Bank of Hawaii and its employees donated $1 million to 20 non-profits on Jan. 10 from the proceeds of its inaugural Employee Giving Campaign. One of the beneficiary organizations is Maui United Way (MUW); pictured (from left) are MUW Board Chair Jeff Gerard, Campaign Chair Lahela Aiwohi, MUW President and Chief Professional Officer Laksmi Abraham and Bank of Hawaii Senior Vice President and Maui Island Manager Kevin Baptist.

HONOLULU — Bank of Hawaii employees raised more than $470,000 during the bank’s inaugural Employee Giving Campaign throughout October 2010 to benefit 20 local nonprofit organizations.

Themed “Making a Difference,” employees were allowed to choose the 20 organizations to be included in the campaign: Aloha United Way; Hawaii Meals on Wheels; Alzheimer’s Association, Aloha Chapter; Hawaii Meth Project; American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter; Hawaii Nature Center; Boy Scouts of America, Aloha Council; Hawaiian Humane Society; Catholic Charities Hawaii; Hospice Hawaii; Child & Family Service; Kauai United Way; Friendly Isle United Fund; Maui United Way; Good Beginnings Alliance; PBS Hawaii “Hiki No”; Hawaii Foodbank Inc.; Salvation Army, Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division; Hawaii Island United Way; and Teach For America.

BOH employees and retirees were able to donate to one organization or spread their donation among many.

Their efforts were supplemented by an additional $530,000 from Bank of Hawaii to celebrate the success of this inaugural campaign.

Donations — awarded during a luncheon on Jan. 10 — ranged from $5,000 to more than $280,000 for each of the beneficiary organizations.

Peter Ho, Bank of Hawaii chairman and CEO, said, “The 20 beneficiaries are great representatives of the terrific work that the not-for-profit community does every day. They are hugely important to so many people in our community. I’m proud of the support our employees have made to their efforts.”