Grants help spur economic opportunity

HONOLULU — Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has distributed $170,000 in grants to fund community organizations providing economic opportunities to food-related small business owners, underserved individuals, and women executives. 

Feed the Hunger Fund will use its $70,000 grant to provide women, low-income, and immigrant entrepreneurs of food-related small businesses with access to capital, technical assistance, and networks that help to increase their income and build their assets. As businesses recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, many are now seeking capital to grow. FTHF is providing smaller food enterprises with financial and technical resources that will increase Hawaii’s food security and economic health. "Food is health, Food is security" is FTHF's first grant/loan program in Hawaii targeted to better serve food system entrepreneurs who have previously had a hard time accessing capital. 

Goodwill Hawaii will receive $50,000 to train its staff to support disadvantaged and underserved program participants with financial literacy. Staff will be trained to support participants’ financial goals, identify candidates who may need further assistance, and provide referrals to financial coaching and external financial professionals. Program participants are overcoming significant barriers to work, such as histories of homelessness and incarceration, recent immigration, and limited English proficiency. 

YWCA O‘ahu will receive $50,000 for its Women’s Executive Leadership and Wayfinder’s Entrepreneur Programs created by the Patsy T. Mink Center for Business & Leadership. The program’s Executive Women Leaders cohort is focused on strengthening and supporting women in senior corporate roles in an effort to accelerate their growth and contribution to Hawaii's economy and jobs. Cohort members will receive guidance in key areas including leadership and strategic planning, financial planning, and competencies needed for board memberships. 

“Empowering underserved groups and supporting our women leaders with access to key resources has a powerful impact on the health and well-being of our community as a whole,” said John Yang, MD, president and medical director of Hawaii Permanente Medical Group. “We’re proud to partner with these organizations to spur career opportunities, professional development, and economic growth.” 

Kaiser Permanente is working to improve the conditions for health in the communities it serves. These grants are the latest in a series of contributions from Kaiser Permanente Hawaii to help residents throughout the state receive vital support services that impact their overall health. In 2022, Kaiser Permanente dedicated over $2.2 million through community grants and scholarships to improve health and wellness 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 12.6 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.