HONOLULU – Continuing a nearly decade-long tradition, First Insurance Company of Hawaii (FICOH) collaborated with UNIBODY Autotech to gift a refurbished 2018 Honda Civic to Tamara Place of Honolulu, a single mother of two identified through Helping Hands Hawaiʻi’s Adopt a Family event.
This is the ninth consecutive year FICOH and community partners have helped a local family achieve greater stability and mobility through the donation of a car. FICOH donated the salvaged car, UNIBODY Autotech donated their labor and materials, and Pacific Honda, NAPA, and PPG Paints contributed parts and materials.
Representatives from FICOH, Helping Hands Hawaiʻi, UNIBODY Autotech, and other supporters gathered for the handover of the keys and to offer the Place family their well wishes. Tamara, who moved her family to Oahu after the Maui wildfires so her teenage daughter could receive cancer treatment, shared in her application that having a reliable car would be “a miracle” to help her children get to school and work. With her daughter now in remission, Tamara works in healthcare, but the family still depends on public transportation and ridesharing for daily needs.
“This initiative wouldn’t be possible without the support of our incredible partners,” said Yvette Barradas, FICOH Vice President. “We hope this car will help the Place family transform their lives in 2025 and beyond and look forward to continuing this tradition for years to come.”
“We appreciate FICOH and their partners for the generosity they show to families every year,” said Kristine Garabiles, program manager, Helping Hands Hawaiʻi. “Reliable transportation isn’t just about convenience; it’s a lifeline. For Tamara and her family, this car represents an important step toward greater stability and financial independence.”
About First Insurance Company of Hawaii
Founded in 1911, First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Ltd. is the oldest and largest property and casualty insurer domiciled in Hawaii, with assets of $837.97 million, liabilities of $560.1 million, and policyholders’ surplus of $277.8 million as of December 31, 2023.
First Insurance is a member of the Tokio Marine North America (TMNA) group of companies and enjoys an “A+” rating from A.M. Best Co. Proud of its broadly experienced, service-oriented staff, First Insurance employs more than 225 insurance professionals and distributes its products through 26 independent general agencies. In 2023, First Insurance was awarded the American Heart Association’s Workplace Health Gold Achievement and named one of Hawaii’s Best Places to Work in the "large company" category by Hawaii Business magazine.
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About Helping Hands Hawai'i
Established in 1974, Helping Hands Hawai‘i is a local nonprofit that administers various programs to benefit the community including Bilingual Access Line, Community Clearinghouse, Representative Payee Services and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) Outreach. For 50 years, HHH’s mission has been to provide critical social services that allow people to empower themselves and improve their quality of life. HHH continues today to provide a vital lifeline for the local community, helping its members to help one another. For more information, visit www.helpinghandshawaii.org.