HCAP Weekly August 18, 2014

In this week’s issue:

HCAP Attends Bank of Hawaii Live Kōkua Beneficiary Expo- Mahalo Bank of Hawaii!
HCAP Announces New Head Start Assistant Director
Head Start Students Learn About Safety from Police Officers
Families Learn about HCAP Services at the Ko’olauloa Health Center Fair

HCAP Attends Bank of Hawaii Live Kōkua Beneficiary Expo- Mahalo Bank of Hawaii!

On Friday, August 22, HCAP staff participated in the 2014 Bank of Hawaii Live Kōkua Giving Campaign Beneficiary Expo in downtown Honolulu. As HCAP was selected as a beneficiary of the 2014 campaign, we had the opportunity to kick off the campaign by meeting Bank of Hawaii employees one-on-one to share HCAP’s mission and programs at this event.

The event was well-attended, as Bank of Hawaii organized a “Meet the Beneficiaries Challenge” for their employees, and provided refreshments for the crowd.

As HCAP has had a long history of relationships with Bank of Hawaii, HCAP Board Member Bill Shiroma, Manager of the BOH Waiakamilo Branch arranged for bank employees who have served on HCAP’s board, or have worked closely with HCAP, to get together for a photo opportunity. It was great to connect with old friends and supporters, as well as make new connections.

HCAP is honored to have been selected as a beneficiary along with all of the other worthy non-profits who do so much in our communities. This year’s Live Kōkua Giving Campaign will begin on Monday, August 25 and conclude on Friday, September 26. If you know any Bank of Hawaii employees, please encourage them to support HCAP during the campaign.

HCAP Announces New Head Start Assistant Director

HCAP is pleased to announce that Donna Manibog has been named HCAP Head Start Assistant Director. Donna has 21 years of experience in human services, family health and engagement, and early education through a wide variety of positions she has held throughout her many years at HCAP. Donna, who began her employment at HCAP in 1993 as a Secretary and was most recently the Head Start program’s ERSEA (Eligibility, Recruitment, Selection, Enrollment, and Attendance) team Manager, has served the agency in numerous important capacities such as a Family Services Coordinator, Training Specialist, Family Advocate Mentor, Family Advocate, and as an Employment Training Coordinator for Dislocated Workers/Older Individuals. Most recently, she has been instrumental in the development, implementation and management of ERSEA and Family Engagement services, policies and procedures.

Robert Piper, HCAP Executive Director, states “Donna is a welcomed addition to the executive management team of the Head Start program. She exemplifies all of the good things that our agency and program stand for. She is ‘homegrown’ in our agency and serves as a model for all our staff and clients to follow.”

Lynn Cabato, HCAP Head Start Director, adds that “Donna exhibits all of the positive qualities we were looking for in our Assistant Director. She works well with others and has shown the ability to bring people together to work towards a common goal.”

Mr. Piper also states that “I am proud to report that this selection was made amongst a national and local back-drop, and I am even more proud to say that each of our finalists were from within HCAP Head Start, and were by far more highly qualified in comparison to the external applicants. I am grateful for each candidate’s personal consideration and continued willingness to serve our communities.”

HCAP congratulates and is excited to have Donna as a new HCAP Head Start Assistant Director, and looks forward to benefitting from her wealth of experience.

Head Start Students Learn About Safety from Police Officers

Head Start Ewa children were visited by Ewa community police officers. The police officers talked to the children about safety, including traffic signs and wearing a helmet when riding a bike or scooter. The officers talked to the children about what number to call when they need help and when they should call. After the first group of police officers spoke, the children got to see a police car and experience what it’s like inside. Everyone, including the officers, had a lot of fun and laughs. Some children were afraid of police officers but, after this visit, they all learned that police officers are our friends and are here to help.

Families Learn about HCAP Services at the Ko’olauloa Health Center Fair

On August 16, 2014, Windward District Service Center staff participated in Ko’olauloa Health Center’s Annual Health Fair at Laie Elementary School from 9am-3pm. Approximately 30 organizations helped to educate the public on resources for families in the Windward community. About 300 people from the area stopped by agency and food booths. The children were entertained at the bounce castle while parents gathered information and enjoyed live entertainment. HCAP staff promoted all of our agency programs and had a great time meeting new people.