UH Foundation stands with Maui this Giving Tuesday, devoting funds raised to wildfire recovery efforts

Maui’s long-term recovery from the devastating and deadly wildfires in August is just getting started. The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation stands with the Valley Isle and will devote all of the funds it raises during its fourth Giving Tuesday online event next week to help bolster those recovery efforts.

“We know that it will take years, in some cases, for Maui to recover and [the University of Hawaiʻi] is playing a vital role in helping to shape the recovery, from environmental research and expertise to training residents for new jobs,” said the foundation’s CEO and University of Hawaiʻi Vice President of Advancement Tim Dolan. “It’s the right decision for this Giving Tuesday to put all of our efforts to strengthen Maui’s recovery.”

Starting at 12:01 a.m. Nov. 28, the University of Hawaiʻi will open a special online platform where donors can give to the effort during the 24-hour Giving Tuesday period. Donors can also call 808-376-7800 on Oʻahu or 833-846-4262 to make a gift by phone.

Since the Aug. 8 wildfires, the foundation and University of Hawaiʻi community have worked to help members of the university’s ʻohana on Maui who lost everything.

That has included everything from providing immediate financial support to students, faculty and staff to supporting a massive effort to prepare thousands of meals each day for those who lost their homes or were helping the initial recovery on the front lines.

People across all 10 of the university’s campuses, have stepped up to help, whether it was volunteering to distribute food or testing water for contaminants.

The upcoming online event is in conjunction with the global Giving Tuesday effort.

Created in 2012 and observed the first Tuesday after Thanksgiving each year, the movement whether encourages people around the globe to give — whether it’s some of their time, a donation or the power of their voice in their community.

To find out how you can support University of Hawaiʻi students and programs, click here.