TheBuzz
TheBuzz
Hawaii's movie theater chains will give away 100 percent of ticket and concession sales earned tomorrow. Movie and memento
money to helpThe donations to the September 11th Fund set up by United Way and the American Red Cross are part of a mass fund-raiser organized by the National Association of Theater Owners, of which Consolidated Theatres, Signature Theatres LLC and Wallace Theatre Corp. are members.
"We are really happy to be doing this," Consolidated Regional Director Glenn Yim said.
There is no estimate on how much the theaters might raise, but Yim said.
Joe Cuculich, Hawaiian division manager for Signature Theatres, confirmed the company's locations would donate all proceeds."The whole day, no gimmicks. It's a super deal," he said.
Small biz pitches in too
Little Hawaiian Craft Shop in the Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is among the many small businesses chipping in to the disaster relief effort.Employees have been preparing red white and blue ribbons, and collecting donations in a canister for the American Red Cross. A little more than $1,000 had been collected at last count.
Echoing a common sentiment, Figueira said, "We felt helpless," and just decided to try something to see what would happen. "At one point we couldn't keep up with production of ribbons."
Figueira said, "It's been a really neat experience. We've never done anything like this before." She hopes they never have reason to again.
Big Island businesswoman Karen Repsher, owner of PostNet in Hilo, is also spreading the colors.
Through her packing, shipping and business services store at Prince Kuhio Plaza and on her Web site www.rumper stickers.com, she's selling patriotic bumper stickers with a portion of the proceeds to be donated to the American Red Cross.
One features a bald eagle and the words "The United States of America." The uprights of the "M" are the World Trade Center towers -- the background is the stars and stripes.
With increasing publicity for such efforts a mere newspaper story, radio dial or Internet click away, she welcomes design ideas, and is prepared for an increase in orders.
"In this day and age and after such tragic events I would love to be overwhelmed with something so positive," Repsher said.
Nohea Gallery, meanwhile, will donate 20 percent of profits received via corporate orders to benefit the Red Cross disaster relief fund. The store has locations in Ward Warehouse, Ohana Waikiki Reef Towers, Sheraton Moana Surfrider and the Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hawaii Hotel.
Erika Engle is a reporter with the Star-Bulletin.
Call 529-4302, fax 529-4750 or write to Erika Engle,
Honolulu Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., No. 7-210,
Honolulu, HI 96813. She can also be reached
at: eengle@starbulletin.com