CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OF HAWAII
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The Chamber Public Health Fund Supports Non-Profits and Improves Islanders’ “Quality of Life� By Bryna Stankiewicz
T
wice a year, The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii as the trustee of the Public Health Fund (PHF), awards numerous non-profits in the City & County of Honolulu grant money to support their health-related programs, projects and services. Although voluntary contributions to the fund ended in 1950 and it has never been supported by membership dues, the PHF remains viable and continues to provide invaluable support to programs that help educate our community and local families on how to stay healthy, along with services that offer much needed resources to those in need. Since 1985 the PHF has granted more than $3 million to non-profits on Oahu. In October 2012 and March 2013, the Chamber, through the recommendations of its Public
Health Fund Committee, awarded over $114,000 in grants to numerous organizations for their various programs that help to promote public health education, research and resources for which funds are not generally available from other sources. The organizations to receive grants are: • Waikiki Health Center: Establishing a Dental Clinic Targeting Medically Underserved Populations • Hawaii Foodbank, Inc.: Hunger in Hawaii 2014 – A report on those needing food assistance in 2013 • Child & Family Service: Maintaining Senior Wellness in Ewa Beach • Waianae Care, Inc.: CAPS (Community Adolescent Physicals for Sports) Project • Aloha Medical Mission: Ke
Pua Mae’Ole-Never Fading Flower • Save The Foodbasket: Grocery Distribution Program • Ethnic Education Foundation of Hawaii: Access Care Today • Mental Health America of Hawaii: Grow A Rainbow • Young Women’s’ Christian Association of Oahu (YWCA): Safety, Security and Sanitation Needs at Fernhurst Residence Qualified individuals and organizations can submit project proposals that address health care issues on the island of Oahu to the Public Health Fund Committee. Visit www.cochawaii.org for more information or email phf@cochawaii.org. The PHF Has Been Providing Grants Since 1899 In 1899, an epidemic of bubonic plague closed Honolulu Harbor and quarantined part of Honolulu.
In an effort to exterminate rats from the wharves and prevent future epidemics, a committee of shipping company representatives and importers assessed themselves 10 cents per ton of imports for rat control. Fifteen years later the Public Health Committee of The Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu accepted responsibility for collecting the voluntary assessments and disbursing funds for public health programs. In 1923, the Equity Court formally appointed the Chamber trustee of the Public Health Fund and directed the Chamber to limit grants to public health activities within the City and
County of Honolulu. As Hawaii's economy expanded in the 1940s, the collections and the fund balance increased substantially. Assessments were discontinued in 1950. Since then, grant awards have been limited to the amount of interest and dividends received from investment of principal. The fund balance is currently in excess of $2 million, producing more than $100,000 in annual income for distribution. The Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu merged with the Hawaii State Chamber of Commerce on Jan. 1, 1967, and became The Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii.
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