The Big Island Substance Abuse Council came in second place, out of 40 entrants statewide, at the Hogan/American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition. ADVERTISING The Big Island Substance Abuse Council came in second place, out of 40 entrants statewide,
The Big Island Substance Abuse Council came in second place, out of 40 entrants statewide, at the Hogan/American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition.
BISAC entered a business plan for its Food Truck Training Initiative, which is a proposed part of its Pookela Vocational Training Program.
“Employment is vitally important in substance abuse recovery and is the primary vehicle for reintegrating the client into the community as a productive and contributing member and as a result making him or her feel worthwhile and self-confident. A market and training opportunity exists for a food truck in the East Hawaii area. This program will fill this opportunity, lower crime rates and bring dignity back to the lives of those who have lost it by offering gainful employment as a necessary step to getting back on track,” said BISAC CEO Dr. Hannah Preston-Pita.
BISAC received $8,000 for it’s second-place win.
The winning entrant, receiving $12,000, was the Oahu-based nonprofit Hooulu Pacific with its Waimanalo Aquaponics Project. The Boys and Girls Club of the Big Island came in third place receiving $4,000. The Food Basket Inc. and PTSD Health &Research Center, both from the Big Island, were also finalists in the competition and received $1,000 each for their business plans.
“I’m really happy that so many of the Big Island’s nonprofits did so well in this year’s competition. It really shows that there are a lot of great things happening in our community. We’re so grateful to Hogan people for honoring us with this award,” Preston-Pita said.
The 2014 Hogan/American Savings Bank Nonprofit Business Plan Competition was the sixth competition at Chaminade University. Over $30,000 in prizes was awarded to the winners of the competition.