(Photo courtesy of American Savings Bank)

MEDIA RELEASE

American Savings Bank (ASB) has announced a $25,000 grant to the ARC of Hilo to support a new Job Creation and Community Support Services Center in Hilo.

“American Savings Bank is happy to be in a position to contribute to the ARC of Hilo’s campaign to construct a new facility to help those with disabilities,” said Rich Wacker, American Savings Bank President & Chief Executive Officer. “We are proud to support organizations such as the ARC of Hilo to promote self-sufficiency among the groups they serve.”

ASB’s contribution brings the ARC of Hilo one step closer to breaking ground on a new $10.7 million, 17,600-square-foot facility, which will provide the space required to significantly increase the number of workers that are assisted in skill training, vocational training and self-sufficiency counseling. Once completed, the Center is expected to create more than 300 jobs over a five-year period.

“We are very grateful for this generous gift from American Savings Bank,” said Mike Gleason, President and CEO of ARC of Hilo. “Nearly 20 percent of Hawaii County’s 175,000 residents have some form of disability and this contribution will help to enable us to build a new facility in which we can continue to serve those in need. In addition, the expansion will broaden the scope of our contracted services area while growing an income generating line of business.”

Serving Hawaii’s businesses and communities for nearly 85 years, American Savings Bank provides a full range of financial products and services, including commercial and consumer banking, insurance, and investments.

For more information, visit asbhawaii.com

The ARC of Hilo is a non-profit organization that strives to improve the quality of life for people with developmental and other disabilities in Hawaii by providing educational, recreational, vocational, and skills training as well as employment and residential opportunities.