On April 8, Nareit Hawaii presented a check for $50,000 to the Filipino Community Center to help the nonprofit charitable organization expand its vaccination program on Oahu and the neighbor islands. The donation will help the Filipino Community Center to reach more residents, especially those within the Filipino and Pacific Islander communities, who have shown a reluctance to get the COVID vaccine.
Research data published by the Hawaii State Department of Health show that Filipino and Pacific Islander residents have contracted COVID at a higher rate than other ethnic groups in Hawaii, but are among the lowest to be vaccinated.
FilCom Executive Director, Donnie Juan, commented, “This generous donation from Nareit Hawaii will allow us to expand the reach of our message to correct disinformation about the COVID vaccine and to overcome communication obstacles, particularly within the older generation, that are keeping many residents from getting vaccinated. We will also be collaborating with partners in other communities throughout the state to encourage more people to get vaccinated and protect their health.”
Senator and FilCom board member, Bennette Misalucha, said, “I’m grateful for Nareit for their largess, for their generosity of spirit. I know the amount that they gave is significant and it will go a long way in achieving the purpose of hopefully lowering the curve and making sure our people are healthy.”