Hawaii nonprofit’s donors go 'over the edge'

Special Olympics Hawaii sent some of its donors “over the edge” on Nov. 13 with a new fundraising event atop the Sheraton Waikiki hotel. The nonprofit said 120 people signed up for the event, which asked donors to raise at least $1,000 each in exchange for the opportunity to rappel off the 31-story Waikiki hotel. Donors raised a total $170,729.72, according to the nonprofit.

Facing a six-digit budget shortfall, the organization came up with the idea to hire Over the Edge, which is a special-events company based in Athens, Ga., that helps nonprofits raise money by rewarding donors with the opportunity to rappel off a tall building.

“We thought 'Over the Edge' was a great fit for Special Olympics Hawaii since our program focuses on athletes pushing themselves to overcome challenges,” Kyle Karioka, development manager, told Pacific Business News.