FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                   April 14, 2006

Release M-44-06

DRUG TASK FORCE AWARDS GRANTS,

CALLS FOR MORE PROPOSALS

            Mayor Mufi Hannemann’s Task Force on Drug Use has awarded $101,500 in grants from the Mayor’s Anti-Drug Community Fund and is soliciting applications for another $98,500 in grants.

            “We are pleased with the response to our initial call for grant proposals. The task force received many worthy applications and made 21 grants of up to $5,000 each,” said Mayor Mufi Hannemann. “We have even more funds available for this important work, and we’re inviting other groups and agencies to apply.”

            Recipients of grants to date are: Bobby Benson Center, D.A.R.E, Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic Church, Kualoa-Heeia Ecumenical Youth (KEY) Project, Parents and Children Together, Marimed Foundation, KAMP Hawaii, Inc., Palama Settlement, Mental Health Association, the Honolulu Liquor Commission, Kahuku United Methodist Church, the Honolulu Department of the Medical Examiner, Hawaii Speed and Quickness, Hawaii Coalition, Victory Ohana Prison Fellowship, Surfing the Nations Foundation/Send Hope, Ethnic Education, Breakthroughs for Youth at Risk, Inc., Hina Mauka, Waipahu Community Association, and The Recovery Works.

            The Task Force on Drug Use was formed in February with the mission of “making the City and County of Honolulu the most knowledgeable collection of employees, governmental or private, in the state of Hawaii in identifying and managing drug use disorders.”

            As previously announced, the task force is headed by Dr. William Haning, III, director of the Addiction Psychiatry/Addiction Medicine Program at the University of Hawaii’s John A. Burns School of Medicine. The task force also includes six other experts in drug-related fields. Eight City department heads are ex officio members. Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle and U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo have agreed to serve as special advisors.

            The task force administers the Mayor’s Anti-Drug Community Fund, which uses money appropriated by the state Legislature for community anti-drug initiatives.

            Proposals will be accepted up to May 31 from non-profit agencies or government organizations for grants up to $5,000 for projects that address alcohol and drug abuse prevention, education or awareness within communities on Oahu. Grant recipients will be encouraged to collaborate with each other and with the Mayor’s Task Force on Drug Use on an exciting and ambitious campaign to establish a drug-free City work force. Grant recipients will be asked to invite and involve City employees in their projects.

            Eligible applicants must be a registered 501(c)3 entity.

            Application forms are available by calling Isaac Hokama, Office of the Mayor, 527-6090 or e-mail ihokama1@honolulu.gov or visit www.co.honolulu.us/mayor/drugtf.pdf to download the application form. Proposals must be received by the Office of the Mayor by 4:30 p.m. on May 31, 2006.                                                   

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Contact:

            Bill Brennan, 527-6928

            Mark Matsunaga, 527-5767