With the number of cases of COVID-19 rising in Hawai‘i every day, Punahou Trustee Pierre Omidyar ’84 and his wife, Pam, recognized a community need and jumped in to help. With a $1 million donation that was matched by Hawai‘i Community Foundation (HCF), the Omidyars created the Hawai‘i Resilience Fund to address the impact of the COVID-19 in the state. An additional $500,000 from the Stupski Foundation brought the total to $2.5 million in initial funds.
The public health sector and community-based nonprofits are first in line to receive support. According to Hawai‘i Community Foundation, the Fund will “protect health care workers on the frontlines who are playing a critical role in testing and screening. The Fund will also expand regional test sites and screenings, and support self-quarantine measures, such as home visits and distribution of food supplies to populations disproportionately impacted by the outbreak.”
HCF is hoping to administer the funds quickly by forgoing the usual grant application process. Organizations needing support should email grants@hcf-hawaii.org. Individuals wishing to contribute to the fund can donate online through the Hawai‘i Community Foundation’s website.