Supporters of HCBB

(Mrs. Emily O. Castle and Dr. Randal Wada)

The founding and piloting of this "home grown" program was made possible by strong financial and other support from local sources. A large portion of the initial funding was provided by private donations. The Hawai'i Cord Blood Bank owes a special debt of gratitude to Mrs. Emily O. Castle, whose generosity and commitment allowed the program to become a reality.

Her support has been augmented by grants and donations from local sources, including the Kapi`olani Medical Center for Women and Children, Kosasa Family Foundation, the Gannet Foundation, the Alana Dung Research Foundation, the Million Dollar Round Table Foundation, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii, the Wakaba Kai Sorority at the University of Hawaii, the Garmar Foundation, Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Upspring Media, MBFT Media, the Independent Order of Oddfellows Excelsior Lodge No. 1, Secure DNA Inc., Hyundai Motor America's Hope on Wheels Non Profit Program, Hawaiian Electric Company, Friends of Hawai'i Charities, and Mr. Nathan Yoshizaki.

Other local support has taken the form of donated services. For example, administrative and operational support is provided from each one of the participating hospitals. In particular, Kapio'lani Medical Center, as the state's only tertiary care facility for women and children, was well suited to serve as Hawai'i Cord Blood Bank's initial site of operation, and continues as an effective advocate for the subsequent dissemination of the program.

Initial computer support and web site design was donated by DataHouse, with substantial additional development and support from Russ Sumida of EnvisionIT. Graphic art services and brochure/logo design was graciously provided by Craig Tokumura, of Solid Concepts, Incorporated. C. Richard Fassier has donated several of his beautiful photographs of local children for our use. These multi-ethnic "Rainbow Kids" illustrate both our greatest challenge in terms of finding donors for our patients, as well as our greatest natural resource.

Every day, towards this end, dozens of donor families, physicians, nurses, and laboratory technicians add their commitment and aloha to build upon this broad foundation. Together, this grass roots effort has enabled Hawaii Cord Blood Bank to bring people in Hawaii and the world a second chance at life.