×
×
homepage logo

Local agent provides a $10,000 donation to his high school alma mater

By Staff | Aug 5, 2022

From left, Chad Santiago, State Farm agent; Art Fillazar, executive director of the Lahainaluna High School Foundation; and Taulia Tu’ua, State Farm Lahaina office manager, at the entrance to Lahainaluna High School, the oldest school west of the Rockies. Santiago made the presentation at a recent foundation board meeting. PHOTO COURTESY OF LOUISA SHELTON.

LAHAINA — Chad Santiago has a long history of demonstrating what it means to be a Good Neighbor by stepping up to help his community.

On July 14, State Farm Agent Santiago, from Lahaina, presented his former high school with a $10,000 grant from State Farm as part of the Outstanding Community Engagement Program.

The Lahainaluna High School Foundation was selected as part of his recognition for being one of 100 State Farm agents nationwide who were nominated and selected for their outstanding community engagement.

“At State Farm, we are committed to helping build stronger communities,” said Santiago.

“For me, it’s not enough to simply say we’re a Good Neighbor — we embrace the responsibility to make this community better by being a part of a solution.”

“This was a nice surprise and an honor,” said incoming LHS Foundation Executive Director Art Fillazar. “I had just started as the new executive director, and I get a call from my former student, Chad Santiago, Lahainaluna Class of 1997, announcing his award and what it involves. The grant will be used to provide scholarship funds for Lahainaluna High School’s graduating seniors. We hope to build on a scholarship platform to which Chad’s Class of 1997 and other alumni classes can contribute to provide more renewable scholarships for descendants of LHS alumni.”

Fillazar went on further to say, “Chad is a fitting example of the graduates of Lahainaluna who learned about giving back to their community while in high school, and now as the leaders and the adults of the West Side community, are serving as examples. Chad, his brother Mark and sister Leilani were engaged in high school activities and sports, and they continue to be that in their own professions as well as being parents and contributing citizens of their communities. On behalf of the Lahainaluna Foundation, we proudly accept his generous consideration of this $10,000 award.”