Announcements & Events
The Arc of Hilo has two major fundraisers each year, a holiday concert and a fashion show. Your attendance and participation in these great events help.
The Arc of Hilo Announces Capital Campaign
(Photo: Arc of Hilo participants look on as Barry Taniguchi, President of KTA Super Stores and K. Taniguchi Ltd., presents Mike Gleason, CEO for The Arc of Hilo, with a $50,000 check which kicks off the Capital Campaign for construction of The Arc of Hilo Training and Community Center.)
The Arc of Hilo recently honored a $50,000 donation given in memory of Koichi and Taniyo Taniguchi, Founders of KTA Super Stores. This kicks off a $1 million Capital Campaign to develop an expanded new Training and Community Center located adjoining to its present Waianuenue Ave office. The
Arc of Hilo is a local nonprofit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to enhancing the lives of the island of Hawai‘i’s people with disabilities. Serving the Big Island since 1954, the Arc of Hilo provides employment training, employment, adult daycare, arts and craft programming and basic life skills training for people with disabilities.
The Arc of Hilo is currently employing over 200 people with more than half of this force being people with disabilities. The Arc is an award-winning tax-exempt nonprofit, led by Mike Gleason, a recent recipient of the
Ho’okele Award for excellence in nonprofit management. Mike joined the Arc in 2000 and has provided creative leadership as a social entrepreneur. "Our goal is to be nearly self-sufficient through contract services providing earned income and jobs for people with disabilities." When Mike began the organization depended upon government contracts and grants and donations for 75% of its budget, but now over 50% of the Arc’s budget comes from its own earned income.
The Arc of Hilo performs commercial services for a fee to many area business and government entities. They provide grounds keeping, commercial laundry, the Boiling Pots Nursery, the HI-5 Redemption and Recycling, the C & D
Resale Store and commercial janitorial services. Commercial clients include a broad range of county, state, federal, and local business offices and of course the island-wide HI-5 program. Many of the island’s people with disabilities want to be productive contributing citizens and through the
Arc’s programming, the new facility will allow the Arc to increase the number of jobs from 230 to 459, almost double.
The Training and Community Center will truly be a community asset in that numerous organizations will utilize the space for their meetings and activities such as the Shriners for their children’s health outreach as well
as Special Olympics, Rotary clubs, and other civic organizations. The facility will be 17,600 square feet and has been designed by Scott Fleming of Durrant Media Five, a local architectural firm. It will include a computer classroom especially outfitted for people with disabilities, a gymnasium / auditorium for athletic activities and performing arts, training facilities, offices and meeting rooms.
Phase I of the development included the design of the building and the permitting process, which is near completion. Mike Gleason thanked the County’s Office of Housing and Community Development Department for their
“landmark” support in funding for this first phase. The County made a Community Development Block Grant to the project in 2005, which along with equity funds from the Arc were utilized to pay for Phase I. The plan calls for a parking lot and underground utilities along with a retaining wall to be built in Phase II, which should begin this summer. Phase III is the development of two buildings comprising the Center. Says Sam Wallis, Board Chair of the Arc, "This facility is very much needed. If you visit the Arc when we have all of our programs going, you will see staff and clients literally overflowing out of our current space. When the new buildings are done, we will serve more, yes, but we will serve all, in a higher quality manner and that’s what’s important."
The Arc of Hilo Capital Campaign has established a steering committee composed of friends and family of the Arc and some of East Hawai‘i’s leading citizens. The Steering Committee is led by Nancy Cabral of Day-Lum Properties, a local realtor and horse aficionado and David Deluz, Jr., of
Big Island Toyota, a local car dealer and rancher. They challenge our community to work tirelessly, as they have, to help the Arc build the Training and Community Center. They stressed the importance of the work of the Arc and how many of our families are touched by the needs of people with
disabilities. "Our goal is one million dollars, which should not be a problem for the very generous people of the island of Hawai‘i. We give freely here and we know the importance of helping others help themselves." said Dave Deluz. Nancy Cabral adds, "This is a big task and we are sure everyone will step up and make this happen."
An example of local support occurred recently at The Arc’s Holiday Show auction. Ms. Melveen Leed, a famous entertainer and jewelry designer donated one of her custom creations, a lovely Tahitian pearl necklace, to the Arc of Hilo Capital Campaign. The necklace was won by Vernon Lindsey, a local businessman who had to battle Campaign Co-Chair Nancy Cabral for the bid. Top bid was $1200 by Nancy who made a proposal to Vernon, indicating that if he would match her bid, she would relent and allow him to win and she would still donate an additional $1200 to the Arc!
Holiday Show
In November or December, The Arc of Hilo usually sponsors a holiday concert. Previous performers have been comics, singers, dance troupes and bands. This is becoming a popular annual event during the holiday season to get out of the usual routine and relax.
Fashion Show
Usually in the summer, The Arc of Hilo sponsors a Fashion Show with clients from our programs modeling clothing from a popular retail outlet in Hilo. A prime rib luncheon is served along side a silent auction of local and non-local artwork, hotel/golf/dinner packages and arts & craft projects. You can help by attending the show, purchasing artwork, or even donating artwork for which others may bid.
Do you love events?
You may also volunteer to help in the organization and production of these fundraisers.
Have you ever wanted to honor someone special in a meaningful way?
Have a party to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special day/event and ask the guests to make a donation to The Arc of Hilo for the honoree instead of gifting presents.
For more information about upcoming events, contact us at 808-935-8535, extension 200 or at info@hiloarc.org.