NEWS RELEASE

First Hawaiian Bank Employees and Retirees Donate $877,457 through its Kokua Mai Campaign for Charities in Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan

$9.5 million contributed since 2007, Exceeds 2019 giving amount of $813,760

HONOLULU, December 28, 2020 – First Hawaiian Bank (FHB) today announced that bank employees and retirees gave a heartfelt donation of $877,457 to 37 charities in Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan as part of the bank’s annual Kokua Mai campaign. The bank’s Kokua Mai giving program allows its employees to contribute to causes and charities that are personally meaningful to them. Established in 2007, employees and retirees have donated over $9.5 million through Kokua Mai in support of thousands of people who receive assistance through non-profit organizations that are a part of the program. 

Although gathering for activities was curtailed this year due to COVID-19 safety precautions, employees remained committed to helping local non-profit agencies as they struggled to keep up with community demands – particularly the needs of our vulnerable kupuna and keiki as well as the growing number of hungry families. 98% of the bank’s employees participated with financial donations this year, a remarkable amount of support during a global pandemic.

“This year, our Kokua Mai Campaign was a tremendous success. Not only did our team members step up to donate, but they went above and beyond our expectations. They truly demonstrated that the bank’s culture of caring is at the core of who we are as they selflessly donated to non-profits that are helping to meet the needs of our community as the pandemic continues to affect us all,” said Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian Bank chairman, president, and chief executive officer. “I am very proud of our Ohana and their dedication to strengthening our communities.”

The program is run completely by employees and the bank covers all program costs so that 100 percent of every employee contribution goes to their local charity of choice in the communities FHB serves. The program includes a variety of activities to encourage employees to donate to their favorite charities from baked goods and book sales to online auctions. This year, Kokua Mai ran from October 13 through November 13 and benefited the following organizations that focus on health, education, self-sufficiency and life-sustaining services:

  1. American Red Cross, Hawaii, Guam & Northern Mariana Islands Chapters
  2. Aloha Harvest
  3. Aloha United Way
  4. Ayuda Foundation
  5. Big Brothers, Big Sisters Hawaii
  6. Blood Bank of Hawaii
  7. Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii
  8. Catholic Charities Hawaii
  9. Child and Family Service
  10. Domestic Violence Action Center
  11. Easter Seals Hawaii
  12. Family Programs Hawaii
  13. Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc.
  14. Hale Makua Health Services
  15. Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation
  16. Hawaii Foodbank
  17. Hawaii Island United Way
  18. HUGS (Help, Understanding and Group Support)
  19. Imua Family Services
  20. Kama`aina Kids
  21. Kauai Hospice
  22. Kauai United Way
  23. Lanai Community Association
  24. Make-A-Wish Hawaii and Make-A-Wish Guam& CNMI
  25. Maui United Way
  26. Palama Settlement
  27. Pali Momi Women’s Center (Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment)
  28. Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii
  29. Salvation Army Hawaii (includes Guam and Saipan Corps)
  30. Special Olympics Hawaii, Inc.
  31. Teach for America
  32. Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center

 Other ways First Hawaiian Bank and its employees give back to the community:

  • The bank, its employees, and the First Hawaiian Bank Foundation annually donate more than $4.25 million to over 400 charities, making it one of the largest corporate contributors to charity in Hawaii.
  • To help Hawaii’s communities impacted by COVID-19, FHB launched the Aloha for Hawaii campaign as a special program to offer much-needed support to local restaurants while at the same time providing critical funds to non-profit organizations that support those people most at risk to COVID-19 and its impacts. The campaign ran from April 13 to June 7, 2020, reaching it’s one million restaurant takeout or delivery purchase goal in just eight weeks, generating $24.5 million in support for the restaurant industry. Through the “Aloha for Hawaii” Fund, the organization donated a total of $1 million, plus an additional $25,000 through its partnership with Marcus Mariota’s Motiv8 Foundation, to Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan non-profit, reaching over 536,000 people impacted by the pandemic;  354,000 meals were provided and 8,700 people received health and human services support. 
  • Each year, the bank’s branches serve as convenient community collection points for various charitable causes, as well as natural disaster recovery and relief efforts, such as hurricanes, flooding, and volcanic eruptions. From December 16 through December 31, 2020, monetary donations are being accepted for the Good Neighbor Fund, a partnership with the Honolulu Star¬-Advertiser and First Hawaiian Bank to benefit Helping Hands Hawaii and its Adopt A Family program. 

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