Hawaiian Telcom recently announced it has gifted $140,000 in digital equity grants to six community nonprofits. The grants are funded by the Bell Charitable Foundation, a philanthropic organization created by Hawaiian Telcom's parent company altafiber, according to the announcement.
"These grantees are connecting people with vital technology and data, and empowering Hawaii residents with knowledge and access that will transform their lives," Hawaiian Telcom President Su Shin said in a statement.
Grant recipients include:
- Action Digital Academy on Oahu - Awarded $10,000 for its iKupuna: Elevating Youth, Enriching Kupuna program. The funding will be used to establish a tech lab and provide stipends to participating high school teens between the ages of 13 and 19.
- Center for Tomorrow’s Leaders - Granted $25,000 for its Empowering Tomorrow’s Generation of Tech-Savvy Minds program, which "helps students prepare for college and the workforce," according to Hawaiian Telcom.
- Hawaii Care Choices on Hawaii Island - Awarded $30,000 for its Digital Health Equity program.
- HawaiiKidsCAN - Granted $25,000 for its Hawaii Tutoring+ program, which offers tutoring to rural communities across the state.
- Palama Settlement on Oahu - Awarded $25,000 for its Digital Learning Bridge for the Kalihi-Palama Low-Income Youth program, which focuses on training at-risk youth ages 8 to 17 on skills such as digital graphics, screen printing, videography and more.
- Purple Maia Foundation - Granted $25,000 for its Digital Transitions program, which provides incarcerated women at the Hawaii Women's Community Correctional Center with computer and software knowledge.
"As a locally managed communications and technology company, it is profoundly rewarding for us to invest in community nonprofits delivering education and services that people need, just as we invest in expanding our future-proof fiber network to connect and empower Hawaii," Shin said.
