Five community agencies have received $100,000 each from the Hawaii Dental Service. 5 agencies get $100,000
each from HDSThe dental service awards
providers of basic necessitiesStar-Bulletin staff
The $500,000 was distributed to Hawaii Foodbank, the Institute for Human Services, Queen's Dental Clinic, Catholic Social Ministries and United Ways in Hawaii.
"We are extremely honored to be able to give back to our community," said Dr. Jay Kanegawa, HDS board chairman.
"We know it's been a tough year for many of these agencies, and it will get even tougher in the next few months. HDS wants to help these agencies provide basic needs and services to benefit the people of Hawaii."
Lynn Maunakea, IHS executive director, said the donation will allow the agency to reach more people than it had anticipated serving this year.
The dental service purchased $50,000 worth of food products from Star Markets and Foodland for the Hawaii Foodbank donation. The grocers provided the food to the HDS at low cost and contributed additional food items for the Foodbank.
The United Ways donation will be shared with Aloha United Way on Oahu, Maui United Way, Big Island United Way, United Way of Kauai and Friendly Isle United Fund.
Hawaii Dental Service is a member of Delta Dental Plans Association, the nation's largest and larger provider of dental benefits. The network offers HDS members access to more than 109,000 participating dentists across the country.
A nonprofit dental service corporation, HDS provides dental benefit plans to subscriber groups representing Hawaii's industries, companies, unions, associations and nonprofit organizations.