Employees donate a record $605,000 in 2012

First Hawaiian Bank pledged to donate $2.5 million to community causes in 2013 to achieve its goal of $10 million for charity in four years, maintaining its position as the largest corporate contributor to charity in Hawaii.  For the third year in a row, First Hawaiian Bank and its employees have contributed over $2.5 million to 400 charities in Hawaii, Guam and Saipan, bringing its total donation to $7.5 million in just three years, according to an announcement today by Bob Harrison, First Hawaiian Bank president and chief executive officer.

 "First Hawaiian takes seriously our role in investing in the communities in which we do business.  We've been supporting Hawaii's charities for over 154 years.  These past few years have been especially challenging and we're glad that we have been able to sustain a consistent level of giving each year," Harrison said.  "I'm very proud of our Foundation's support as well as the generosity of our 2200 employees who give from the heart every year to help our community. We plan to donate another $2.5 million to charity in 2013."

 In 2012, a remarkable 98 percent of First Hawaiian Bank employees participated in Kokua Mai, the bank's annual employee giving campaign, up from 96 percent participation year prior.  The employees and retirees contributed a record $605,000, with donations still coming in, for 37 local community non-profits, achieving 123 percent of the campaign's goal. This was the highest amount ever raised by First Hawaiian employees since Kokua Mai's founding five years ago.  Since Kokua Mai's inception in 2007, bank employees and retirees have donated nearly $3.5 million to charities in Hawaii, Guam and Saipan.

 First Hawaiian Bank was the first Hawaii financial institution to administer a major internal employee giving campaign with 100 percent of the donations going directly to local charities.  The online giving program is completely run by employees.  This year's 4-week campaign ran from October 1 through October 31 with employees conducting department fundraisers throughout. 

 "We have some of the most generous employees who not only donate money, but they also volunteer their time and talents in the community throughout the year," said Iris Matsumoto, executive vice president, Human Resources.  "Our employees had a lot of fun coming up with some very creative fundraisers for our Kokua Mai campaign. They held zumbathons, HI Five recycling drives, country store sales, and donated items for silent auctions."

 Representatives from some of Hawaii's leading charities recognize that the support they receive from First Hawaiian Bank comes at a time when demand for these programs and services continue to rise.

 "The generosity of First Hawaiian Bank employees means a true extended ‘Ohana for families of Hawaii's seriously ill keiki. Kokua Mai helps to provide hospital visits, respite nights, a summer siblings camp and emergency medical airfare. We're so grateful that First Hawaiian Bank has joined us in embracing Hawaii's children with life threatening illnesses and their families in HUGS," said Robin Johnson, CEO of HUGS.

"We are incredibly grateful for the generous support of First Hawaiian Bank employees to help further our mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors," said Coralie Matayoshi, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross. "Thanks to their support, the Red Cross can continue to serve communities throughout the Hawaiian Islands before, during and after disasters."

 "The generosity of First Hawaiian Bank and their employees helps support our 30 programs and services statewide that gave a hand up to over 40,000 individuals in need last year," said Catholic Charities Hawai‘i President and CEO Jerry Rauckhorst. "We are truly grateful for this donation, which ultimately benefits the entire community."

 First Hawaiian Bank is Hawaii's largest corporate contributor to charity.  Each year the bank's branches serve as collection points for various charitable causes including the Star-Advertiser Good Neighbor Fund, Special Olympics Troy Barboza Torch Run and the Hawaii Foodbank.

 First Hawaiian Bank (www.fhb.com) with $16.1 billion in assets is Hawaii's oldest and largest bank. The bank operates 58 branches in Hawaii, three on Guam and two on Saipan.