Recent grants to Hawaii nonprofits

> Queen's Medical Center has received a three-year, $1.1 million grant from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Health Resources and Services Administration to expand cancer care in rural areas on the neighbor islands. The grant allows Queen's to provide free services to cancer patients at rural hospitals on Maui, Molokai and the Big Island. Queen’s said it serves 40 percent of all cancer patients in Hawaii.

> Alexander & Baldwin Foundation reported grants totaling $1.6 million last year to nonprofit organizations, an increase from $1.3 million distributed in 2009. A&B said 550 charities in Hawaii and on the mainland received contributions. Most of the money – about $1.3 million – went to Hawaii groups. The balance went to organizations on the mainland, including many in Oakland, Calif., where A&B subsidiary Matson Navigation Co. is based. A listing of grants of $250 or more made by the foundation is available at alexanderbaldwinfoundation.org.

> Aloha United Way's 2-1-1 information and referral service hotline received $60,000 for the second year in a row from the Omidyar Community Stabilization Initiative. The money will help support 2-1-1, which assists people in finding the information they need. Most of the calls are for health and dental insurance, utility bill assistance, food pantries, public assistance and rent payment assistance.

> Hawaii Red Cross has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation’s Hawaii State Giving Council to provide unemployed individuals with scholarships for the Red Cross Nurse Aide Training Program to learn the knowledge and skills necessary to provide quality health care as a Certified Nurse Aide.

> Women’s Fund of Hawaii’s 2010 Annual Appeal received gifts of $31,285, exceeding American Savings Bank’s $10,000 matching challenge and bringing the total raised to $41,285.

> Island Insurance and Atlas Insurance foundations teamed up to make a $15,000 gift to the University of Hawaii Foundation to support UH–West Oahu’s new Certificate in Insurance and Risk Management Program, which is designed to meet the national growing need for skilled insurance professionals.

> Poncho's Solar Service, a Native Hawaiian-owned small business presented a $10,000 check to the Hawaiian Way Fund, to continue its support of cultural and community practitioners. The company is based in Honolulu and provides service on four islands, but was founded by Corpuz "Poncho" Safranca, a Native Hawaiian from the island of Maui.

> The Entrepreneurs Foundation of Hawaii announced a grant of $5,000 to the Hawaii Academy of Science to support the 2011 Hawaii State Science & Engineering Fair to be held on March 28-30 at the Hawaii Convention Center. The HSSEF is the oldest and largest science education program in Hawaii. More than 7,000 students participate in the Science Fair program each year, with about 600 reaching the HSSEF. 

> Atherton Family Foundation has awarded The Maui Farm a $5,000 matching grant for its Spring Challenge March. The farm provides family-centered programs that teach self-sufficient living, including programs for homeless families and older youths.

> Maui Electric Co. has given a $5,000 grant to Na Hoaloha - Neighbors Helping Neighbors for its Aloha Cruisers senior transportation program. The money will be used to cover mileage reimbursement and liability insurance for volunteer drivers, who transport seniors to medical appointments and other errands.

> Monsanto Fund donated $17,850 to Maui United Way, and $1,650 each to Molokai nonprofits Affordable Homes, Community Development, Hui Kakou and Molokai Community Health Center.

> Maui Electric Co. joined Hawaiian Electric Co. and Hawaii Electric Light Co. in giving a $22,500 grant to the Hawaii State Chapter of the American Red Cross.

> Hawaii Honda Dealers Association donated to Special Olympics Hawaii $20,000 and free 30-second public service announcements, to be run from March to April. The donation followed a six-week "The Power of Your Gift" campaign, during which more than 7,000 votes were cast via Facebook for a favorite charity.

> Hawaii Tourism Authority, Korean American Foundation, Maui County Office of Economic Development, and the State Foundation on Culture & Arts gave grants totaling nearly $18,000 for 2011 productions to Maui’s Ebb & Flow Arts, which also received a general-operations grant from New York City's Aaron Copland Fund for Music.

> NFL Charities has awarded $4,500 to After-School All-Stars Hawaii for its All-Stars Sports Showdown event, which promotes teamwork and sportsmanship among students from King Intermediate School and Washington, Dole, Kalakaua and Jarrett middle schools.