The GOOD news is that we are likely to live longer than generations before us. The accompanying news is that we are likely to need care as we age. WHERE that care comes from and how it is paid for challenges many people on Kauai today.

As our population ages, the challenge grows and we can’t expect the government or new medical technology to help us.  We need to figure out how to care for our ill, disabled, or dying loved ones, without burning out and destroying our finances.

There is a solution. Share the Care, a grassroots initiative, is a group care-giving model that shows ordinary people how to pool their talents, time, and resources to care for a  family member or friend.

Kauai Hospice is sponsoring an inspiring presentation, open to the public, by the founder of the Share The Care movement, Sheila Warnock. Kauai Hospice is joined in this special event by the Kauai Alzheimer’s Caregiver Support Network, and the American Cancer Society – Kauai region.

All these groups are determined to improve the quality of life of people who have a serious or terminal illness. We all know the power of a community coming together to solve a common concern.  We all see the coming tsunami of more and more of our families, friends, and neighbors needing care.

The AARP Policy Institute estimates that nearly two-thirds of Americans over age 65 will need long term care at home with adult day care, or in an assisted living or nursing home facility. The potential stress and financial costs are staggering. All this at a time when health care costs are soaring, people have less disposable income and savings, and government at all levels is cutting back.  While health care policies are debated, our families, friends, and neighbors suffer needlessly.

Kauai is known for a remarkable spirit of caring, where people ask every day, “What can I do to help?” Share The Care is a care-giving model that kicks the natural inclination of our community into positive action, one person in need at a time.  Caring teams expand the meaning of ohana and solve the challenges to us as caregivers.

Share the Care has been spreading across America since it was created by a small group of friends helping another friend face a grave illness.  Share the Care inspired teams are now helping people in 43 states, and eight other countries.

We invite you to come to this special presentation by Share The Care’s founder, Sheila Warnock, at Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in Lihue on Sunday, September 25th, from 3PM – 4:30PM.

Turn you caring into positive action. MAHALO

An even bigger thanks goes out to the volunteers and agencies that have worked so hard to bring Kauai tennis lovers The Poipu Kai Tennis Tournament year after year.  The event actually consists of four different tournaments held throughout the year, and then the monies raised at the end is pooled and donated to Kauai United Way.

We are so blessed at Kauai United Way to have the support of our community.  The Poipu Kai Charity Tennis tournaments are made possible by the generosity of sponsors: Poipu Kai Association and Resort, The Kauai Tennis Association, and The Grand Hyatt Kauai.  The main tournament is played out at Poipu Kai Tennis Club, and the Grand Hyatt Kauai.  The players are able to enjoy a buffet style lunch, sports drinks, and sprinkled with little snacks throughout the day to sustain their energy level.

If you are a tennis lover this is the perfect opportunity to do what you love and support your favorite charity, Kauai United Way.  If you missed the registration this year, put it on your calendar for next year, and come cheer on your favorite tennis team at the events this year.  If you are a registered singles or doubles team, good luck!

Have a great weekend.

Speaking of sponsors, thanks once again to our silver sponsors, Grove Farm and IBEW.

Thanks also to our bronze sponsors: HGEA, Oceanic Time Warner, Hawaii LECET, Hawaiian Telcom and Pacific Earthworks.

And thanks to all our sponsors and to everyone who donated prizes, volunteered and played.

The tournament sold out this year, as it always does, and it’s going to sell out next year, you can bet on that.  It’s really sad to turn people away, but everyone knows the early bird gets the coc au vin, right?!  Remember, the tournament is always the third Sunday in July so be alert for the first word about the tournament and call right away!

Mahalo to the largest corporate donors to our 2010 Annual Campaign:
A & B
First Hawaiian Bank
KIUC
American Savings Bank
Personal Financial Consultants

Mahalo also to our 2011 Kauai United Way Benefit Golf Tournament Major Sponsors
Silver Sponsors:                Grove Farm and IBEW
Bronze Sponsors:             HGEA, Oceanic Time Warner, Earthworks Pacific, Hawaii LECET and Hawaiian Telcom
Banner Sponsor:       Diablo Golf

Silver Sponsors:                Grove Farm and IBEW
Bronze sponsors:             HGEA, Oceanic Time Warner, Earthworks Pacific, Hawaii LECET and Hawaiian Telcom

We have room for one more team of four.  To sign up, to become a sponsor, donate a prize or for more information, call 245-2043.

Mahalo also to our Krystyna & Herb Noe and all our friends at the Poipu Kai Charity Tennis Association for sponsoring a Kauai United Way benefit tennis tournament once again this year.  It’s coming up soon – the weekend of July 23 and 24.   It’s part of the Koloa Plantation Days week-long events leading up to the famous parade and park day.  We hope you’ll want to come out and support this great community event, with all proceeds benefitting the vital work of Kauai United Way’s 28 Participating Agencies.  Go to the tournament site for a link to the Koloa Plantation Days website to see all the fun activities they will be having throughout the week.  Signing up is now easier than ever by registering online at http://kctennis2009.webs.com/registrationform.htm.

To become a sponsor or to enter a team (space for one team of four is now available due to a cancellation, but it won’t be available long, so if you’re interested act fast!) call 245-2043.

Let’s all live united – the Kauai United Way

Mahalo  to our Golf Tournament major sponsors:
Silver Sponsor Grove Farm.
Bronze Sponsors HGEA, Oceanic Time Warner, Earthworks Pacific, Hawaii LECET, Hawaiian Telcom and IBEW.

At just $150 each, hole sponsorships are an easy, less expensive way to get recognition.  (More on our hole sponsors in an upcoming blog.)  For sponsorship information or to sign up for one of the two remaining 4-person teams, call Lori at 245-2043.

At the tournament, Kauai United Way is also proud to display the banners of good corporate citizens of our island who are prosperous and community-minded enough to be able to make the five largest corporate donations (separate donations of their employees) to our 2010 Annual Campaign, in gratitude for their extraordinary effort:

A & B Foundation, First Hawaiian Bank, Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, American Savings Bank and Personal Financial Consultants.

Mahalo to all our sponsors, golfers, prize donors and contributors to our Annual Campaign!

Mahalo to our major sponsors: Grove Farm, HGEA, Oceanic Time Warner, Earthworks Pacific, Hawaii LECET, Hawaiian Telcom and our newest major sponsor, IBEW.

There still remains space for a couple of more teams, so if you’re interested call Lori at 245-2043 right away.  There is always room for you to benefit by associating your name or message with this high-profile event, giving you the kind of exposure no amount of advertising dollars can provide.  To learn more, check out the events link on our website or call us at 245-2043.  We hope to see you there!