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News Release

November 23, 2009
HMSA employees help Hawaii’s hungry

Katy Meza
(808) 948-6056

Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) employees today made a special Thanksgiving donation to the Hawaii Foodbank to help alleviate hunger during the holidays. The Foodbank received $18,825 and 5,000 pounds of canned goods and other nonperishable items from HMSA employees on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and Hawaii.

“This year, the number of Hawaii families asking for assistance from the Hawaii Foodbank has tripled, while donations are dropping,” says Dick Grimm, president of Hawaii Foodbank, Inc. “So, we really appreciate the generosity of HMSA’s employees on Oahu and the Neighbor Islands who are helping our community as the need grows.”

Over a four-week period, teams of HMSA employees challenged each other to collect food items. Teams were motivated by a friendly competition between departments. Monetary donations were also collected to help families celebrate Thanksgiving.

“This holiday season, more than ever, our employees want to be sure that every family in our community has a bit of good cheer,” said Elisa Yadao, HMSA vice president of Community Affairs. “Contributing to the Hawaii Foodbank is one way we can really live the spirit of the season. We’re proud of this annual HMSA tradition.”

Hawaii Foodbank, Inc.

The Hawaii Foodbank is the only nonprofit 501(c)(3) agency in the state of Hawaii that collects, warehouses and distributes mass quantities of perishable and nonperishable food to 250 charitable agencies, as well as food banks on the Big Island, Maui and Kauai.

Last year, the Hawaii Foodbank distributed nearly 10 million pounds of food, including 1.5 million pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables. It serves 250 member agencies across Oahu. Member agencies are Hawaii’s food pantries, feeding programs for children and the elderly, homeless and abuse shelters, rehabilitation centers, and soup kitchens.

Their mission statement is: “The people of Hawaii are one ohana. The Hawaii Foodbank provides food so that no one in our family goes hungry. We work to gather food and support our communities. We then distribute food through charitable agencies to those in need. Our mission is from the heart, and we will fulfill our mission with integrity, humanity and aloha.”

About HMSA

HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is governed by a community board of directors and includes representatives from health care, business, labor, government, education, clergy, and the community at large. HMSA is a member of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Nationally, HMSA and 38 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans provide worldwide coverage to more than 100 million members.

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