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Posted on: Thursday, June 14, 2001 Ishii Foundation gets boost By Ann Miller A late surge helped the David S. Ishii Foundation raise nearly $50,000 at its first major fund-raiser. The foundation sponsors the annual state high school championships, along with college scholarships. A financial aid fund, for Hawai'i juniors traveling to tournaments, is planned next year. The foundation's inaugural benefit tournament, last Wednesday at Pearl Country Club, drew 204 players and 25 gold, bronze and silver sponsors. Event support came from many other sources, including Japanese businesses, PGA Tour pros, music by Jake and Bruce Shimabukuro and food from Sam Choy. The tournament raised more than $40,000. Soon after, the Aloha Section PGA board of directors voted unanimously to donate $5,000 "in recognition of the significant and selfless contributions David Ishii has made over his entire golf career back to the game of golf, specifically towards the advancement of interscholastic and junior golf. The Aloha Section PGA's 200 members and apprentices are proud to have David as a member of our association." The financial success will serve primarily to guarantee the future of the high school championships, which Ishii has sponsored since 1997. It also helped surprise the foundation's first two scholarship winners, who expected $1,000 grants. Instead, Hilo High's Chais Paiva and Waiakea's Katherine Atebara were given $2,000 checks at the tournament banquet. Paiva is heading to Loyola Marymount and Atebara to Washington University at St. Louis. State tournament champions Rachel Kyono (Kaua'i) and Jarett Hamamoto (Waiakea) played in the benefit. For more information on the foundation, call 754-7576. |
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