FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Pacific Biodiesel & Mana‘o Radio Benefit Concert
Raises $72,000 for Ukraine Children
Daylong Concert in Blooming Sunflower Field Held at Pacific Biodiesel Founders’ Farm
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MAUI, HAWAII (May 5, 2022) – Pacific Biodiesel founders Bob and Kelly King announced today that "A Concert for Ukraine in the Maui Sunflowers” presented by Pacific Biodiesel and Mana‘o Radio on April 24th has raised $72,000 for UNICEF USA to support children in Ukraine during this time of crisis. The benefit concert and farm tour event – which sold out in less than two weeks – was held at the Kings’ farm in Maui's Central Valley where 35 acres of sunflowers – the national flower of Ukraine – were in full bloom.
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More than 400 people were in attendance, including 320 ticket holders with reserved tent seating plus musicians, volunteers and vendors. 100% of ticket sales and donations, as well as a portion of proceeds from farm stand and food sales during the event, were directed to UNICEF USA for Ukraine Emergency Relief. These funds were doubled by a generous donation match from philanthropists Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez announced shortly after ticket sales began.
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The April benefit concert for Ukraine, attended by over 400, was held on Maui at the family farm of Pacific Biodiesel founders Bob and Kelly King.
Photography Credit: Bruce Forrester
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“I am so proud of Maui residents for stepping up, heart and soul, to come together for the children and families victimized by the unprovoked war on Ukraine,” said Pacific Biodiesel Co-Founder Kelly King. “This was the largest public sunflower farm tour event we’ve held – and adding the concert was a joint effort of so many sponsors, musicians and volunteers, all of whom share Maui's compassion, love and desire for peace." |
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Pacific Biodiesel Co-founders Bob and Kelly King spearheaded the fundraiser along with Manaʻo Radio, Maui’s only independent, all volunteer commercial-free radio station.
Photography Credit: Bruce Forrester
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"The joy in hearing the best of our local music, and knowing what a good cause we were all working toward, was evident in the great comments of appreciation from so many participants," King added. "It was a privilege for my husband and I to co-host such a beautiful event with our partners at Mana‘o Radio!”
Maui musicians who donated their time and talent to perform at this benefit concert included George Kahumoku Jr, Gail Swanson, Arlie Asiu Band, Soul Kitchen, Benny Uyetake, Rowdy Love, Jimmy Dillon & Dayan Kai, Brown Chicken Brown Cow String Band, and Marty Dread and the House Shakers with guest Nara Boone.
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“Maui’s music community quickly came together in support of Ukraine for this benefit concert,” said Michael Elam, Board President of Mana‘o Radio. “Initial plans were for two or three hours of music, but the more musicians we spoke with, the more signed up – and before we knew it, we had a daylong lineup of incredible musicians eager to take part. This type of event that brings our Maui community together in music is exactly what Mana‘o Radio is about. It was our pleasure to partner with Pacific Biodiesel to host this very special event.” |
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Soul Kitchen, who performed during the first half of the daylong event, was just one of ten performers and groups that offered their talent in support for the children of Ukraine.
Photography Credit: Bruce Forrester
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During the event, special guests Vladlena Bugay and her Ukrainian family, who were vacationing on Maui when the war began and are now refugees here, participated in the opening Blessing, shared their story and sang the Ukraine National Anthem alongside Maui’s Gail Swanson who performed the anthem on flute. Later, Maui County Councilmembers Kelly King and Gabe Johnson presented to the Bugay family a Maui County Resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
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Ukrainian refugee Vladlena Bugay, surrounded by her family, sang the Ukraine National Anthem accompanied by Mauiʻs Gail Swanson on flute.
Photography Credit: ShootingStarsMaui
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Sponsors Hawaiian Electric, Maui Tropical Plantation, Maui Disposal and Hawaiian Paddle Sports covered most of the event expenses, allowing 100% of ticket sales to be donated to UNICEF USA, which is providing life-saving programs to respond to the needs of children in Ukraine affected by this war.
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According to UNICEF USA, women and children make up 90% of the refugee population, which now exceeds 4.7 million people who have been forced to flee Ukraine as the war rages on. UNICEF USA calls this refugee crisis unprecedented in Europe since
World War II.
For more information or to donate to UNICEF USA for Ukraine Emergency Relief, go to www.unicefusa.org.
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ABOUT PACIFIC BIODIESEL
Founded in 1995, Pacific Biodiesel is the nation's longest operating and most experienced biodiesel producer, and the only commercial producer of liquid biofuels in the state. A Maui-based company with nearly 100 employees statewide, Pacific Biodiesel established the first retail biodiesel pump in America and for more than 26 years has been an innovative leader in the renewable energy industry. With a nameplate production capacity of 5.5 million gallons annually, the company’s refinery on Hawaii Island utilizes advanced technology to produce premium distilled biodiesel. Our company has always focused on recycling with a zero waste philosophy that incorporates development of value-added co-products. Today, our collaborative, community-based "agriculture and energy" production model demonstrates a circular economy approach to fighting climate change and helps Hawaii achieve a clean, sustainable energy future. Learn more at www.Biodiesel.com connect on Instagram or Facebook.
ABOUT MANAʻO RADIO
Mana’o Radio is Maui’s only independent, all volunteer commercial-free radio station, broadcasting 24/7 at KMNO 91.7FM and streaming worldwide at www.manaoradio.com. Its mission is to enrich the island/global community by bringing people together in a shared love of music. The station is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. For more information, visit www.ManaoRadio.com or connect on Instagram or Facebook.
ABOUT UNICEF
The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) works in more than 190 countries and territories to pursue a more equitable world for every child. UNICEF has helped save more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, by providing health care and immunizations, safe water and sanitation, nutrition, education, emergency relief and more. UNICEF USA advances the global mission of UNICEF by rallying the American public to support the world’s most vulnerable children. Together, we are working toward a world that upholds the rights of all children and helps every child thrive. For more information, visit www.unicefusa.org
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To download logos, video footage and event photography, please access this folder.
Where noted on imagery folders, please attribute photography as follows:
Photography Credit: Bruce Forrester
Photography Credit: ShootingStarsMaui
All others, Photography Credit: Pacific Biodiesel
MEDIA CONTACT:
Joy Galatro
Marketing Director
Pacific Biodiesel Technologies, LLC
808.866.5104
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