Public Health Fund Grants is sponsored by Chamber of Commerce Hawaii. The Public Health Fund makes grants to Oahu nonprofit organizations in support of public health-related programs, projects, and services. Funds can be used as “seed money” to help start-up worthwhile programs.

Priorities include projects that bring visible results and can be identified as Chamber initiated.

Public Health Fund - Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Hawaii as the trustee of the Public Health Fund (PHF) makes grants to various Oahu nonprofit organizations in support of public health related programs, projects and services.

— Our Most Recent Winner — Public Health Funds should be used for worthwhile projects that include education, research, and legislation for which funds are not always available from other sources. Priority is to be given to projects which will bring visible results and can readily be identified as Chamber initiated. Funds can be used as “seed money” to help start-up worthwhile programs.

The PHF volunteer Advisory Committee reviews each application that is submitted for funding and makes their recommendations to the Board of Directors for final approval. Over $100,000 in grants are awarded each year. For questions or more information please call 808-545-4300 or email phf@cochawaii.

org . Public Health Fund Applications The application deadline is now closed. The next cycle will open in mid-September.

For questions, contact phf@cochawaii. org . $3.

5 million in grants to non-profits since 1985 2024 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Waimanalo Health Center – For Waimanalo Health Center’s Medical and Dental Assistant Training Program IBounce Up – Mental health training for at-risk youth in Honolulu Susannah Wesley Community Center – Free food pantry and support services in Kalihi Boys to Men Mentoring – Mentoring and coaching for at-risk youth in Honolulu Domestic Violence Action Center – Workshops for domestic violence survivors 2023 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Helping Hands Hawaii – Bilingual Access Line: Spoken Interpretation & Written Translation Services The Pantry by Feeding Hawaii Together – Supporting Nutrition & Health for Hawaii’s Food Insecure Boys and Girls Club of Hawaii Spalding Clubhouse – Great Futures After School Program Waipahu Safe Haven – Tenant safety and housing for Hawaii’s most high-risk immigrant communities 2022 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Breast Cancer Hawaii – PROTEA Project – Partnering with researches in Oncology to educate and activate Downtown Art Center – Bereavement Expressions: Art & Grieving Hawaii Friends of Restorative Justice – Kai Kalihi Project that serves struggling Micronesian youth (ages 13-16) from the Kalihi Valley Homes community The Practice Center – Forgiveness Training to enhance workplace climate Waikiki Health Center – Pu’uhonua Prison Program: Broadening the scope of health interventions to address a unique public health issue 2021 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Aloha Medical Mission – First Smile Train, Trainer Project Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii Spalding House – Social-Emotional Learning Programs Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii – Community Based Doula Program Helping Hands Hawaii – Bilingual Access Line Mental Health America Hawaii – Youth Suicide Prevention Campaign Watch the 2021 recipient video > 2020 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Hawaii Food Bank – Emergency Relief Nuuanu YMCA – Child Care Tuition Waivers for Essential Workers Meals on Wheels – Emergency Relief Boy & Girls Club – Technical Equipment to Connect with Kids at Home Single Grant: Hawaii Food Bank – COVID Emergency Relief Watch the 2020 recipient video > 2019 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Institute for Human Services – Children’s Program Hawaii Foodbank – Disaster Relief Hawaii Public Health Institute -The Hawaii Community Health Worker Project Hospice Hawaii – Moving Hospice Hawaii Care Forwarded Using Advanced Technologies UH College of Tropical Agriculture & Human Resources – Creating a food Security Infrastructure at UH Manoa to Strengthen Tomorrow’s Workforce Waimanalo Health Center – Cooking Matters Program Single Grant: Ho’ola Na Pua 2018 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Alzheimer’s Association – Aloha Chapter – Public Awareness & Education Campaign Family Hui Hawaii – Promoting on-Track & Development of Young Children: Early Childhood Developmental Screening & Follow-up System Hale Hau’oli Hawaii – Nurse Aide Training Program Hawaii Foodbank – Feeding North Shore & Windward Oahu Communities Helping Hands Hawaii – Behavior Health for Low-Income, Homeless & Underserved Adults w/Mental Illness or Substance Use Disorders Salvation Army – Salvation Army Meals Backpack Program Wahiawa Community Health Center – Hospital Equipment Waikiki Health Center – “Homeless to Housed”: Pilot Program Offering Vouchers toward a Security Deposit or First Month’s Rent to Expedite Housing Placement for Residents of Waikiki Health’s Next Step Shelter in Kakaako YWCA Oahu – Health Screenings for Seniors 2017 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Aloha Harvest – Rescuing Food to Feed Hawaii’s Hungry Hawaii Health Info Corp. – Monitoring the Health of Hawaii’s Homeless Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii – Piko Pals: New Mom Peer Support Group Waikiki Health Center – Pu’uhonua: Pre/Post Incarceration: Health Education Model Targeting Inmate Population of Oahu Correctional Institutions 2016 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Aloha Medical Mission Dental Clinic – Promoting Good Oral Health Care Through the Honolulu Dental Clinic Gregory House Program – Save the FoodBasket Program Hawaii Association for Infant Mental Health – Certification License for Infant Mental Health Hawaii Foodbank – Food 4 Keiki Backpack Program Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii – Pregnancy Health Information: Meeting Community Needs Institute for Human Services – Tutu Bert’s House Project Vision Hawaii – Passport to Healthy Aging University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Public Health – Socioeconomic and Behavior Determinants 2015 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Aloha Medical Mission Dental Clinic – Promoting Good Oral Health Care Through the Honolulu Dental Clinic Gregory House Program – Save the FoodBasket Program Hawaii Association for Infant Mental Health – Certification License for Infant Mental Health Hawaii Foodbank – Food 4 Keiki Backpack Program Healthy Mothers Healthy Babies Coalition of Hawaii – Pregnancy Health Information: Meeting Community Needs Institute for Human Services – Tutu Bert’s House Project Vision Hawaii – Passport to Healthy Aging University of Hawaii at Manoa, Department of Public Health – Socioeconomic and Behavior Determinants 2014 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Alzheimer’s Association, Aloha Chapter – Enhance Outreach Program American Diabetes Association – Stop Diabetes @ Work American Heart Association – American Heart Association Worksite Wellness Gregory House Programs – Save the Foodbasket Program Hina Mauka – Hiki Ni’o Mentoring Program Ho’oulu Pacific – Hihimanu Aquaponics Program Institute for Human Services, Inc. – Installation of Bunk Beds to Improve Health & Safety at IHS’ Men’s Emergency Shelter & Improving Crisis Stabilization & Treatment for Medically Fragile Homeless Keiki O Ka Aina – Hawaii Keiki Smiles Project UCERA (JABSOM) – A Rush: Adolescents Reducing Unintended Pregnancy & STI in Honolulu Waikiki Health – Start-up Pharmacy Services at New Makahiki Clinic Waimanalo Health Center – Partnership to Increase Access and Education of Healthy Produce 2013 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Aloha United Way – Early Childhood Developmental Screening Program Outreach Child & Family Service – Maintaining Senior Wellness in Ewa Beach Hawaii Appleseed Center for Law and Economic Justice – School Breakfast Expansion Hawaii Foodbank – Hunger in Hawaii 2014 – A report on those needing food assistance in 2013 Healthy Mothers Health Babies Coalition of Hawaii – Breastfeeding for Businesses: Public Health & New Regulatory Compliance IHS Institute for Human Services – Installations of Bunk Beds to Improve Health & Safety at IHS’ Men’s Emergency Shelter Mental Health America – Mental Health Education and Awareness Campaign The Wahiawa Center for Community Health S.

Vets – Women’s Homeless Veterans Program Waianae Care, Inc. – CAPS (Community Adolescent Physicals for Sports) Project Waikiki Health Center – Establishing a Dental Clinic Targeting Medically Underserved Populations 2012 Public Health Fund Grant Recipients Aloha Medical Mission – Ke Pua Mae’Ole: Never Fading Flower Ethnic Education Foundation of Hawaii – Access Care Today Hawaii Foodbank – Food 4 Keiki Backpack Program Joyful Heart Foundation – Increasing Community Education & Awareness to Strengthen Families and Prevent Child Abuse & Neglect Kokua Kalihi Valley – Mahi ‘Aina: Community Food Initiatives Project Lanakila Pacific – Multi-Purpose Van for “Growing Together to End Hunger Project” Mental Health America of Hawaii – Grow a Rainbow Save the FoodBasket – Grocery Distribution Program The Institute for Human Services, Inc. – Improving Health & Safety and IHS Emergency Shelters United Self Help – Educational & Supportive Services for Mental Health Consumers S.

VETS Initiative-Waianae – Bed Replacement Project Wahiawa Community Health Center Project – Faith Action for Community Equity FACE Young Women’s Christian Association of Oahu YWCA – Safety, Security and Sanitation Needs at Fernhurst Residence In 1899, an epidemic of bubonic plague closed Honolulu Harbor and quarantined part of Honolulu.

In an effort to exterminate rats from the wharves and prevent future epidemics, a committee of shipping company representatives and importers assessed themselves ten cents per ton of imports for rat control. Fifteen years later the Public Health Committee of the Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu* accepted responsibility for collecting the voluntary assessments and disbursing funds for public health programs.

In 1923, the Chamber was appointed trustee of the Public Health Fund and directed to limit grants to public health activities within the City and County of Honolulu. Assessments were discontinued in 1950. Since then, grant awards are made through the interest and dividends received from investment of principal.

*The Chamber of Commerce of Honolulu merged with the Hawaii State Chamber of Commerce on January 1, 1967 and became the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii.

2025-2026 Public Health Fund Committee Marc Alexander , Chair, Executive Director, Hawaii Medical Association Francis Chan , Vice Chair, Past CEO of Hawai’i Health Information Exchange Joy Barua, President & COO, Finance Insurance Julie Ford, President, Schweitzer Consulting, LLC Justin Puckett, Hawai’i Market Leader, Humana Dr. David Horio, Pathologist Susanne Millard, Senior Institutional Consultant & First Vice President, Investments, The Kikawa Group of Raymond James Bonnie Castonguay, Registered Nurse, Founder of Ho’okele Health Innovations Sara Mullen , Founder, Sara Mullen Consulting, LLC