EBay founder Pierre Omidyar and his wife, Pam, have given the Hawaii Community Foundation a $50 million gift, believed to be the largest single gift from a living donor in the state's history.
The money will be used to start several community initiatives over six years, as well as support Pierre and Pam Omidyar's ongoing interests through the foundation's Omidyar Ohana Fund.
"Pam and I are privileged to call Hawaii home," Omidyar said in a statement. "Given the economic crisis and hardships throughout the state, we felt it was especially important at this time to expand our philanthropy in the islands."
The couple has supported several local causes and organizations in the Islands. They helped to launch Kanu Hawaii, backed the expansion of Mao Organic Farms in Waianae and most recently launched the Ulupono Initiative, which makes nonprofit grants and for profit investments aimed at sustainability.
Pam grew up in Hawaii Kai and attended Iolani School. She said, "That experience was a strong reminder of the important role community plays in every aspect of life here in the islands." Pierre attended Punahou School in the 8th and 9th grades, from 1979 to 1981. They moved back to Oahu in 2006.
The Hawaii Community Foundation plans to use the first $16 M for 3 initiatives:
1. The Omidyar Ohana Fund will provide a $4 million grant toward the Community Stabilization Initiative, an $8 million, six-year plan to help families and individuals get through the recession through use of government resources, credit counseling and mortgage prevention services. The balance of the cost must be matched by other donors, foundations and government agencies over the next six years.
2. $6 million over six years will go to the Omidyar Innovation Fund, a grant program to be launched next year that will seek to spur innovation in Hawaii's social sector and will provide matching funds for qualifying organizations.
3. The third initiative is a $6 million, six-year challenge grant, to be matched by other donors, for building a sustainable complex at Punahou School to be named the Omidyar Kindergarten-First Grade Neighborhood.
All three of the first initiatives have a matching component. Punahou School will do its own fundraising for the K-1 campus, while the foundation will work on raising donations to match the others.
The Hawaii Community Foundation, a statewide grantmaking organization that works with local nonprofit organizations, has provided more than $160 million in grants and contracts between 2000 and 2008.
The Omidyars have been very active and generous in philanthropy work. They have founded the Omidyar Network, Humanity United and HopeLab. The Omidyar Network plans to spend $30 million over three years to support global entrepreneurship, especially in India and sub-Saharan Africa.
All of Hawaii will benefit for years to come from the gifts by the Omidyars. Mahalo nui loa for your Aloha.
Contact me to learn about our island lifestyle and to consider a real estate purchase while our prices and rates are low. When folks like Pierre and Pam Omidyar choose to make Hawaii home, to come back home, we must have somethng special to offer.
(resource: Pacific Business News)
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