Congratulations to the Sacred Hearts School ‘ohana for winning the Bank for Education contest.

The historic school will receive $50,000 to upgrade its 40-year-old cafeteria that is used six days a week by the school and Maria Lanakila Church.

Joanna Stockham, who feverishly recruited parents, students and friends of the school to participate in the Bank for Education drive, said SHS will form a cafeteria planning committee with members from the church and school. Some bids are already being sought.

The contest is simple – the school that opens the most new checking or savings accounts at American Savings Bank in a 12-week period wins the $50,000.

Sacred Hearts was able to open around 500 new accounts, with Maui Adventist and Our Lady of Good Counsel often ahead in the count during the contest.

Stockham was elated when the results were announced during Christmas week.

“The week prior, we were behind by 22 points with Maui Adventist in first place. It was quite a comeback in the final week! As I’ve said repeatedly since that final day, Dec. 13, I am just so incredibly proud of the way our community rallied on our behalf,” Stockham said.

“As you know, we had friends from all around Lahaina opening bank accounts, not just school families and church families,” she continued.

“We gave $50 to all of our friends with children who wanted to come start a savings account for their little ones. This giving was inspired by a very generous donor from our church, who had given funds for every child at Sacred Hearts School to start a savings account. As a result, I’d say more than half of the 500-plus accounts opened belong to very young children who have started saving for their future. This contest really was a blessing all the way around!”