Ilima-Lei Macfarlane is a Native-Hawaiian professional MMA fighter from Honolulu, Hawaii. Seeing her success in the cage grow, she wanted to create the Ilimanator Scholarship to not only inspire other girls to go after their dreams, but to also help eliminate disparities that many young native girls face and give them a fighting chance to succeed. Through fundraising, donations, and her win bonuses from fights, Ilima-Lei has been able to award a total of 22 scholarships to young girls around the world including natives of Mexico, Jamaica, Canada, Panama, Hawai‘i, and Turtle Island. Eventually, with guidance from her mentors, she created her foundation, Nā Wahine Toa (Women Warriors), to further empower these kaikamāhine (girls) and older generations. Her foundation focuses on teaching self-defense, self-love, self-preservation, and the protection of sacred sites including our bodies, our divine feminine entities, and our ʻāina (land).
Established in 2010 the Shane Victorino Foundation is dedicated to providing opportunities to youth across the country. The Foundation’s flagship project is the “Shane Victorino Nicetown Boys & Girls Club” in Philadelphia, one of the few clubs named in honor of an MLB player. We’ve invested almost $1 million to renovate this century-old facility. In Boston, our Flyin’ Hawaiian All-Stars charity ticket program provides memorable ballpark experiences for local children’s groups. In Hawaii, we support educational and recreational initiatives, including tutoring and mentoring for at-risk youth. In Las Vegas, we host an annual toy drive and holiday party for children facing adversity.
The Sape Foundation was born with the mission to support children and families in need. Over the past seven years, the foundation has been dedicated to assisting families who struggle to afford medical bills, mortgage payments, rent, clothing, food, appliances, school supplies, and more. They have achieved this through their annual Golf Tournament event, which has played a crucial role in raising funds and awareness for their cause.
Kristi Yamaguchi’s Always Dream Foundation is focused on building awareness around the importance of reading and on empowering low-income families with the tools necessary to level the playing field. We do this by providing access to high-quality books via cutting edge technology, all while engaging parents to become active participants in their child’s everyday learning.
Motiv8 Foundation promotes academics and the positive power of sport with the next generation and gives back to the places that shaped Marcus personally. We’re dedicated to supporting young people of all ages with the fundamental resources they need to succeed. Our initiatives inspire kids from grade school to college, provide positive outlets, and help serve the whole community.
The Bonnie Fang Foundation is a nonprofit organization that has been providing nursing scholarships for the past 21 years. It is a testament to Bonnie Fang, a nurse who was a passionate woman that cared deeply for everyone around her. Her legacy lives on through the foundation, which not only honors the nursing field but also continues Bonnie’s mission of helping those in need. Her advocacy for foreign nurses to receive their California licenses to practice as RN’s was a successful campaign, and her compassion and drive have made a lasting impact on her daughters. Through the Bonnie Fang Foundation, her spirit of generosity and kindness lives on, providing opportunities for aspiring nurses to follow in her footsteps.
As Tanioka’s served the leeward side of Oahu, Mel and Lynn Tanioka founded an organization to help those in need. The Tanioka’s Charity Foundation (TCF), a 501c3 division of Tanioka’s Seafood and Catering. The Foundation was brought forth to support charities such as the Kapi’olani Children’s Hospital, Pali Momi Cancer Center, American Cancer Society, Mililani Missionary Church, New Hope Church, Hawaii Law Enforcement Agency, March of Dimes, Boy Scouts of Hawaii, Junior Golf, Junior Boxing, River of Life, and many other schools and organizations. Future plans include scholarships for Hawaii’s students.
