Hawaii nonprofit people in the news
Shelter of Wisdom executive director opens homes to needy, assists park dwellers
Caroline Jesus was recently profiled by Honolulu Advertiser reporter Mary Vorsino as an innovator who, by reaching out to as many chronically homeless people as possible, has developed an alternative model for those who don’t want to live in traditional shelters.
The 51-year-old director of Shelter of Wisdom, a small, faith-based nonprofit, offers low-cost shelter in four homes that she owns when there's space, signs them up on waiting lists for housing and links them up with other programs, such as substance abuse treatment and mental health assistance.
After Honolulu police began to enforce a ban on shopping carts and tents in city parks, homeless shelters said more people are coming in from city parks, while others are moving to sidewalks, state parks, remote beaches or other areas and Jesus is also getting more requests for shelter, requests she isn't able to meet.
Her nonprofit has two homes in Kalihi for men, one in Kailua for women and a fourth in Makaha, where a family of five is living. Now she's looking to open a fifth home. Jesus has about 27 people living in her homes, and has started a waiting list.
She started Shelter of Wisdom, five years ago, opening her Makaha home to a homeless family and later purchasing homes in Kalihi and Kailua. She resolved to fulfill a calling to help the homeless by renting rooms to homeless people at low cost and using her savings and assistance from churches and charities to cover expenses for homeless who couldn't afford to pay. Click here to read the complete story.
- Barbara Watanabe
> Barbara Watanabe to lead Women’s Fund – The Women’s Fund of Hawaii has appointed Barbara Watanabe to be its new executive director. She most recently served as executive director of the Nisei Veterans Memorial Center project on Maui, where she oversaw design, development and a capital campaign for an intergenerational complex as a “living memorial” to the segregated Japanese-American Army units of World War II. Watanabe grew up on Maui, received an B.A. degree from University of Washington and an M.A. degree from University of Michigan and spent most of her career working for high-tech software companies in Seattle and Silicon Valley. Women’s Fund of Hawai`i is a grant-making organization that focuses on helping women and girls in Hawaii become safe, financially secure and empowered. Grants from the Women's Fund of Hawaii address issues such as violence, adolescent pregnancy, low self-esteem, physical and mental health problems, substance abuse, prostitution, incarceration, immigration status, sexual orientation, inadequate childcare and sports inequalities.
> St. Francis Healthcare names new co-medical director for St. Francis Hospice – St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii has appointed Anna Loengard, M.D. as co-medical director for St. Francis Hospice, Hawaii’s first and largest hospice program. Her responsibilities include clinical management of patients with complex and advanced disease; education of nurses on symptom management; and community education on hospice and palliative medicine. Dr. Loengard is board certified in palliative medicine, geriatrics and internal medicine. She is an assistant clinical professor at the University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine and is on the “Best Doctors in Hawaii” list for Geriatric Medicine in the June 2010 issue of Honolulu magazine. Prior to moving to Hawaii in 2009, she served as founder and president of Successful Caring, Inc., a consulting company that educates caregivers on how to provide the best medical care possible for aging loved ones.
> Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has appointed Joy Barua as director of community benefit. He was previously an interim executive director and director of finance for Honolulu Community Action Program as well as project director and business manager for Pacific Gateway Center.
> St. Francis Healthcare System of Hawaii has appointed Pat Tompkins as program manager for Stay Healthy at Home. She was previously a chief planner for the City and County of Honolulu Elderly Affairs Division.
> Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor has hired and promoted the following: Richard "Scotty" Scott to operations director from interim education director; April Emerson to education coordinator from education intern; Scott Rasak to marketing coordinator from marketing intern; Jim Goodall as curator; and Ryoji Koike as Japanese tour guide.
> Betty Lou Larson, Housing Programs Director for Catholic Charities Hawaii, was named the 2010 Social Worker of the Year—Social Justice/ Advocacy by the Hawaii Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers.
> Hawaii Theatre Center has elected new members to its board of directors: Norb Buelsing, president of A&P Properties; Steve Colon, Hunt Development Group, Hawaii Division; and Clark B. Morgan, president and chief executive officer of Alakai Mechanical Corp.
> The Hawaiian Historical Society has re-elected John Clark as president of the board of trustees for May 2010-11. Elected to the board for May 2010-13: Noelani Arista, John Clark, Victoria N. Kneubuhl, Glenn E. Mason and James K. Mee. Continuing on the board: Ian Birnie, Ty P. Kawika Tengan, Craig Howes, David A. Keliikuli, Nanette N. Napoleon, M. Puakea Nogelmeier, Gary A. Okamoto, John Rosa, Jim Rumford and Janet Zisk.
> The Friends of the Cancer Research Center of Hawaii has named Allan R. Landon to its board of directors. He is chairman of the board of directors and chief executive officer of Bank of Hawaii Corp. and its principal subsidiary, Bank of Hawaii.
> Kahi Mohala Behavioral Health has announced two new members of its board of trustees: Keola Lloyd, vice president of shareholder relations/company secretary of the James Campbell Co. and grants manager of the James & Abigail Campbell Family Foundation; and Tina Shelton, director of communications at John A. Burns School of Medicine, University of Hawaii.
> The Honolulu Committee on Aging has selected Oceanic Time Warner Cable to receive "The Lei Hulu Award for Volunteer Friendly Businesses" at the Mayor's 44th annual Senior Recognition Program. Oceanic was given the award for volunteering employees' time to deliver meals to Hawaii Meals on Wheels.
