Members of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay worked together to renovate a storage shed at Kîlauea Elementary School. The volunteer work was part of the “Weinberg Friends Program,” which allowed the Rotary to designate KPAL to be the recipient of a $10,000 donation from the Weinberg Foundation. Photo Courtesy of Branch Lotspeich, Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay.
By Staff Reports
(KAPA‘A) – The Kaua’i Police Activities League (KPAL) received a check for $10,000 earlier this month thanks to the hard work of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay and a generous gift from the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation.
The Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay chose KPAL to be the recipient of its “Weinberg Friends Program” community service grant. Terms of the grant require a service group to perform a community service project with no less than 25 volunteers, and in return for their service, the club designates a non-profit organization aimed at helping those in need to receive a $10,000 donation from the Weinberg Foundation.
Above photo: Storage shed before renovation. Photo courtesy of Branch Lotspeich, Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay.
To qualify for the grant, members and friends of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay spent a Saturday in January at the Kîlauea Elementary School, renovating a storage shed and power-washing the school’s walkways as its community service project.
“We have followed the hard work of the Kaua’i Police Activities League for several years and continue to be impressed with all that they’ve accomplished in growing the program and creating opportunities for our young people,” stated the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay Community Services Chairperson Branch Lotspeich. “KPAL depends solely on donations and volunteers to keep doing what they do, and we were happy to provide a service to the Kilauea Elementary School while at the same time providing a monetary donation to KPAL through the Weinberg Foundation. It is a win-win for all of us, and our community is the ultimate beneficiary.”
Above photo: Storage shed after renovation. Photo courtesy of Branch Lotspeich, Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay.
KPAL provides an array of activities islandwide for school children ages five through 18, or still in high school. The proceeds will be used to award scholarships for participants who cannot afford the $20 fee per class.
“We are very grateful to the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay and the Weinberg Foundation,” stated Deputy Police Chief and former KPAL Youth Center Director Michael Contrades. “There are many volunteer-based organizations throughout Kaua’i and we are humbled to be the chosen recipient of such a generous donation. This money will help us immensely in our goal to create positive opportunities for our keiki by engaging them in activities outside of school.”
KPAL is a non-profit organization that has enriched the lives of thousands of youngsters over the years. KPAL strives to “fill playgrounds, not prisons” by providing positive activities and role models for our youth in hopes of encouraging good behavior and helping them reach their full potential.
For more information on the KPAL program, please contact Sgt. Mark Ozaki at 652-6999 or mozaki@kauai.gov.