Aloha Kakou! I was born and raised on the island of Oahu, located in the Hawaiian Islands. I currently work as a Business Development Manager for Aloha United Way (AUW), where I have the opportunity to advocate for the people of Hawaii, share their experiences, and help generate funds that go directly back into the community.
Nearly half of the state’s population falls within or below the ALICE threshold, and it is my job to speak for these families because AUW and I understand how important it is to keep local families in Hawaii, an effort that Hawaii’s future truly depends on.
In addition to my day job, I work alongside my family with our non-profit organisation, The Reid J.K. Richards Foundation. This Foundation is dedicated to helping other families who have suffered the loss of a parent or primary caretaker by offering those children scholarships for the upcoming school year.
I understand first-hand how losing a parent creates financial hardship and can limit one’s ability to achieve their academic goals. As education equity is one of the five plenary challenges that is being focused on at the 2023 summit, I hope to learn more about how I can bridge the gap between students and families with different financial backgrounds, something that is so prevalent in Hawaii.