MEDIA RELEASE

Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union has chosen the West Hawaii Community Health Center as its social responsibility beneficiary for 2012-2014.

The community health center is a non-profit organization that is committed to making quality, comprehensive and integrated health services accessible to West Hawaii residents from Kawaihae to Ocean View regardless of income.

The services include integrated family medicine and behavioral health services to patients of all ages, a mobile dental van which provides dental care and emergency dental services to adults, and a Keiki Health Center which provides integrated medical, dental and behavioral health services to West Hawaii’s children.

The health center will be the beneficiary of the Credit Union’s fundraising efforts, including its signature annual Market Day.

Additionally, the Credit Union will assist in efforts to familiarize the community with the health center and support any of the health center’s community and fundraising activities.

West Hawaii Community Health Center Executive Director Richard Taaffe says it’s exciting and gratifying to be chosen as the Credit Union’s beneficiary.

“We look forward to partnering with the Credit Union on events in the community that will benefit Credit Union’s employees and members as well as the health center’s patients,” Taaffe said.
“We are trying to do more outreach in the community and we will be able to do so much more through this partnership. It’s about building relationships. We build relationships with our patients and we want to build a relationship with the credit union and its employees.”

The health center has plans to open a family clinic in Waikoloa in 2012 and one in South Kona within the next few years and is partnering with Laio-pua to build and occupy a medical clinic in that North Kona community.

Health center statistics show it served 9,100 individuals in 2011 for a total of 33,000 patient visits, and it partners with two sister organizations – Bay Clinic in Hilo and Hamakua Health Center in Honokaa – to ensure health care services are available around the island.

“Hawaii Community Federal Credit Union is pleased to begin its commitment to enhance the health of our communities by supporting the West Hawaii Community Health Center,” said James Takamine, the credit union’s President/CEO.

“Their commitment to the community, their commitment to grow their services to reach a broader audience and their grass roots beginning all resonate with the Credit Union and its ‘people helping people’ philosophy,” he said. “We look forward to working with the health center – helping it to grow, as our organization has grown.”

— Find out more:
www.hicommfcu.com