The Stupski Foundation recently awarded Maui Economic Opportunity a
$450,000 grant to support programs and services for prenatal to 5-year-old
children, their parents and caregivers.
Based in San Francisco, the Foundation supports “the foods we grow and eat,
the networks that mentor and nurture future generations, and the systems
that support our health (that) are vital to our collective well-being” in
the Bay Area and Hawai`i, according to the Stupski webpage. This includes
food justice, post-secondary success, early brain development and serious
illness care.
“These funds provide flexibility to fill funding gaps in MEO early
childhood programs and will directly support funding shortfalls at the Kahi
Kamali`i Infant Toddler Center and any unmet needs in the MEO Head Start
program,” said MEO CEO Debbie Cabebe.
She was surprised when the Foundation reached out to request a meeting.
“When we met, they told me that they had been observing MEO’s work for some
time and recently expanded their scope to include assisting children up to
age 5,” Cabebe said.
MEO operates Kahi Kamali`i Infant Toddler Center at the J. Cameron Center
and the Head Start preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds on Maui and Moloka`i
who meet income qualifications. Head Start is offered at no cost to
families while grants and assistance are available for Kahi Kamali`i
families.
“This award couldn’t have come at a better time, and the provision of the
award provides flexibility to use these funds to support the areas of
greatest need,” said Cabebe. “Our sincere thanks to the Stupski Foundation.”
For more information about Head Start and Kahi Kamali`i, contact MEO Early
Childhood Services at (808) 249-2988.
It’s playtime at Maui Economic Opportunity’s Kahi Kamali‘i Infant Toddler Center at the J. Walter Cameron Center in this photo taken in June 2023.