clucas-zenk@westhawaiitoday.com
BY CAROLYN LUCAS-ZENK | WEST HAWAII TODAY
A new fundraiser at KTA Super Stores is expanding the definition of philanthropy.
KTA and the University of Hawaii at Hilo Office of Intercollegiate Athletics kicked off Score for Scholarships, an in-store fundraising program benefiting customers and student athletes.
When customers donate $10 toward Score for Scholarships, they will receive a $10 coupon that can be put toward their next purchase of $50 or more.
Tracey Yamane, KTA marketing manager, described the fundraiser as “a win-win scenario for customers to save on their groceries while helping our UH-Hilo athletes pursue a quality education.”
Coupons are printed on receipts and are valid for two weeks from the time of the donation. Coupons will be available while supplies last.
From now until Feb. 14, when customers purchase three participating Score for Scholarships products, they will receive one free men’s basketball ticket for any home game.
Each KTA location will have logos to identify the following participating vendor products: ConAgra Foods, Frito Lay, Gatorade, General Mills, Hawaiian Sun, Hershey’s, Kraft, Love’s, Pepsi, Procter & Gamble, and Quaker.
Supporting local athletes is a tradition for KTA, which has raised more than $160,000 for UH-Hilo athletics since 1997.
KTA awards funds for UH Hilo athletes’ on-field accomplishments in the following sports during each home game: basketball, soccer, baseball, softball and women’s volleyball.
For basketball, KTA donates $50 for every three-point basket the Vulcans score. Each goal in soccer equals a $100 donation, and volleyball aces are awarded $50. For both baseball and softball, the Vulcans receive $25 for strikeouts, $50 for doubles, $75 for triples, $100 for home runs and $500 for grand slams.
All donations collected during Score for Scholarships and from on-field accomplishments will be put into the KTA Score for Scholarships Endowment Fund. The fund goes toward offsetting scholarship costs for tuition, room, board, books and other academic support services.
“Our goal, with the support of KTA and the generosity of the community, is to provide a perpetual source of financial support for athletic scholarships for many years to come,” said UH-Hilo Athletic Director Dexter Irvin.
clucas-zenk@westhawaiitoday.com