HONOLULU – Inspired by the extraordinary care provided to the daughter of an employee, Honolulu Ford Lincoln will present a “Kars for Kids” fundraiser throughout the month of November, with a special dedicated sales event on Wednesday, November 20 from 2 – 9 p.m.
On that day, visitors will be greeted by Kapi‘olani’s very own executive leadership and management, as well as Tucker the Therapy Dog. Honolulu Ford Lincoln will donate profits from all new vehicle sales during the Nov. 20 event toward building a new Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit—Phase 1 of Kapi‘olani’s Campaign to rebuild the hospital.
Additonally, during the month of November, for every test drive, Ford will donate $20 to Kapi‘olani. Anyone who comes to the Honolulu Ford Lincoln dealership and mentions the Kapi‘olani patenership throughout November will also have a chance to win a trip to Las Vegas. Entry forms are available at the dealership.
Guy Mello, a sales manager at Honolulu Ford Lincoln, is the employee whose story inspired this year’s fundraiser. His wife Persi was 23 weeks pregnant when she was diagnosed with preeclampsia.
Rushed via ambulance to Kapi‘olani, she delivered her 1 lb 9 oz daughter 11 days later at just 25 weeks old. Having spent her first four months in Kapiolani’s NICU, today McKenna Mello is a happy healthy 5-year-old who attends kindergarten at St. Anthony’s School and loves to play soccer.
“If it weren’t for this hospital we wouldn’t have McKenna in our life today, and there is a good chance my wife would not have survived either,” Mello said. “We are forever grateful to the doctors, nurses and staff at Kapi‘olani.”
Owner Mark Benson said, “Honolulu Ford Lincoln has been serving Hawaii for nearly 60 years. As a family-owned company, we are honored to participate in this exclusive opportunity to contribute to a brighter future for Hawaii’s only full-service children’s specialty hospital, and for the kids and families that it so expertly serves.”
“We are grateful and excited to partner on this creative strategy to support Kapi‘olani,” said Martha Smith, CEO at Kapi‘olani. “This unique concept is just one example of the many programs local businesses have come up with to both meet their business goals and still make a significant gift to our hospital.”