HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0676.002 2004-2006 Joel Cohen & Phyllis Tarail
PO Box 5022
Kukuihaele HI 96727
I " I ~ " ~ March 10, 2006
Councilman Fred Holschuh,
Chair of the Nonprofit Grant Review Committee
Committee Members,
Aloha,
In December 2005, we became members of the rejuvenated YWCA Hamakua
Youth Center Advisory Committee, just as the Youth Center was on the verge of
having to close its doors permanently due to funding and staffing issues. This
valuable community facility actually closed for 2 weeks. However, with the
support and personal involvement of the Advisory Committee and other
community supporters, the Youth Center is quickly becoming a model for other
communities to emulate. We recognized the importance of this valuable facility,
located less than a block from Honoka'a High and Intermediate School, as a
sanctuary that provides a fun and safe place for youth to go after school. This
helps keep them from getting involved with alcohol and drugs and unhealthy life
styles. As we have been actively involved in a number of community
organizations in Hamakua for the past four (4) years, including Power of Choice-
Hamakua, avolunteer-based group that has been recognized for its substance
abuse prevention efforts, we feel that this facility provides a critical preventive
resource in our community.
A visit to the Center soon reveals the feelings of excitement, genuine enthusiasm
and positive energy coming from the youth and from the adult program
coordinator and volunteers. This is a fun place to be! Our Youth Center is the
only program and facility of its type in North Hawaii. It has a pool table, a ping
pong table, computer stations, a TV, as well as areas to do homework or just
relax and have fun listening to music and/or dancing. Both boys and girls attend
the center with 40-60 youth participating daily after school.
There is only one paid staff person, supplemented by adult volunteer leaders-a
good bang-for-the-buck. This is truly a community and volunteer supported
program that serves the youth of our community extremely well.
The 16 volunteer Advisory Committee members are all personally committed to
keeping the Center alive and well. All the members have the energy and
enthusiasm plus the organizational capabilities to make the Youth Center a
continuing success story. Two of the Committee members are youth that
regularly attend the Youth Center and these youth are key to providing programs
that the youth want.
comm. No. . Z.
Ref. To:
Ra~f. Date
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In addition to community players like us, the Youth Center Advisory Committee
members represent many local organizations including the PTSA of Honoka'a
High and Intermediate School, North Hawaii Drug-Free Coalition, Lokahi
Treatment Centers, Honoka'a Girls Leadership Academy, Hawaii County Police
Dept., and the Honoka'a Business Association. There are many other individuals
and groups in Hamakua that are also major supporters. This is truly a
community based effort.
In closing, we respectfully request that this program be given the highest priority
for funding, as money is the only thing this great place is lacking!
Mahalo for your consideration,
Joel Cohen and Phyllis Tarail
775-1306
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