News Release
October 8, 2011
HMSA employees transform Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii clubhouse with a “Make a Difference” makeover
Moani Wright-Van Alst
(808) 952-7566
moani_wright@hmsa.com
Hawai‘i Medical Service Association (HMSA) employees rolled up their sleeves,
put on gardening gloves, and dug into the soil at the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii’s
Charles C. Spalding Clubhouse to “Make a Difference” in the lives of
some Honolulu boys and girls by renovating an outdoor area of the clubhouse.
More than two dozen HMSA volunteers gathered at the clubhouse today to finish improving
the area, which included planting a garden for the kids, landscaping an area used
by the kids and their parents, and painting colorful murals on clubhouse walls.
“The transformation brings tears to my eyes because it’s so beautiful,”
said Natalie Pawluk Moore, Spalding unit director of the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii.
“The outside of the clubhouse is now so colorful, bright, and inviting. The
appearance is a true reflection of how the staff feels about serving our youth –
excited and inspired. It also portrays what happens to our youth once they step
through the doors of the clubhouse – they develop, grow, and become responsible
young citizens of the community. At the club, the sky’s the limit! We are
so blessed to have such strong community supporters like the employees of HMSA.”
The community service project took a total of three weekends and more than 800 hours
to plan and complete. HMSA volunteers did nearly everything from planning to execution,
including trash collection and hauling, building benches and planter boxes, landscaping,
tree and shrub planting, mural design, and painting. In all, 60 HMSA volunteers
participated in the unique project.
The landscaping included the addition of new plants around the clubhouse, as well
as new planter boxes with vegetables and herbs to help the kids learn about healthy
eating and sustainable gardening. The vegetables and herbs will be used in the club’s
Healthy Habits cooking program, and members may also be inspired to create hanging
planters in the Arts & Crafts program.
With input from the kids, the mural artwork was designed by HMSA employees and reflects
the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii’s “Be Great” theme. The volunteers
prepared the walls on two previous Saturdays and finished the artwork today. Jared
Johnston (aka JJ Parkz) also donated his time and talent to create graffiti artwork
for the Teen Center walls.
“Our employees were really happy to help out at the Boys & Girls Club
of Hawaii,” said Elisa Yadao, HMSA vice president of Community Affairs, Marketing,
and Communications. “They are our neighbors and they provide a valuable service
to the community. The transformation was quite remarkable. It turned an area outside
the clubhouse into a bright, happy gathering place for kids, their parents, and
the staff.”
The HMSA “Make a Difference” community service project was a volunteer
effort inspired by HMSA employees to help a local nonprofit organization that provides
needed services and supports Honolulu’s kids and teens. The Boys & Girls Club
of Hawaii is supported by Aloha United Way (AUW), and HMSA’s project is an
extension of its ongoing commitment to AUW.
Also supporting the project was PBR Hawaii & Associates, which
donated the landscaping design plan, and Growing Things, which donated supplies,
landscaping help, and plant installation.
About Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii
Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii (BGCH) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to
inspiring Hawaii’s youth to become responsible citizens. BGCH currently operates
12 sites on Oahu and Kauai, where BGCH members can access a multitude of programs
and services. BGCH is a subsidiary of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and has
been operating in Hawaii since 1976. The organization touches the lives of nearly
4,800 members and provides services to an additional 5,000 youths each year, many
from disadvantaged circumstances.
HMSA is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
####
