Spectrum and Rep. Micah Aiu Award Grant to The Pantry

Spectrum announced a donation of $2,500 to The Pantry by Feeding Hawaii Together (The Pantry) through the company’s national community philanthropic program, Spectrum Employee Community Grants (SECG).

The Pantry helps the community by developing innovative ways to effectively serve the daily food needs of Hawaii’s working people who struggle with food insecurity including children, elderly and those who are disabled.

This is the third Spectrum Employee Community Grant awarded to The Pantry since 2020, bringing the total donation to more than $17,000 for the organization from Spectrum.

The SECG award was presented to The Pantry at its Honolulu facility on April 4. Rep. Micah Aiu participated in the celebration with Spectrum executives.

“Congratulations to The Pantry for being a three-time Spectrum Employee Community Grant recipient,” said Rep. Micah Aiu, District 32. “I appreciate the critical work that The Pantry models for food security in Hawaii. Their service is crucial to addressing Oahu’s hunger crisis. With the pandemic creating urgent food insecurity issues, providing consistent and reliable access to nutritious food is more necessary than ever. Thank you to Spectrum for their continued commitment in supporting the marginalized members of our 'ohana community."

“The Pantry is so immensely grateful for this donation from Spectrum,” said Jennine Sullivan, Executive Director of The Pantry Feeding Hawaii Together. “With one in five residents of Hawaii struggling with food insecurity, Spectrum is providing us with additional support to be a lifeline to the tens of thousands of individuals we serve every month, so that they won't need to make the heartbreaking decision between paying for food, rent, medication, and other life necessities.”

Spectrum Enterprise Market Enablement Manager, Yvonne Yanagihara nominated The Pantry.

“Having someone close to me be blessed by The Pantry’s vision of food security deepened my appreciation for what they have firmly established for our community,” said Yanagihara. “Our company’s employee grant program greatly reinforces the work of many volunteers with both the heart and desire to reach those who need help. My time, treasure and talent as a volunteer was greatly multiplied through SECG and The Pantry.”

Spectrum Employee Community Grants has provided funding to nearly 400 local nonprofits in 32 states throughout the company’s service area since its inception in July 2019.

“Through Spectrum Employee Community Grants, we’re proud to provide support to vital community organizations with which our local employees are already volunteering their time and talent,” said Gregg Fujimoto, Spectrum Senior Vice President. “Together, we’re building stronger communities where our customers and employees live and work in Hawaii.”

Recipients deliver critical social services, helping underserved residents meet basic needs, including food, shelter, clothing, job training and neighborhood safety. Each awardee is nominated by one of the company’s more than 101,000 U.S. employees who has volunteered with the organization for at least one year.

More information on Spectrum’s philanthropic initiatives, including Spectrum Employee Community Grants, is available here.