Hawaii charities received $1.2 million, Pacific Islands $500,000 mainland $400,000
Funded by the businesses of container shipper Matson, Inc., the Matson Foundation last year provided more than $2 million in cash and in-kind donations to charitable organizations and community efforts in Matson's service areas including Hawaii, the Pacific (Guam, Micronesia, the South Pacific), and across the U.S. Mainland and Alaska.
"As a Hawaii corporation, we demonstrate our reliability and commitment to this state in many ways, and our communities can count on Matson to be a charitable partner as well," said Matt Cox, president & CEO of Matson, Inc. and president of Matson Foundation. "Our contributions are directed by Matson employees who know their communities and who also give their own time and money."
Matson Foundation contributes funds, material goods and services to assist in the development and operation of locally-focused not-for-profit, charitable and community-based organizations located where Matson has business operations. Resources are allocated by Matson's corporate board annually.
Among Matson's notable cash support in 2015 was a combined $175,000 for United Way chapters across its service areas, to which employees added personal donations of close to $50,000. Other key grants included $50,000 pledges each to PBS Hawaii's 'New Home' campaign; to the National Kidney Foundation of Hawaii's planned service center in Kapolei, and to a five-year scholarship program supporting post-secondary scholarships in Micronesia in celebration of Matson's 20 years of service to Guam.
On the U.S. West Coast, Matson is fulfilling a $30,000 commitment to the International Trade Education Program and was a $10,000 donor to the Oakland Museum of California's "Pacific Worlds" exhibition.
In addition to cash donations totaling $30,000 to regional Red Cross centers, Matson provided in-kind support exceeding $300,000 in value to post-typhoon recovery efforts in Saipan, Guam and the Western Pacific, which were struck by two major storms last year.
Ka Ipu 'Aina (container for the land), an environmental program Matson began in 2001, continued last year with more than 100 Hawaii organizations - mostly sports and student groups - each earning $1,000 for weekend cleanups, removing trash and debris from public areas, often in partnership with the City & County of Honolulu. In Guam, a similar program, Adahi I Tano' (caring for the land) has been serving the community since 2013.
