Isle high schoolers raise
$15,000 for the homeless
The Institute for Human Services' bank account is up by $15,000, thanks to a few high-schoolers with big dreams and hearts to match.
River Kim, Tierney Morikawa, Jacqueline Chang and Jessie Cleghorn stopped by the Women and Families Shelter yesterday afternoon to present the proceeds of a benefit concert conceived and organized by the small group of Punahou 10th-graders.
Last Christmas, Kim asked his friends and family not to buy him gifts. Instead he asked for money he could donate to the homeless. He said he wanted something that would allow him to give to others who don't have as much as he does.
Kim asked a few of his friends to help him organize a fund-raiser that would yield more money than his Christmas request. His goal: to raise at least $10,000.
After months of brainstorming and planning, the kids organized a benefit concert and dance show by dozens of student volunteers from Waianae, Farrington, Waldorf and Moanalua high schools, Kamehameha Schools, Word of Life, Assets School, Saint Louis School, St. Francis School and Iolani School, in addition to Punahou.
Malama Jam, held in the 499-seat Mamiya Theatre at Saint Louis School, was nearly a sellout. Including proceeds from food booths and a silent auction, the event grossed $21,000, with expenses of $6,000.
The donation is enough to sponsor 35 homeless families of five each for a month, or to provide hot showers and hygiene supplies for 214 guests for two weeks.
Margot Schrire, volunteer manager for the shelter, said the homeless weren't the only ones affected by the generosity.
"Working with them has renewed my commitment to my job," she said. "It's reminded me that we're all in this together."
The kids were pretty astounded themselves.
"The best thing is knowing that we did something really cool to help," Cleghorn said. "I still can't believe how much money we raised. ... Everyone was so generous."