North Shore nonprofit creates new brand, hires first full-time executive director

The Kauaʻi North Shore Community Foundation, a nonprofit founded in 2012, has made significant changes to its name, officers and staff.

Stepping down after nine years as the president, Rory Enright said: “It’s time for new dynamic leadership to take the helm and lead the Foundation to new heights and achievements.”

The Foundation’s board unanimously elected Stefan Swanepoel as its new president, Louis LaFratta as vice president, April McGinnis as treasurer and Mary Paterson as secretary.

The new leadership adopted the business plan that had been under development by the Foundation’s strategic planning committee for the past five months. The plan includes sweeping changes such as a new brand and DBA for the organization, multiple new initiatives, and the hiring of the Foundation’s first full-time executive director.

Going forward the Kauaʻi North Shore Community Foundation will use North Shore Give as its
trade name.

“North Shore Give defines our renewed focus to foster a giving mindset in our
North Shore community and working together, we can all make significant positive and lasting
impact,” LaFratta said.

Simultaneously Swanepoel announced the appointment of Maylette Garces as the first
executive director for North Shore Give.

For the past four years, Garces was the general manager of the Princeville of Hanalei Community Association and will vacate that position on Nov. 30.

The Foundation is known for its founding and driving role in securing the approval from the Hawai‘i State Public Charter School Commission to build Namahana School in Kilauea. Eleven acres for the future school has already been acquired and construction is slated to start in 2024.

“This will be the first public, tuition-free middle and high school for children on the North Shore,” LaFratta said.

The Foundation also created the only dog park on the North Shore, hosts the annual Ohana FitFest, now in its 10th year, and has worked closely with Anaina Hou Community Park, Hawai‘i Island Land Trust and various other organizations.

Stefan Swanepoel currently serves as the president of the Princeville II Community Association
and is founder of I Heart Princeville, a large non-commercial, information-focused website for
Princeville. Swanepoel is executive chairman of numerous businesses including T3 Sixty, T3
Data, T3 Talent, T3 Events and Real Estate News.

Louis LaFratta is one of the brokers in charge at Oceanfront Sotheby’s International Realty, and
serves as the current President of the Kauaʻi Board of Realtors and the President of the Kauaʻi
North Shore Lions Club.

Mary Paterson is a founding member of the Foundation, has lived on Kauaʻi for almost 35 years
and is an active volunteer for various nonprofits including the Namahana School fundraising
team. April McGinnis is currently the lead member liaison for the PHCA community design
committee. Other North Shore Give board members include Lorraine Mull, a 40-year resident of Kauaʻi, Namahana Education Foundation board member, and retired attorney; Ken Rosenthal, the senior adviser for a nonprofit economic development lending company with a focus on commercial real estate; Rory Enright, currently the president of the Kaʻiulani Homeowners Association and previously the general manager of PHCA and board member of the Kauaʻi Chamber of Commerce.

The new officer and executive director appointments are effective Jan. 1.