Women's Fund of Hawaii awards Spring 2009 grants

In June, the Women’s Fund of Hawaii awarded these grants :

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of Honolulu – The Women's Fund has adopted Waikiki Elementary School for a pilot program designed for long and short term benefit of at-risk girls. Fifteen Little girls will be matched with Bigs – women in traditionally male-dominated vocations such as engineering, science, and health/fitness for career-focused outings once per month. $5,000 grant
• National League of American Pen Women, Honolulu Branch – Grant funds will support monthly arts and writing activities for Girls Court participants. $500 grant
• Pacific Outreach Center – Therapeutic hula program “Hula Halau Ho‘onanai O Ko‘olau” at Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua. Year-round program focused on special needs and dual-diagnosis. $2,500 grant
• Pacific Survivor Center – Grant funds will be used for draft and publication of training curriculum for front-line healthcare providers. The goal is prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of survivors of human trafficking and torture. Pacific Survivor Center is run by two doctors who have been volunteering their time to treat trafficking victims (well over 100 per year) referred by partner agencies. $2,500 grant
• WorkNet, Inc. – Grant funds will support the Needs-Based Token Economy project for women at Women’s Community Correctional Center in Kailua. This incentive program rewards participation in classes. Participants save tokens for needed items such as groceries upon release from prison. Recidivism rate for their group is 6%; 88% continue with after-care after release from prison. $5,000 grant