Kevin & LynnKeith, JudyKelley, FlorenceKickertz RN, KatharineKim, EllaryKim, Robert & MarthaKing, NancyKino, Masuo & AliceKlein, Edward & VirginiaKondo, MaryKosasa, ThomasKula, DeborahLagaso, NatividadLance, EvelynLarson, Charles E.Larue, MorganLau, Wilfred & CarolLebowitz, MichaelLee, Carol MonLee, JohnathanLee, MikiLee, RobertaLeong, Gilbert & SylviaLeong, Scott & PeggyLevinson, Steven HenryLewi, JovenaLewis, PeterLierman, Mark & DianeLim,Yal & KristinLind, Dennis & JudyLipsher, JulianLiu, Michael & RowenaLoo, Russell & BinhLoo, SakaeLubera, LorettaLuke, Stanley & Lunow-Luke, LorraineLyon, JohnathonMacKinnon, SusanMacri, PaulMadarang, RosimoMadriaga, CatherineMalakoff, GraceMangayayam, John & GeronimaManuel, GeneMargenau, John & CarlaMarica, BeverlyMasuda, Hazel Mau, Howard & BarbaraMau, Sharlene LukeMcAllaster, WendieMcCabe, Thomas & LorrainaMcCoy, PamelaMcCurley, Frankie

McGrath, Mary FlandersMcIntyre, MaryMcLachlin, Chris & BethMcNamee, Dr. & Mrs. PhilipMekaru, LindaMelish, John & MarianMerrithew, AyakoMeyers, PatMia, Rebecca & Kim, FayeMilks, William & The Honorable MarieMinn, Albert & ShirleyMinsky, Harvey & DianeMitchell, JessieMitchell, SuzanMitre, AdrianMiyamoto, RyanMiyao, WayneMiyasato, Leigh-AnnMorelli, PaulaMorikawa, BettyMorishige, Danny & Wong, LiviaMorishige, SusanMorita, ClydeMoriwaki, SharonMosher-Cates, MonicaMow-Taira, WendyMui, LindaMui, LoisMulford, CarolMun, KarenMurakami, Myrone & CarolMurakami, YoshikoMurata, Sanford & FrancesMuronaka, Robert & KarenMurray, Robert & LynnMyers, JamesMyers, MichaelNagaishi, Claude & MaisieNaito, TobiNakagawa, Nelson & GraceNakagawa, PaulNakamura, Dean & DeniceNakamura, Donald & JuliaNakamura, EvelynNakata, JeanNehmad, RobertNelson, NoritaNielsen, KarenNurding, BrianOffner, Jerome & KathleenOffner, Mary EllenOhta, Thomas & JennieOkamura, ArleneO’Reilly, Joseph & KatherineOrtel, MaryOshiro, Robin & AndreaOtagaki, SharonPacht, Dennis OttoPang, Henry & AnnaPark, EugeniaParola, Gene & ShirleyPeck, LisaPeck, TheodorePelletier, Arm& & MaryPender, PhyllisPeters, DennisPeterson, DebraPierce, Helen

Pietsch, Mike & JudyPignataro, Charles & SusanPiimauna, MaePoha, NataliePopper, AnnPowers, HirokoProctor, RichardRackmil, HarveyRantala, Judy ARayray, JosefinaReese, Mary PecotReeves, David & BernieReisland, Jack & LindaRemedios, CarolynRichardson, Alan & JudyRichardson, GretaRichardson, PokeyRiddle, BunnyRinguette, LeslieRobertson, ElDoraRobison, Mark & SheriRocco, SusanRuze, ElizabethSaiki, Kenneth & KumikoSaito, Anthony & AlyssaSaito, EricSaito, WendySakamoto, Thomas & LeatriceSakuma, GarySamson, MarthaSaracco, RobertSato, FaithSchaeffer, MaureenSchneider, JenniferSchneiderman, SueSeemann, WilliamSeibel, Rod & MicheleSekigawa, GeorgetteSensui, LeonardSerikaku, EthelService, BarbaraShacter, Carolyn MShain, ReneeShigemura, HelenShintani, SusanShultz, Edward & LaurelSiaana, JennySigrah, KimberlySilva, Carol ESimms, SandraSison, AlfredSlavish, James ASlavish, SueSlay, Hudson & SarahSmith, BerylSmith, DouglasSoifer, Aviam & Booth, MarleneSouth, LouiseSouthworth, John & SigridSpiegelberg, Harry & PattiSprague, JackieStack, TitaStaggs, Michael & JanaStanbro, MaxineStehouwer, BarbaraSteiger, Byron & DianneSterling, JudithStevens, Anne

Stone, Allan & BethStrauss, EveSubotic, NebojsaSuzui, CaroleSwoboda, WhitneyTabali, Juan & AllisonTakagi, David & LeeTakara, KathrynTakesue, ChadTaketa, SachikoTakushi, MorrisTamashiro, Jocelyn & DavidTanabe, YoshieTanaka, EdithTanonaka, HopeTashiro, Gary & AnnetteTaufoou, KetiTawarahara, BerniceTaylor, SandraTengan, David & ThelmaTerumoto, BeatriceThielen, CynthiaThielen, LauraTiedjen, ShirleyToma, SandraTonokawa, Douglas & JaneTsukamoto, Tate & KymTsukayama, Alvin & MaryTuata, DanielleTurse, James & CynthiaUesato, Philip & LindaUnten, KyleUyechi, AllenVaughan, David & FrancesVentula-Honda, EleanorWake, WallyWaracka, KathyWashofsky, CraigWatanabe, Robert & LillyWatumull, JD & JulieWebster, Travis & LisaWeiner, GailWeldon, KathrynWhite, CynthiaWhitesell, Carol B.Willson, Richard & DonnaWiseman, GaryWiteck, John J.Wong, Alvin & Schandler-Wong, TrudyWong, BradleyWong, Nathan A KWong, Wai Kit & Nakamura, PatriciaWyman, George & Mary AnnWyvill, Samuel & MargaretYago, SandraYamaguchi, JanneYamamoto, AmyYamamoto, Gregory & CherylanneYamamoto, Paul & PaulaYamanaka, Roy & GailYoshida, Jamie & Del Mundo, JasonYoshimi, DinaYoung, JanYoung, Kristen S LYoung, Norman & CarolYuen, RobertYukimura, Jiro & JennieZane, Merlin & Gloria

Family Promise of Hawai‘i Building community, strengthening lives 245 N. Kukui Street, Suite 101 Honolulu, HI 96817

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

NonProfit Org.US Postage

PAIDHonolulu, HI

Permit No. 289

Remember ...It’s easy to donate to Family Promise of Hawaii through Aloha United Waywww.auw.org Select donor # 75620www.familypromisehawaii.org

Happy 10th Anniversary Family Promise Hawaii!

Parents and children provided housing support: 1505Total number of families served: 403

Upcoming Events APRIL

▶ Attention all volunteers! Please watch for our upcoming volunteer surveys

MAY ▶ Visitor Industry

Charity Walk on May 21, 2016 (sign-up available through Kristin)

AUGUST ▶ 4th Annual Fun

Run (date TBA)