Catholic Charities Hawaii will likely receive enough donations to overcome its more than $100,000 deficit and will not be forced to close Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center in Liliha.

The nonprofit organization, which lost a critical grant from the state, experienced a flood of donations since it received dire news in November that it would have to shut down the senior center.

“;We're very close,”; said Stella Wong, vice president for programs for Catholic Charities. “;Without these donations, we would not make it to our 40th anniversary. We're moving forward and we hope we can continue to serve. We'll have a fight in the next legislative session to make sure we have all the funding we need to continue our work.”;

The Hawaii Medical Assurance Association and the law firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKillon presented the organization with a $25,000 check at a press conference yesterday.

“;It's tough for small- to medium-sized businesses in Hawaii today,”; said Bill McCorriston, a local lawyer. “;I think as we consider these serious economic times, we're downsizing in salaries and expenses, there's one place we cannot downsize and that's taking care of senior citizens, children and those who can't have food on their tables.”;

The donations will allow for Lanakila Multi-Purpose Senior Center, the state's largest senior center that provides programs to more than 2,000 members, to continue running to at least July 1.

Other large, one-time donations Catholic Charities received included $10,000 from American Savings Bank, which was matched immediately by an anonymous community member, according to Wong.

She said the anonymous donor had a father who was a member of the Lanakila center.

Health benefits company Humana of Hawaii also said it will donate $10,000 today to Catholic Charities for the center.