{"id":152680,"date":"2021-12-06T08:00:25","date_gmt":"2021-12-06T18:00:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=152680"},"modified":"2023-07-25T10:30:19","modified_gmt":"2023-07-25T20:30:19","slug":"island-insurance-foundation-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2021\/12\/06\/island-insurance-foundation-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Island Insurance Foundation gives $250K<\/abbr> to UH<\/abbr> RISE<\/abbr> project"},"content":{"rendered":"Reading time: <\/span> 3<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>
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From left, Susan Yamada (PACE<\/abbr> Board of Directors vice chair), Vance Roley (Shidler College of Business dean), Dana Tokioka (Island Insurance Foundation president) and Kristi Bates (UH<\/abbr> Foundation)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Island Insurance Foundation has committed $250,000 to the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> Foundation<\/a> in support of the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at M\u0101noa<\/a>\u2019s RISE<\/abbr> project, raising the total of private donations for the project to $1 million.<\/p>\n

The live-learn-work community at RISE<\/abbr>—Residences for Innovative Student Entrepreneurs—is a world-class innovation and entrepreneurship center coupled with student housing being built on the site of the former Atherton YMCA<\/abbr> across from the flagship campus. It will be operated by the Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship<\/a> (PACE<\/abbr>) at UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Shidler College of Business<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\"rendering<\/p>\n

The Island Insurance Foundation is the charitable arm of Island Insurance<\/a>, Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s only locally-owned property and casualty (P&C<\/abbr>) insurer as well as a nationally ranked top 50 P&C<\/abbr> insurer. Recognized as one of the top 25 most active Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>-based private foundations, the Island Insurance Foundation has been a strong supporter of PACE<\/abbr> for many years. Descendants of Island Insurance founder Masayuki Tokioka have served on the center\u02bbs board, including Island Insurance Chairman Tyler Tokioka, who recently stepped down, and Dana Tokioka, president of Island Insurance Foundation, who joined the board this year.<\/p>\n

The foundation also recently made a substantial gift to the UH<\/abbr> Cancer Center\u2019s Early Phase Clinical Research Center, and supports the UH<\/abbr> Economic Research Organization, UH<\/abbr> athletics programs and the Family Business Center of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span> at PACE<\/abbr>. The gift to the RISE<\/abbr> project represents, by far, the Island Insurance Foundation\u2019s largest gift ever to any program at UH<\/abbr>.<\/p>\n

Read more about the UH<\/abbr> M\u0101noa RISE<\/abbr> center.<\/a>
To apply, visit the RISE website<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

“Our donation to the University of Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s RISE<\/abbr> program is an investment in Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s future,” said Dana Tokioka. “We see it as a progressive project that will help to positively impact Â鶹´«Ã½<\/span>\u2019s economy through support of the student-innovators who will be our leaders moving forward.”<\/p>\n

Innovation and entrepreneurship<\/h2>\n

When completed in 2023, RISE<\/abbr> will have 7,263 square feet of multi-purpose co-working, meeting, lab and classroom space, as well as 374 dormitory beds for undergraduate and graduate students.<\/p>\n

“The rapid changing of the 21st Century workplace is forcing students to be innovative and entrepreneurial,” said Susan Yamada<\/strong>, vice chair of the PACE<\/abbr> board of directors. “PACE<\/abbr> builds these skills through programs focused on problem solving, interdisciplinary teamwork and hands-on experience. We greatly appreciate Island Insurance\u2019s long-standing support and generous gift as we expand to serve more students and our community.”<\/p>\n

Private sector contributions<\/h2>\n

The gift from Island Insurance is the fourth major gift so far toward the UH<\/abbr> Foundation\u2019s goal of raising $3 million to fund the RISE center\u2019s furnishings, fixtures and equipment along with operational programs and student scholarships over the first 10 years.<\/p>\n

“This substantial gift from Island Insurance Foundation brings our total private donations raised to date to approximately $1 million,” said Shidler College Dean Vance Roley<\/strong>. “It is encouraging to see the private sector come together in support of this groundbreaking project which allows the university to make a lasting impact for current and future students and entrepreneurs.”<\/p>\n

Related UH<\/abbr> News<\/em> stories:<\/p>\n