Grant funding for preschool and after-school programs is now available to Kaua’i organizations. The program is an initiative of the Kaua’i County Council in partnership with the Hawai’i Community Foundation and Life’s Choices Kaua’i. Shown in the photo are (Lt. to Rt.): Life’s Choices Kaua’i Coordinator Theresa Koki; Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura; Darcie Yukimura, Hawai’i Community Foundation Senior Philanthropic Services officer; and Mayor Bernard Carvalho, Jr.
By Staff Reports
(LĪHU‘E)– County officials announced today that a total of $150,000 is available in grant funding for preschool and after-school programs.
This program is an initiative of the Kauai County Council to support effective, long-term prevention of problem youth behaviors such as drug use, teen pregnancy, school drop-out, delinquency, suicide and violence.
“Research has shown that protective factors such as early education and after-school activities will help to ‘immunize’ our children and produce confident, capable, healthy and caring young people and adults,” said Council Vice Chair Nadine Nakamura.
Nakamura and Councilmember JoAnn Yukimura were instrumental in proposing the pilot program.
Funding for the pilot program was appropriated by the County Council.
The program is being administered by the Hawai’i Community Foundation through its FLEX Grants Program in partnership with Life’s Choices Kaua’i.
“Prevention is one of the key components in the Kaua’i Community Drug Response Plan,” noted Life’s Choices Coordinator Theresa Koki. “By focusing on this, we can help lay a solid foundation for our children’s health, academic success, as well as their social and emotional well-being.”
Grant proposals are being accepted online at the Hawai’i Community Foundation website, http://www.hawaiicommunityfoundation.org/flex.
The deadline to submit a proposal for the first round is August 14, 2013. A portion of the funds will be available in 2014 via the FLEX program to allow organizations more time to submit an application.
Questions about this request for proposals should be directed to Darcie Yukimura, Hawai’i Community Foundation Senior Philanthropic Services officer, at 245-4585 or via email at dyukimura@hcf-hawaii.org.