Maui nonprofits win cash prizes for new projects

Chaminade University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program and American Savings Bank recently awarded a total of $34,000 to eight Hawaii nonprofit organizations as part of its 2020 Nonprofit Business Plan Competition. Held every other year, the competition is open to nonprofit organizations planning to start new ventures that will benefit society.

Forty teams participated in this year’s competition. Eight finalists and an honorary student were selected. Among this year’s winning nonprofits and projects are two from Maui County:

≤ Third place ($5,000) went Assistive Technology Resource Centers of Hawai‘i — The Music Club. In November 2019, a group of persons with disabilities interested in music gathered on a Thursday evening to “jam” and get to know one another. It was highly successful, with more individuals with disabilities joining monthly. That was the genesis of The Music Club which is open to all PWD who either play an instrument, want to play an instrument, sing, or simply enjoy experiencing music. The objective includes providing a fun, safe, and nurturing environment for individuals with disabilities to explore their musical creativity without the fear of being judged or intimidated.

≤ Fourth Place ($3,000) went to Maui Nui Marine Resource Council — Vision for Pohakea (featured in a separate community story in The Maui News on Nov. 14).

The cash prizes were donated by the Hogan Family Foundation and American Savings Bank.

All finalists were required to submit detailed business plans for the proposed ventures. The plans were evaluated and scored by a panel of expert judges comprised of senior executives from banks, foundations, consulting firms, venture capital funds and leading nonprofit organizations.

Chaminade University’s Hogan Entrepreneurial Program is a one- or two-year certificate program.

Students learn first-hand from experienced Hawaii business leaders and entrepreneurs about the business of getting a new idea up and running. This involves academic coursework, mentorships and internships with business leaders, weekly lectures, study trips, and programs like the nonprofit business plan competition. For more information, visit Chaminade.edu/hogan