NEWS RELEASE

First Hawaiian Bank Donates $150,000 for Food and Health Care Package Distribution in Guam and Saipan Region

GUAM, May 12, 2020 – First Hawaiian Bank announced today it is donating $150,000 to four non-profit organizations working to meet the unprecedented community need for assistance in the Guam and CNMI region. With schools closed and many people out of work, more individuals and families with children are needing to seek assistance for the first time during the pandemic.  

To help support these communities, First Hawaiian Bank will donate:

  • $50,000 to The Salvation Army Guam Food Bag Program
  • $50,000 to Todu Guam Foundation Care Package Program
  • $25,000 to Empty Vessel Ministry Foundation Saipan Emergency Food Bank 
  • $25,000 to Karidat Social Services Saipan Emergency Food Program 

“Our Chairman, President and CEO, Bob Harrison believes in coming together as a community and wanted to help the people of Guam and Saipan who are affected by COVID-19,” said Ed Untalan, Guam/CNMI Region Manager.  “The two $50,000 Guam gifts are also in honor of First Hawaiian achieving its 50th anniversary of serving the Guam community this year.  We are grateful to our non-profit partners who are working to ensure that individuals and families receive food and the basic necessities they need during this pandemic.” 

With school closures and the growing number of workers being laid off or furloughed, non-profit agencies focusing on food supply across the region are experiencing exponential increases in demand for food assistance. 

On Guam, The Salvation Army Guam Food Bag Program, which usually distributes 50 food bags per month, is now distributing 20-30 bags of food daily. “With the high volume of food we are distributing daily, this generous gift will ensure The Salvation Army's ability to continue our efforts for months to come,”  said Major Thomas Stambaugh, The Salvation Army Guam Corps Officer. The donation will allow Salvation Army Guam to distribute over 800 food bags to families in need. 

Todu Guam Foundation, which does outreach to the most vulnerable low-income families, will use the donated funds to deliver door-to-door care packages containing face masks, hand sanitizers and bars of soap to over 1,400 families. “It has become increasingly clear that the transmission of the COVID-19 virus is greatly reduced through intensified hand hygiene measures and the use of face masks,” said Dennis Rodriguez Jr., co-founder of Todu Guam Foundation. “Through the generosity of First Hawaiian Bank, we are committed to working with community partners to help eliminate boundaries to much needed resources.”


Empty Vessel Ministry Foundation and Karidat Social Services on Saipan have also seen the number of recipients requesting food assistance double due to COVID-19.  

Rose Ajoste, President of Empty Vessel Ministry Foundation says “The generous donation of $25,000 will go directly to feeding the 500 plus families currently on our wait list, who have been negatively impacted by the pandemic.” Food packages that will be distributed will include rice, canned goods, cereal, milk and fresh vegetables. 

Through the Karidat Food Pantry program, Karidat Social Services will use the donation to purchase gift certificates from Triple J Super Fresh & Truckload Store and Joeten Enterprises, which will be distributed to about 370 families. “Si Yuus Ma’åse and Ghilisou to First Hawaiian Bank for the donation which will go a long way to help the many families struggling with the loss of income due to this pandemic that has befallen so many,” says Lauri Ogumoro, Executive Director of Karidat Social Services. 


About First Hawaiian Bank Foundation
First Hawaiian Bank Foundation is the charitable arm of First Hawaiian Bank (www.FHB.com).  The Foundation's primary focus is to support organizations and programs that provide enriching educational opportunities for youth, preserve the arts and culture, and build healthier communities through health and human services. Founded in 1858 as Bishop & Co., First Hawaiian Bank is Hawaii’s largest bank offering consumer and business customers a comprehensive suite of financial services, including FHB Online and Mobile banking services, lending, merchant services, wealth management, insurance and credit cards. The bank operates 53 branch locations in Hawaii, three on Guam and two in Saipan.  First Hawaiian Bank has been serving the Guam community for over 50 years. First Hawaiian, Inc. (NASDAQ:  FHB) is the parent company of First Hawaiian Bank.


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