< Back Helpful Articles

With a Bit of Magic, ASB Donates More Than $370,000 to 17 Local Nonprofits

ASB April 23, 2018 | 5 min read N/A

HONOLULU, April 23, 2018 – American Savings Bank (ASB) today announced it has donated $371,167 to 17 nonprofit organizations in the state of Hawaii. The majority of the funds were raised through ASB’s 2018 Kahiau Giving Campaign, an annual teammate program that supports select community organizations.

The mission of the campaign can be found in the definition of the Hawaiian word, “kahiau” which means, “to give from the heart without expecting anything in return,” embodying the selfless generosity of ASB’s teammates. The 2018 Campaign took place from February to March and featured a Harry Potter-inspired theme. A record-breaking 94 percent of the bank’s over 1,100 teammates raised a total of $163,617, boosted by a matching donation of $100,000 from ASB.

“The astonishing 94 percent turnout for our 2018 Kahiau Giving Campaign says it all – our teammates are passionate about giving back,” said Rich Wacker, president and CEO of ASB. “We are honored to further the important, transformative work of these community organizations through our contributions.”

The Kahiau funds were donated to Child & Family Service, Junior Achievement, Kapi‘olani Health Foundation, Kupu, Partners in Development Foundation and United Way. ASB further supports its Kahiau Community Partners by contributing volunteer hours through the bank’s Seeds of Service and financial literacy programs.

In addition to the gifts made through the Kahiau Giving Campaign, ASB also announced grants to seven different nonprofit organizations. ASB supports initiatives that promote educational excellence and financial literacy, strengthen families and foster innovation and entrepreneurship through donations, sponsorships, grants, scholarships, internships and volunteerism. In total, ASB has donated millions of dollars to Hawai‘i’s nonprofits and community organizations, including $1.5 million raised through the Kahiau Giving Campaign since 2011.

ASB’s gift recipients include:

  • Aloha United Way*
  • Child & Family Service*
  • Family Promise of Hawai‘i
  • Friendly Isle United Fund*
  • Hawai‘i Island United Way*
  • Junior Achievement of Hawai‘i*
  • Kaua‘i United Way*
  • Kapi‘olani Health Foundation*
  • Kupu*
  • Maui United Way*
  • Maui Youth & Family Services
  • North Hawai‘i Community Hospital
  • Ohana Komputer
  • Pacific & Asian Affairs Council
  • Partners in Development Foundation*
  • Project Vision
  • University of Hawai‘i Foundation

*Kahiau Giving Campaign partner

Kahiau Giving Campaign

Kahiau Giving Campaign
ASB teammates presented a check to Kahiau Giving Campaign beneficiaries.

Family Promise

Family Promise of Hawai‘i
Pictured from left to right: Michelle Bartell, First Vice President and Director of Communications & Community Advancement, American Savings Bank; Samantha Church, Executive Director, Family Promise of Hawai‘i; Rich Wacker, President & CEO, American Savings Bank

North Hawaii Community Hospital

North Hawai‘i Community Hospital
Pictured from left to right: Robert Momsen, Board Trustee, North Hawai‘i Community Hospital; Cindy Kamikawa, President, North Hawai‘i Community Hospital; Michael Nagamine, Branch Manager, American Savings Bank and Kimmie Puamana Park, First Vice President, Regional Executive, American Savings Bank

UH Foundation

University of Hawai‘i Foundation
Pictured from left to right: Rich Wacker, President & CEO, American Savings Bank; Michelle Bartell, First Vice President and Director of Communications & Community Advancement, American Savings Bank; Laurie Komatsu, Director, Corporate & Foundation Relations, University of Hawai‘i Foundation, and Donna Vuchinich, President & CEO, University of Hawai‘i Foundation

About American Savings Bank

American Savings Bank (ASB) has been serving Hawai‘i’s businesses and communities since 1925 and currently provides a full range of financial products and services, including business and consumer banking, home loans, insurance and investments. ASB is one of Hawai‘i’s leading financial institutions, with e-banking services and branch locations throughout the state offering evening, weekend and holiday hours. ASB provides Hawai‘i’s consumers and businesses with more extended weekday and weekend hours than other similarly sized local banks, as well as convenient in-store branches. ASB was the first Hawai‘i bank to introduce remote-deposit capture with a mobile banking application.

ASB matches its exceptional customer experience with an employee experience that has garnered local and national awards. ASB has been recognized locally as one of the “Best Places to Work” by Hawaii Business Magazine for nine consecutive years and honored nationally as one of the “Best Banks to Work For” by American Banker Magazine. Fortune Magazine has recognized ASB as one of the 100 Best Workplaces for Women and 50 Best Workplaces for Diversity. For more than 90 years, ASB has been helping build strong communities. Through its Seeds of Service program, ASB teammates have contributed more than 36,000 hours of volunteer service, and ASB has donated millions of dollars to Hawai‘i’s nonprofits and community organizations. For more information, visit www.asbhawaii.com or follow American Savings Bank on Facebook and Instagram.

###