eBay Founder's Big Hawaiian Donation
Hawaiian charities got a big boost this week when eBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife Pam announced a plan to donate $50 million over six years to the Hawaii Community Foundation. The donation is said to be the largest single gift by a living donor in Hawaii's history. The money will be used to fund community initiatives. The Omidyar Ohana Fund has been set up at the Foundation to enable the Omidyars and the Foundation to work together on key projects. Of particular issue lately is the effect that the economy has had on the state. Hawaii's tourism-based economy has taken a hard hit in the past year. Since the Omidyars returned to Hawaii in 2006 (they both grew up at least partly in Hawaii) they have supported a number of causes including backing the expansion of Ma`o Organic Farms in Wai`anae and its farm-to-school program for young adults. They also launched the Ulupono Initiative, a social investment organization that makes nonprofit grants and investments that address local sustainability issues such as renewable energy, local food production and waste reduction.
[via Honolulu Advertiser]
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