HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0177.135 1998-2000 ® Friends of the
Children's Advocacy Center
of West Hawaii
77-6403 Nalani St. • Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 ~
(808) 326-2828 • FAX (808) 326-2819
April 19, 1999
RE: REQUEST FOR COUNTY GRANT OF $16,000
To the Hawaii County Council:
The Friends of the Children's Advocacy Center of West Hawaii recently submitted our annual
proposal for funding assistance from IIawaii County in the amount of $15,000. The County
Auditor has recommended we be granted the full amount requested, based on need,
appropriateness of funding and other considerations. While we are aware grant request amounts
can be and are generally reduced, we would ask that any cut in the amount requested be minimal.
Why? Because this funding is critical to helping what is essentially a defenseless class of
persons in our society: children who have been victimized by sexual and physical abuse or by
neglect. This abuse has immediate and long term consequences for children: it severely
diminishes their self-esteem as well as starting a "cycle of abuse," with these children -when they
become adults -often abusing their mates, their own children or others. Pro-active intervention is
vital to giving kids a chance in life and to break the cycle of abuse.
The Friends of the Children's Advocacy Center uses the County funding it receives to help
"enhance" the lives of abused or neglected children, who can often fall through the cracks with
nobody to care about what happens to Lhem. Money from the Friends gives kids a chance to
participate with their peers in academic, athletic and special occasion activities that help them feel
wanted and good about, being a child again.
The Friends receives many ongoing requests for monetary assistance to help abused kids from
social service professionals. These requests are typically "last resort": that is, other agency
resources have been exhausted and, if the Friends can't help, the child's needs go unmet.
Just one quick example of how these kids are forgotten by society: each year the Friends
provides gift certificates for more than 125 West IIawaii kids at Christmas -and, sadly, it's often
the only present they will receive. So, a few thousand dollars less in funding may not seem like
much, but it could make a huge difference in the lives o{'children who have been victimized and
whose only wish is to be a happy child.
We appreciate your past support and your continued caring about our children.
Yours truly,
Randy F.chito, President ~77 ~35
I~'riends of the Children's Advocacy Center of West IIawaii Co~• No,
File No. ~ U D
Ref. To: presented CovNaL
Ref. Date ~'F -21-99