KOLOA –Rotary Club of Poipu Beach (RCPB) greatly surprised Koloa Elementary School teachers at their Thursday staff meeting. Along with Aloha Angels, they presented a major gift totaling $19,500 to teachers for the coming school year. Carlsson expressed his great appreciation for the work of Koloa Elementary School teachers. He also explained, “This means that each of you will receive $700 to spend on classroom supplies and a field trip for your students in the coming year. We are very happy to increase our support of the work you do for the next generation.”
Dr. Monroe Richman, RCPB Foundation Chairman, joined Carlsson to present the check to Ric Cox, President of Aloha Angels. The Aloha Angels Fund raises and distributes private funds for education on Kauai. It has raised $252,000 in its first four months. Cox created Adopt a Class and Adopt an After-School Club programs as a member of the Rotary Club of Hanalei Bay, which spun off the programs in May.
On behalf of Aloha Angels, Cox presented a giant, symbolic check for $19,500 to Koloa PTSA President Jenni Batalucco and the school’s new Principal, Linda Uyehara. Because the PTSA is not currently recognized by the IRS, the actual check will be paid to Hale Opio Kauai, Inc., which will act as fiscal agent. Cox said, “We are delighted to receive this donation from Rotary Club of Poipu Beach. And we are delighted to share this gift with Koloa Elementary School teachers. Every dollar will go to you to assist in enhancing the great work you do.” Batalucco and Uyehara accepted the symbolic check and expressed their thanks. They highlighted how this significant contribution will make a huge difference to Koloa Elementary School teachers and students. RCPB has been a long-time supporter of Koloa Elementary School. Members of Rotary come into the classroom to read to students in a program called Rotary Readers. Rotary members have also participated in field trips and other school activities. Each year RCPB distributes dictionaries to third graders. The Club has also supported Growing Our Own Teachers on Kauai. Rotary Club of Poipu Beach was created in 1982. The Club has more than thirty diverse professional members who all share a drive to give back to the community. They meet weekly at La Spezia Restaurant in Koloa on Wednesdays at 7:15am. More information about the club is found online at
poipurotary.org and
www.facebook.com/PoipuRotary. RCPB is a local chapter of Rotary International that was formed in 1905 and comprises 1.2 million members in Clubs worldwide. Rotarians contribute their time, energy and passion to sustainable, long-term projects in local communities across the globe. Projects focus on important issues like peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, maternal and child health, basic education and literacy and economic and community development. Aloha Angels was established primarily to raise private funds for each of the 10,000 students and teachers at the 13 public elementary schools on Kauai, including charter schools. Individuals, philanthropists, businesses and foundations are being invited to donate to the Aloha Angels Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation, the state’s leading philanthropic organization, with about $500 million under management. Those who donate $10,000 or more are designated as Aloha Angels. Aloha Angels seeks to form a more perfect Kauai, starting with young people.
