December 16, 2021

Grants support economic opportunity initiatives

Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii funds programs providing training and career development.

PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Laura M. Lott
laura.m.lott@kp.org
808-343-2406 (mobile)

HONOLULU — Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii has awarded a total of $125,000 in community health grants to Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc. and the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business and Leadership. The grants support the development of financial and career goals among a range of local residents, from underserved individuals to those seeking to advance in their careers and business opportunities.

Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, Inc. will use its $50,000 grant award to strengthen the financial well-being of underserved, houseless, or transitional living individuals through its Goodwill Hawaii First-to-Work and Career Services programs. Participants will receive an assessment that identifies their financial education needs. Staff will be trained to provide financial coaching with specific goals and activities that address participants’ common financial barriers and tools to teach financial acumen skills. Participants who lack work and are seeking job opportunities will have access to job readiness training.

The Mink Center for Business and Leadership, along with Mana Up, will receive $75,000 to provide a variety of counseling, training, and mentorship opportunities for women business leaders and entrepreneurs. Grant funds will go toward a variety of leadership and business skills development resources including:

  • Funding a cohort of 35 small business owners and female executives who will participate in a total of 10,048 hours of economic development, business counseling, and mentoring sessions

  • Creating access to $4 million of capital investment to program participants through employer investment, equity investments, and grants

  • Providing continuing workshop and mentoring resources to 130 MCBL and Mana Up program alumni

  • Training 475 current and potential small-business owners through community-wide business workshops

“Access to economic opportunity is an important social determinant of health, and all too often too many Hawaii residents never achieve their true potential in the workforce,” said John Yang, MD, president and medical director for the Hawaii Permanente Medical Group. “We’re proud to partner with Goodwill Industries of Hawaii, and The Patsy T. Mink Center for Business Leadership and Mana Up. When more local residents have access to a wide range of programs focused on economic development, our communities thrive.”

This round of grant funding is just one of many economic opportunity initiatives supported by Kaiser Permanente in Hawaii. In 2019, 2020, and 2021, the health care organization sponsored the Inner City Capital Connections to Hawaii, a leadership training program that provides local small businesses and nonprofit organizations with strategies and tools to ensure long-term growth and viability. Altogether in 2021, Kaiser Permanente has granted $455,000 to organizations spearheading economic opportunity initiatives in Hawaii.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America’s leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve approximately 12.5 million members in 8 states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists, and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education, and the support of community health.