HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0676.006 2004-2006 i ~ q.
March 15, 2006
Councilman Fred Holschuh,
Chair of the Nonprofit Grant Review Committee
Committee Members,
Aloha Councilman Holschuh:
The purpose of this letter is to express our enthusiastic support for the grant application for the
Hamakua Youth Center as submitted by the YWCA. The monies received from this grant, if
awarded, are very important in order for the Center to remain open and expand its programs.
Five Mountains Hawaii has been active within the Hamakua District and the larger region of
North Hawaii these past seven years helping to facilitate a variety of collaborative efforts to
improve community health outcomes. Two of the community health improvement priorities
identified by community leaders in the spring of 2000 were to reduce the rate of substance
abuse among youth and to increase the availability of constructive youth activities. Perhaps the
most visible initiative we have supported is the establishment and work of the North Hawaii
Drug-Free Coalition since its inception in 2002. One of its member community task forces is
Power of Choice Hamakua which has been very active in keeping the Center operational these
past six months. Thus, we have a direct interest in the work of the Center and recognize its
critical importance in addressing these community health improvement priorities.
I have personally visited the Center a number of times recently and am highly encouraged by
the excitement and renewed energy that is happening there. More students are using the
Center, community members are more engaged in activities supporting the Center, and even
the facility and its equipment have been improved. The momentum is definitely on the rise,
and the funds provided by this grant will be critical to keeping this positive momentum building.
In closing, I'd like to reiterate the strong support we have for this grant application. Mahalo for
giving this proposal your serious consideration and support.
Kindest regards,
Pat Linton
Executive Director
Comm. No.
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