THE A&B FOUNDATION AWARDS $6,500 TO HELPING HANDS HAWAII

For lead sponsorship of the Ready-to-Learn program on Maui

KAHULUI, MAUI –  (June 24,   2006) – The Alexander & Baldwin Foundation has awarded Helping Hands Hawaii a $6,500 grant to sponsor the Ready-to Learn program on Maui.  Funds will pay for basic school supplies for needy students in grades K through 12. Matson Navigation Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc., also made a $1,000 contribution to Maui’s Ready-to-Learn program.

The Ready to Learn Program started by Senator Daniel K. Inouye in 1998 has helped each year over 2,000 children on Maui with basic school supplies.  “This program in partnership with Helping Hands Hawaii have filled some basic needs of these children and families”, said Brian Schatz, Executive Director of Helping Hands Hawaii.  “The story that has filled my heart and kept me committed to this program, is the incident when a little girl came to pick up her school supplies with her mom and said ‘Now I can be like everyone else’, said Schatz. 

The Alexander & Baldwin Foundation is funded by the business activities of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. and its subsidiaries.  On Maui, these subsidiaries include Matson Navigation Company, A&B Properties, Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Company (HC&S), and Kahului Trucking & Storage, Inc. (KT&S).  For more information about the A&B Foundation, visit website www.alexanderbaldwin.com

            For more information on the Ready to Learn Program for Maui, contact Yuki Lei Sugimura at 870-8047.

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