The Hawaii Medical Service Association Foundation awarded its 2008 fourth-quarter grants to the following nine health and community programs:

» Aloha Medical Mission received $50,000 for the expansion of services at the Honolulu Free Clinic; Child and Family Service, $60,000, for therapeutic treatment to neurologically impaired children; Hawaii Island Adult Care Inc., $5,000, for the Caregiver Connection, which provides training for caregivers who work with frail mentally and physically challenged adults.

» Office for Social Ministry, $50,000, for the Mobile Care Health Project, which provides dental services for low-income, uninsured and QUEST/Medicaid patients on the Big Island; Organ Donor Center of Hawaii, $10,000, for the Donor Registry Program, which registers first-time organ and tissue donors.

» Palolo Chinese Home, $11,046, for the Palolo Chinese Home Wellness Center; Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii, $18,000, for a conference on the prevention of child abuse and neglect; University of Hawaii Foundation, $419,790 (over three years), for the Hawaii Initiative for Childhood Obesity Research and Education, a program at the UH John A. Burns School of Medicine.

» YMCA of Honolulu, $10,000, for the Kalihi Weed and Seed program, which helps residents, law enforcement agencies and others to rebuild the neighborhood.

» Blood Bank of Hawaii has named Wendy Abe as chief operating officer. She will oversee daily operations of the organization. Her experience includes vice president of strategic development for the Blood Bank of Hawaii and president of the Honolulu Japanese Chamber of Commerce.

» Blood Bank of Hawaii has named Albert Yoza as chief financial officer. He will oversee the organization's fiscal matters. His experience includes controller at the Kahala Hotel and Resort.