/24-7PressRelease/ - HONOLULU, HI, July 19, 2008 - Twenty lucky children were given brand new backpacks filled with school supplies, compliments of ING DIRECT at a luncheon held at Child and Family Service's main office at Ewa Beach.
Families and staff members looked on as the children, ranging from five to 16 years of age, eagerly opened their brand new, navy blue and bright orange backpacks filled with everything from pens and pencils to notebooks and notepaper. Guests then enjoyed lunch, drinks and dessert donated by Panya Bakery, Hawaii Coffee Company and Hokulani Bakery, all local companies who will be featured in ING DIRECT'S new Cafe.
"I am so thankful that these people actually offered to take the time to pack all these bags with school supplies," said 12 year old, Rocksand Hong-Grammer. "I will be able to use all of this stuff next year and show it to my friends."
Commenting on the gift, Howard Garval, President and CEO of Child and Family Service stated, "We are so thrilled and grateful to ING DIRECT for donating the backpacks filled with school supplies for needy children in our programs. ING DIRECT's generous gift to the children will further our mission of strengthening families and fostering the healthy development of children."
In addition to the 20 backpacks hand-delivered by Cleo Brown, Head of Hawai'i Operations for ING DIRECT, Child and Family Service was given an additional 80 backpacks to be distributed to other children in need at various program sites including the Neighbor Islands. "The school supplies are an essential tool to succeed in school and we appreciate ING DIRECT's efforts to work with us to improve the lives of the children we serve," said Garval.
A 40-year resident of Hawai'i, Brown expressed her excitement surrounding ING DIRECT's establishment of a physical presence in Hawai'i. "We are delighted to be a part of the community here in Hawai'i," said Brown. "While our main goal is to lead the people of Hawai'i back to saving, we also realize that there are huge needs that working parents are struggling to fill as they prepare their children for the start of the school year. We hope getting these school supplies helps."
In addition to the ING DIRECT Cafe on Kalakaua Avenue, which is scheduled to open in November, Brown intends on reaching out to the community through a 40-foot Mobile Cafe which will travel around Oahu and will be sent out to the Neighbor Islands to help spread the message of saving.
"ING DIRECT believes very much in helping to address the needs of the community wherever we do business," said Brown.
ING DIRECT, the nation's largest direct bank and third-largest thrift, is dedicated to inspiring Americans to become a nation of savers. Since its inception in 2000, more than 6.8 million Americans have entrusted their savings with ING DIRECT, building the bank to $80 billion in assets. ING DIRECT currently has over 20,000 customers in Hawai'i.
For more information, please contact Christina Peaslee at (808) 853-3053 or Christina@loomis-isc.com.
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