On December 14th, the Credit Unions of Maui & Lanai presented $50,000 to the J. Walter Cameron Center on behalf of the Credit Unions of Maui Wildfire Relief Fund. The donation supports Cameron Center’s Laptop Relief Program which distributes personal computers, laptops, tablets, and mobile phones to wildfire survivors who lost their homes. The program has distributed hundreds of devices to those in need and currently has a waiting list for devices.
The Cameron Center launched the Laptop Relief Program on September 8, 2023, in response to the Maui wildfires disaster which resulted in the loss of thousands of homes. Since the Program’s inception there has been an overwhelming response of nearly 1,000 applications from displaced Maui residents seeking replacement devices. “This generous gift will help provide over 250 laptops to individuals who lost their homes and will make a significant impact towards our goal of distributing 1,000 devices,” shares Cesar Gaxiola. J. Walter Cameron Center Executive Director. “We are immensely grateful to the Credit Unions of Maui & Lanai for their generous donation of $50,000, which gives fire survivors access to vital information, connections, education, and work opportunities."
The Credit Unions of Maui Wildfire Relief Fund represents the collective effort of local credit unions coming together to support those directly impacted by the devastating wildfires. “Selecting the Cameron Center’s Laptop Relief Program as a beneficiary of the Fund was a no brainer,” says Guy Muraoka, Hawaii Credit Union League Valley Isle Chapter President, speaking on behalf of the Credit Unions of Maui Wildfire Relief Fund. “We saw that we could make a significant impact in helping to close the funding gap to get devices into the hands of hundreds of individuals who were affected by the fires. We know that Maui’s recovery efforts will be ongoing, but being able to help survivors stay connected is an urgent need. We hope that this donation will help encourage others to support this worthy effort.
Donations to the J. Walter Cameron Center for the Laptop Relief Program can be made online through the organization’s website at jwcameroncenter.org and checks can be mailed to 95 Mahalani Street, Wailuku, HI 96793.
Pictured in photo above are representatives for the Credit Unions of Maui Wildfire Relief Fund presented the J. Walter Cameron Center with a $50,000 donation for the Laptop Relief Program. Pictured from left, Clayton Fuchigami (Maui Federal Credit Union President & CEO), Kelly Tobita (Maui Teachers Federal Credit Union CEO), Craig Kinoshita (Wailuku Federal Credit Union CEO), Cesar Gaxiola (J. Walter Cameron Center Executive Director), Gary Fukuroku (Maui County Federal Credit Union President & CEO) and Trevor Tokishi (Valley Isle Community Federal Credit Union President/CEO). Not pictured are Kahului Federal Credit Union President/CEO Connie Woods and Charity Texeira Figuerres (Lanai Federal Credit Union CEO/Manager).