Foundation Aids Schools, Reef

Harold K.L. Castle Foundation is continuing its long tradition of supporting education on the Windward side with two recent grants.

Among donations totaling $1,905,988 to nonprofits around the state, $40,000 went to Waimanalo Learning Center, a community program developed at the UH College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources’ agricultural research station in Waimanalo.

The money will enable the school to hire a part-time coordinator to focus on health and agriculture outreach to area youths. The station, which specializes in tropical crop breeding, taro and post-harvest research, works with three schools and various community groups to reach 1,500 students and adults.

The Catholic Church also received $5,250 to support professional development and install Common Core standards at three Windward parochial schools.

Also on the grantee list: $50,000 to Coral Reef Alliance for its conservation work and responsible tourism on Maui and Hawaii island, and a three-year, $762,690 gift to create a New Teacher Center for the DOE, to support new and experienced public school educators.