MEDIA RELEASE

The Hawaii Meth Project has announced the launch of a $2 million campaign to support its statewide prevention program focused on reducing Meth use among Hawaii’s teens and young adults.

To kick off the campaign, the Hawaii Meth Project announced several significant donations from charitable foundations and local businesses, and individual contributions from supporters in the community, totaling $732,278.

The launch of the campaign comes on the heels of the Meth Project being recognized by Barron’s magazine, one of the country’s premier business and financial publications, citing the Meth Project as the world’s third most effective philanthropy.

In awarding the Meth Project its number three spot, Barron’s said, “The Meth Project is spreading—and teenage use of methamphetamine is falling as a result … [The] massive campaign of provocative anti-meth ads, first rolled out in Montana, moved into Georgia this year and was stepped up in Colorado and Hawaii … In Montana, teenage meth use has fallen below the national average for the first time since 1991.”

“Many people in Hawaii know first-hand the devastation that Meth use causes families and, as a result, want to be part of the solution,” said Cindy Adams, Executive Director of the Hawaii Meth Project. “It is important that the community participate directly in the prevention effort if we are to break the multi-generational impact of this drug in Hawaii, which is why we are so very grateful for the generous support we’ve received from local businesses, foundations, and individuals.”

The singular distinguishing issue about Meth is its pervasive impact to Hawaii’s family structure and children, education, employers, all facets of health and human services, law enforcement, and the judiciary system.

Donating to the Hawaii Meth Project helps to mitigate the enormous cost of downstream implications which is estimated at $500 million each year.

The Hawaii Meth Project’s fundraising campaign is being launched as the U.S. Department of Justice, Drug Enforcement Administration, reported in 2010 that domestic methamphetamine availability has rebounded and is at a 5-year high as a result of increasing large-scale production of the drug in Mexico.

“Crystal meth is the biggest drug problem we have in Hawaii and its use is the most significant driver of crime across our state,” said Honolulu Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro.

“This problem can only be tackled by focusing simultaneously on prevention, enforcement, and treatment. I’ve seen the positive results that the Meth Project has achieved in Montana since the program was launched there in 2005 and we’re already seeing results in Hawaii in the program’s first year here,” he said. “It is imperative that we continue to support the Hawaii Meth Project if we are to stop the next generation from falling into the grips of this devastating drug.”

This year’s fundraising campaign will enable the Hawaii Meth Project to build on the success of last year’s statewide awareness and community action plan, which extended the reach of the Hawaii Meth Project’s message and engaged teens and families throughout the state in prevention efforts.

In addition to individual contributions, significant donations to the campaign include:

– $200,000 from the James and Abigail Campbell Family Foundation
– $100,000 from James Campbell Company
– $100,000 from Harold K.L. Castle Foundation
– $75,000 from Bank of Hawaii Foundation
– $50,000 from Richard W. Gushman
– $30,000 from Fergus & Company
– $30,000 from Hawaiian Telcom
– $30,000 from Bert and Susan Kobayashi
– $25,000 from Alexander & Baldwin Foundation
– $20,000 from ABC Stores
– $14,778 from John and Mary McGrath
– $10,000 from American Savings Bank
– $10,000 from Florence Foundation
– $10,000 from Keith and Judy Swayne Family Foundation
– $7,500 from Sangham Foundation
– $5,000 each from Armstrong Foundation, The First Insurance Company of Hawaii Charitable Foundation, Jeff and Loan Arce, and Grove Farm Foundation

Bank of Hawaii Foundation President Donna Tanoue said, “We commend the Hawaii Meth Project for its important work in educating teenagers and young adults about Meth. We encourage other businesses to join with the existing funders to help address the issue of Meth in our communities.”

Members of the community have also begun to mobilize with their own initiatives, demonstrating a genuine grassroots effort to fight Meth. Initiatives to fundraise and raise awareness for the Hawaii Meth Project and its core message, “Not Even Once,” are being spearheaded by individuals who are organizing their own fundraising events.

“It is critical that we not get complacent with our outreach. This fundraising campaign will help ensure the program has the resources to continue to educate our teens about the dangers of Meth and prevent them from trying it,” Adams said.

For those interested in supporting the Hawaii Meth Project in the fight against Meth use throughout the state, donate online at www.hawaiimethproject.org/Take_Action/ or by check to Hawaii Meth Project, 999 Bishop St., 24th floor, Honolulu, HI 96813.

The Hawaii Meth Project is a non-profit organization that implements a range of advertising and community action programs to reduce methamphetamine use in the state.

Launched in June 2009, the Hawaii Meth Project leverages a proven model that combines extensive research with a hard-hitting, integrated media campaign.

The Hawaii Meth Project is affiliated with the Meth Project, a national non-profit organization headquartered in Palo Alto, California, aimed at significantly reducing first-time Meth use through public service messaging, public policy, and community outreach.

For more information, visit www.hawaiimethproject.org