November 30, 2021

Oahu’s Awesome Foundation Reaches $100,000 in Local Giving

For the last ten years, The Awesome Foundation of Oahu has been funding the spread of awesomeness throughout our island community. Inspired by a radio segment about a group of Boston individuals that donate money to awesome projects in their community, Tracey Stott Kelley launched the Oahu chapter which supports local initiatives through giving $1,000 micro-grants, no strings attached.

This December will mark the 100th grant distributed to Oahu initiatives. Founder and current trustee, Tracey Stott Kelley says, “It has been thrilling to see how many people on Oahu work tirelessly and under the radar to make our island better. One person with an idea can create enormous change. We look forward to awarding another 100 grants!"

John-Carl (JC) Watson, President of 'Ōhi'a Legacy Initiative said, “The Awesome Foundation truly had an awesome and profound impact on our organization. They provided us with our very first grant, which served as confirmation that others believed in our mission and gave us a much-needed sense of legitimacy. It also provided a track record of success, and the funds were immediately used as a match for a grant from another funder, exponentially increasing their impact.” The 'Ōhi'a Legacy Initiative spreads awareness about the ecological and cultural importance of native Hawaiian plants and forests by establishing the 'Ōhi'a tree as a common feature in both residential and public areas.

Awesome projects include initiatives in a wide range of areas in the arts, technology, community development, and more. Hawai’i Arts Alliance applied the Awesome Foundation’s donation to paint and supplies for 2015’s Pow!Wow! festival in Kaka’ako. Project Hawai’i, Inc., which provides services to over 1,600 homeless children annually, used a grant to help supply meals to homeless keiki of Oahu. ReelFresh, a mobile app marketplace that connects consumers to fresh, locally caught fish, was also a beneficiary of Awesome’s seed money. 

Do you or someone you know have an awesome idea for enhancing our community? Visit www.awesomefoundation.org/chapters/oahu and complete a brief, simple application.

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