Collaboration is key to creating change and providing support to women and families in need.
On this page, we thank the many organizations and individuals who have shared their time, talents and gifts with YWCA O‘ahu. We pay your kindness forward through our programs and services, keeping the cycle of community ever-thriving!
September 24, 2020
YWCA O‘ahu was selected as the beneficiary of the Honolulu Star-Advertiser Subscriber Donation Program, receiving $125,000 to support its operations in 2020. The Honolulu Star-Advertiser created the Subscriber Donation Program as a way for the newspaper's subscribers to donate to a selected charity or nonprofit when they pay for their newspaper subscriptions. Star-Advertiser connects readers to various charities by running ads in paper and on subscription invoices that educate and encourage support of these deserving organizations. The Subscriber Donation Program has raised over $1 million in donations for local charities and community groups.
August 28, 2020
A big mahalo to Josielyn and our Honolulu friends at BCBG Max Azria and BCBGeneration for thoughtfully donating dresses to benefit our Dress for Success Honolulu program. These beautiful dresses will help YWCA O'ahu continue to empower women to achieve economic independence.
August 21, 2020
More #FeelGoodFriday shout outs: AllState Foundation has been a longtime supporter of our programs here at YWCA O‘ahu. The grants they have provided over the years has enabled us to serve women in our community. This year, we’re especially thankful for their $15,000 grant for our women in Fernhurst and Dress for Success Honolulu. Mahalo, The Allstate Foundation!
August 17, 2020
Sending “mahalos” to Alx Kawakami of Iolani, Inc., for dropping by YWCA Laniākea today with the first donation of clothing for our Dress for Success Honolulu (DFSH) program! We are so grateful for the generosity of the "Aloha for Aloha" initiative that Iolani has spearheaded to serve the community. Our DFSH staff and YWCA O'ahu CEO Noriko Namiki gave Alx a quick tour of the DFSH Boutique and Career Center, where women in need are provided professional attire and job training/readiness support. 🌺🤙
August 14, 2020
Residential Youth Services and Empowerment (RYSE) board member Dana Anderson (at left in photo) came by YWCA O‘ahu to pick up donations of clothing from YMCA of Honolulu and YWCA O‘ahu for RYSE youth. Dana is assisted by Maryann Bray of our Member Services team with the donations.
August 13, 2020
Shout out to HomeStreet Bank for their $15,000 grant to our Fernhurst community-based work furlough program and Professional Women’s Group. They also generously surprised our Fernhurst staff and residents with dinner from L&L! HomeStreet Bank has been a longstanding supporter of YWCA Oahu’s Economic Advancement Programs. Their contribution will empower women to successfully transition from prison back into the community with job readiness, stable employment and housing
July 17, 2020
For #FeelGoodFriday, we'd like to send a major mahalo shout out to Camille Heung at Valia Honolulu for the "Small Businesses in Support of Positive Change" silent auction fundraiser she coordinated last month. Thank you also to the local small business owners who donated items for the silent auction, and of course to all bidders who showed their support for social justice issues. 🧡
Positive change starts with building a community of drive, dedication, and a desire to connect one another to a greater good for all. We look forward to moving forward together in the mission of "eliminating racism, empowering women."
July 10, 2020
Mahalo to Lowe’s Home Improvement of Iwilei for donating much needed cleaning supplies and masks. These in-kind donations will be a big help to support our YWCA Fernhurst Program residents and staff. We are so grateful for Lowe’s donations!
June 29, 2020
We are honored to have received a $25,000 grant from the Zilber Family Foundation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The Zilber Family Foundation is committed to enhancing community well-being. They support nonprofit organizations to address basic needs and ensure personal safety, increase access to social and economic opportunity, and improve the quality of life in neighborhoods. Their mission continues as they work remotely to support communities and organizations like ours during this critical time.
June 5, 2020
Two of our amazing volunteers, Kathy Inkinen and Cayenne Pe‘a, were featured on Coca-Cola’s billboard in Times Square. The billboard was part of the “Together We Can” campaign, an effort to share a message of hope and humanity during the COVID-19 crisis. In April, YWCA O‘ahu received a generous $25,000 grant to support and supplement operational needs resulting from COVID-19. This grant was made possible through a partnership between the Coca-Cola Foundation and the YWCA USA Emergency Relief and Community Resiliency Fund. Mahalo, Coca-Cola!
May 11, 2020
Check out the beautiful masks made by the local entrepreneurs of Fused Hawaii! We are eager to support small businesses and promote the amazing work being done by our community members. Mahalo to the Fused Hawaii ‘ohana for donating masks for our YWCA O‘ahu team and clients, and to Meli James of Mana Up Hawaii for the collaboration!
May 8, 2020
Got the feel-good vibes with our friends from Cafe Julia at YWCA! We hope you were able to order their awesome "Grill at Home" dinner to-go package. A portion of the proceeds from the “Grill at Home” packages will go toward supporting YWCA Oahu’s programs and services.
May 4, 2020
Helen Nakano from the Neighborhood Watch of Manoa donated fabric masks for YWCA Fernhurst. They made 300 fabric masks for their neighborhood watch group and shared the remaining masks with our Fernhurst staff and residents. Helen is a great supporter of YWCA O‘ahu and a former LeaderLuncheon honoree.
May 3, 2020
It truly takes a village — mahalo to the network of churches, transitional housing partners, community members and more who are on the front lines helping women get back on their feet after incarceration. These partners provided a much-appreciated donation of Subway sandwiches and chips for our YWCA Fernhurst residents to enjoy. Special thanks to Judge Karen Radius and the Pu‘a Foundation for their coordination and collaboration.
May 1, 2020
The wonderful women of the P.E.O. International local chapter donated $5,000 toward the Fernhurst home kitchen project. Rona Ako of P.E.O. International graciously stopped by to drop off the donations and check in with our Fernhurst residents and staff. We really appreciate the partnership and friendship that have been formed with P.E.O. International and YWCA O‘ahu to provide opportunities and resources for women in need.
May 4, 2020
We are grateful to the HT Hayashi Foundation for their generous $20,000 gift to YWCA O'ahu. This unrestricted award was granted to YWCA O'ahu and other organizations to provide emergency funding during the COVID-19 crisis. YWCA O'ahu is honored to partner with the HT Hayashi Foundation as they continue to look to create lasting change and positive impact with the community.
April 30, 2020
Mahalo to PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc. for offering a "Donation Matching Challenge" in honor of YWCA Oahu's 120th anniversary! PBR Hawaii matched all donations made to YWCA O'ahu up to $1,200 from April 23-30, 2020.
April 28, 2020
Sending a shout out to our wonderful YWCA O'ahu board treasurer Cayenne Pe'a. Cayenne made an arrangement for her mom to make 60 masks for Fernhurst staff and residents, and for other YWCA O'ahu staff in need. As her mom Laurie made the masks, Cayenne washed all of them with care before she handed them to us.
April 21, 2020
The awesome folks at Maniology designed very thoughtful cards, honoring our Fernhurst moms who are doing their best to build better lives for themselves and their families. These positive messages will go a long way toward helping Fernhurst residents move forward on their transitional journey out of incarceration and into a future filled with hope.
April 20, 2020
Our heartfelt thanks to the awesome folks at Every1ne Hawaii for a much-appreciated donation of masks for our YWCA Fernhurst staff and residents. Fernhurst is still operating 24/7, with the YWCA O'ahu 'ohana providing support for the women residents who are on a healing journey reintegrating back into the community after incarceration. Shout outs to Nicole Velasco and Robert Kurisu for facilitating this donation.
April 13, 2020
Sending a huge "mahalo" to the amazing Kathy Inkinen for her awesome donation of 42 handmade face masks for our YWCA Fernhurst staff and residents. We are so grateful for Kathy's dedicated support of YWCA O'ahu over the years -- she's been a longtime volunteer, past co-chair of LeaderLuncheon, and a LeaderLuncheon honoree in 2019. Thank you, Kathy, for your creativity, crafting skills, and continued care for the YWCA O'ahu 'ohana!
April 2, 2020
Mahalo to the #SanitizerHui! Our staffers Kepola, Maryann and Rhonda were on hand to receive an awesome donation of hand sanitizer supplies for YWCA Fernhurst. The hand sanitizer, produced by Kō Hana Rum, is a huge help in protecting residents and staff from COVID-19. Special mahalos to Meli James of Mana Up Hawaii for facilitating the connection, and for her continued support of the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership.