HONOLULU, HAWAII – For the past five years Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc. has conducted a “Drive To A $Million” campaign in conjunction with its flagship fund-raising event, the Sony Open in Hawaii PGA TOUR golf tournament held at Waialae Country Club in January.  Despite prevailing economic challenges, today the officers of the organization distributed $1 million in the form of charitable grants to more than 130 Hawaii not-for-profit organizations who serve Hawaii’s children, women, elderly and those in need.  To achieve that goal, charity partner, The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc. provided matching funds for each dollar raised at the event, supplemented by contributions from The Friends Club (an annual membership donor program) and from SBS, title sponsor of the SBS OPEN LPGA event held at Turtle Bay in February.

“In these economic times, we know how challenging it is for companies and individuals alike to extend their contributions and investments, so we are even more grateful for the commitment of our title sponsor Sony Corporation, our charity partner The Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., our many loyal sponsors, Friends Club donors and volunteers,” said Corbett Kalama, newly-elected President of Friends of Hawaii Charities and Chairman of the Grants Committee.  “It is only through their collaboration and spirit of giving that Friends is able to meet its $1 million charity goal for the fifth consecutive year.”

The 2010 Sony Open in Hawaii PGA TOUR tournament is scheduled January 11 - 17 at Waialae Country Club.  Defending champion, Zach Johnson, will defend his title in the one-week tournament that showcases Hawaii to a global audience of more than 450 million homes in over 200 countries.  For more information about the Sony Open, please visit www. sonyopeninhawaii.com.

Friends of Hawaii Charities, a federal 501 (c) (3) public charity is an all-volunteer organization, incorporated in 1998 to benefit not-for-profit organizations serving Hawaii’s children, youth, women and needy.  Over the past ten years, Friends of Hawaii Charities, Inc., together with Sony Open charity partner, The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation, Inc., has raised and distributed more than $9,000,000 to over 350 not-for-profit organizations. For more information, please call (808) 792-9339 or visit www.friendsofhawaii.org