First Time The Foundation Has Awarded Funding To Public Charities

Grants totalling $30,000 have been awarded to three Hawaii nonprofits whose efforts benefit Hawaii's youth and educational programs and services. The grants, provided by Alaska Airlines Foundation, represent the first time the foundation has awarded funds to public charities in the state of Hawaii.

Grants were made to the following non-profits:

After-School All-Stars Hawaii – ASAS Hawaii provides students with an alternative to risky after-school activities by offering fun and social learning activities, while improving their ability to advance to the next grade level. ASAS partners with seven schools on Oahu and three schools on Hawaii Island.
Friends of Hawaii Robotics – Through robotics, Friends works with a number of local communities, including Title 1 and at-risk schools across the state of Hawaii, to create opportunities for students to develop critical life skills.
Hawaii Arts Alliance – The Arts Alliance provides support for nine public school Performing Arts Learning Centers on Kauai, Oahu, Maui and Hawaii Island, whose mission is to provide public school students the opportunity to develop their talents in the arts.

Each organization will receive a $10,000 donation to support their missions of continuing to help Hawaii's youths succeed in school, excel in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) education, and develop a greater understanding of the arts.

"We have seen the impact these organizations provide to the youths they serve," said Tim Thompson, Alaska Airlines Foundation's executive director. "The Alaska Airlines Foundation is proud to partner with these non-profits and support their commitment to Hawaii's future generations. Their collective efforts are ensuring a bright future for communities throughout the Islands today and for years to come."

Alaska Airlines and the Alaska Airlines Foundation have contributed nearly $500,000 of monetary and in-kind donations to various Hawaii-based organizations and agencies this past year. In 2014, Alaska Airlines invested nearly $10 million in non-profit organizations in communities across its route network.

"These grants will make a difference in the future of our local youths," said Daniel Chun, Alaska's regional manager of sales and community marketing - Hawaii. "Combined with Alaska's current giving efforts, this added support from the Alaska Airlines Foundation further strengthens our proud commitment to Hawaii. I'm pleased to see the deep connections we have made with a number of organizations across the Islands committed to our keiki and their families."

Alaska Airlines serves all four main Hawaiian Islands to seven West Coast destinations and Anchorage. With new flights between San Diego and Kona, on Hawaii Island, scheduled to begin on March 5, Alaska will offer 27 peak-day departures to the continental U.S and Alaska.

(Image provided by Alaska Airlines Foundation. From top, presentations to the After School All Stars, Arts Alliance, Friends of Hawaii Robotics)

FMI: http://bit.ly/1IwxCZJ.