By Sam Slom, Small Business Hawaii Education Foundation
The Small Business Hawaii Education Entrepreneurial Foundation, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit Hawaii corporation, held its 3rd Annual All Star Business Awards Banquet and Fundraiser, May 21 at Waialae Country Club. More than 150 business and community leaders attended.
Top honors for 2009 went to Veronica Kaneko of McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii as the “Smart Business Person of the Year.” Kaneko was cited for her business leadership, community involvement and contributions and youth mentoring.
The SBH Jean Fukuda Civic Leadership Award was bestowed upon Robin Campaniano, former head of AIG Hawaii and now with Ulupono Initiative. Campaniano serves on numerous community boards and is a leader in community safety programs organized by business.
The Brand Strategy group’s Brook Gramann and Gloria Garvey were honored as “Small Business Boosters” for their many efforts to publicize small business, help in community events and web design and branding for small business.
The SBH “Young Entrepreneur of the Year” is Stephan Edwards, of The Systemcenter, Inc. and 1 Hot Garage, honored for his business creativity, success and leadership in his family business.
Networking, a silent auction, and entertainment by famed local jazz vocalist and songwriter, Ginai, and Pierre Grill, made this a memorable event. Surfer Joe Teipel was event M.C. SBH’s Linda O’Grady, Sirius Event Planning was the event coordinator.
The evening raised more than $7,000 for the non-profit foundation.
Major sponsors included Farmers Insurance Hawaii, McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii, Meadow Gold Dairies and The Systemcenter/1 Hot Garage.
Eighteen high school and college students attended the event on scholarships provided by Aloha 4 All, Winner’s Camp, Legacy Group Wealth Management and the Grassroot Institute of Hawaii.
The SBH Entrepreneurial and Educational Foundation is a Hawaii 501 (c)(3) non-profit education corporation.
See more on the web: www.sbhfoundation.org