Monty Richards Community Award recipients announced

Bank of Hawaii named Bay Clinic, Inc., Family Support Hawaii and Kokua Christian Ministries as the 2011 Bank of Hawaii Monty Richards Hawaii Island Community Award recipients. The announcement was made Tuesday, Sept. 13, at a presentation at Kahua Ranch.

> Bay Clinic, Inc. received $10,000 to help start up its Pediatric Dental Care Program, which will play a key role in preventing serious oral heath disease from developing in children and improve the level of care available. The clinic’s goal is to increase access to oral health prevention, screening, treatment and education services for children of low-income families who otherwise have no access to oral healthcare.

> Family Support Hawaii received $10,000 to support its Hawaii Island Fatherhood Initiative – Na Makuakane Maikai O Hawaii (Great Fathers of Hawaii), which provides counseling, educational and public awareness activities that highlight the involvement of fathers in the lives of children and builds support within communities to promote healthy and productive family lives.

> Kokua Christian Ministries received $5,000 to provide needy individuals and families in the Waimea, Kohala, Waikoloa and Kawaihae areas with food and shelter and to be a link to social services resources. The organization recently finalized a lease with Imiola Church to rent a small home on the church property, which has been renovated and currently provides hot meals and a shower to those in need.

The Bank of Hawaii Monty Richards Community Award was established in 2008 in honor of Herbert “Monty” Montague Richards, Jr., a dedicated Hawaii Island community leader and former longtime board director for Bank of Hawaii. It supports Hawaii Island nonprofit organizations that demonstrate innovative approaches to help improve the quality of life on Hawaii Island.