DEAN SENSUI / DSENSUI@STARBULLETIN.COM
Jay Cambra, dentist, demonstrates on his receptionist Teresa Alejado at Cambra's Mililani dental clinic.
Dentist makes more time
for McDonald House charityHow did you get involved in charity work?
Jay Cambra
>> Community post: President, Ronald McDonald House Charities
>> Day job: Practicing dentist
>> Past positions: Ronald McDonald House board member since 1999, first vice president for last two years. Former board member of the Aikane Foundation and the Hawaii state Dental Board.Someone asked me years ago to consider being on the Ronald McDonald House board. Before that I had been a board member for the Aikane Foundation. There we provided things like sports uniforms for athletic activities for Kalihi neighborhood kids and helped with Farrington High School athletics. Now the primary focus is the McDonald House.
What are your objectives for your new position?
I want to follow through on the capital campaign that is under way. We need $4.5 million and we are on our way to reaching that.
What are some of the projects you have under way or are planning to start?
We'd like to have a second Ronald McDonald house in the state. Our primary house is on Judd Hillside. It can accommodate 10 families at any given time. We also have a secondary property that we are renting but we'll eventually own a second house. That will really put us in the forefront. In about two months, our Judd hillside house will be undergoing a renovation. We'll be making a park like setting adjacent to the house. It will have areas to eat and for the kids to play. The idea is to create a semblance of normalcy for the children. We opened a Ronald McDonald room at Kapiolani Hospital. It's designated for siblings and families to hang out. It almost looks like an airline executive lounge. It has Internet access, video games, couches, places for the kids to just hang out and also consultation rooms for doctors and the families to speak. It's a home away from home.
How do you manage to balance your work in dentistry and your family with your Ronald McDonald House duties?
I guess more and more my practice works around board activities but I have a great staff. They understand I need to be a participating full member of the organization. I enjoy hanging out with my family. I have three kids and four step kids as well and my wife Veronica. We travel and play golf. I also enjoy continuing dental education.
What's the best thing about working for this charity?
It's very rewarding. What is really interesting is that everyone who involves themselves with the charity walks away with a great feeling. We do a lot of partnering with different groups. A lot of different people have helped us. Like Sam Choy. All the proceeds from his Kapahulu restaurant birthday went to the house. It's not just me, it's everyone involved. We offer a lot of services. It's not just Oahu; we offer services to the neighbor islands, as well as places like Guam, Saipan and Samoa. We've even taken kids from as far away as Japan. It just depends on the situation.
What's the biggest lesson or insight you've gained since joining the board?
That we take a lot of things for granted. When you see what these kids go through, it really puts things in perspective. Unfortunately, cancer and life threatening illnesses are a seven-day-a-week thing, that's why we're open every day.
Inside Hawaii Inc. is a conversation with a member of the Hawaii business community who has changed jobs, been elected to a board or been recognized for accomplishments. Send questions and comments to business@starbulletin.com.
