Hiuka Keeps Promise to Aid Community
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Hiuka America Corp. wanted to relocate its scrap yard from San Pedro to Wilmington. To sweeten the proposal, it promised to make substantial donations to community organizations in Wilmington.
Many Wilmington residents objected loudly to the plan, convinced that the yard would bring more noise and dust to a town that already has plenty of both. Other residents wanted Hiuka to come to Wilmington because it would bring jobs. They spoke up, too, but not quite as loudly.
Hiuka negotiated and tussled with residents for about two years, trying to win support, but ultimately gave up and decided to move instead to the Port of Long Beach.
Many celebrated; many were disappointed. But virtually all were surprised when days after opting to go to Long Beach, Hiuka said that, regardless, it would follow through on its promise to make donations to the Wilmington community groups.
Hiuka has already taken a first step toward keeping that promise, doling out about $84,000 to 10 Wilmington organizations in a 15-minute ceremony Tuesday at the Wilmington Boys & Girls Club. In all, the company plans to give $400,000 over four years to local organizations. It has set up a local review committee to screen grant proposals, receiving applications totaling about $540,000 for this year alone.
Hiuka decided to go ahead with the grants in part because company representatives were impressed with the dedication--and the needs--of Wilmington residents, Hiuka Executive Vice President David Creigh said.
“During the course of the campaign, I heard and talked with a number of serious, dedicated and involved people that are trying to better their community,” Creigh said. “And I think that anybody that seriously invests some time in the Wilmington community is struck by the serious human needs here.
Creigh pointed out that Hiuka still will have a stake in Wilmington because some employees live in Wilmington and Hiuka’s trucks use Wilmington’s streets. Also, he added, Hiuka had pledged financial aid to Wilmington should the Port of Los Angeles grant it a lease, which did happen--even though the company ultimately decided to move to Long Beach.
“I don’t think I could’ve said to (Wilmington civic organizer) John Mendez or the others . . . that we weren’t going to keep our word,” Creigh said.
Hiuka estimates that 11,000 youths will benefit from the grants announced on Tuesday. Following is a breakdown of the grants:
* Wilmington Park School; $5,000 for drill team, sixth-grade camp and educational programs and child and parent multicultural workshops.
* John Gibson Park Baseball program; $10,000 for uniforms, equipment and other materials and $10,000 to upgrade and maintain the park.
* Wilmington Boys & Girls Club; $8,200 for its computerized math tutoring program for students from Hawaiian Avenue and Wilmington Park schools.
* Wilmington Teen Center; $15,000 for repairs to the 50-year-old building.
* Wilmington/Carson Pop Warner Football and Cheerleading; $10,000 for equipment and travel.
* Hawaiian Avenue School; $2,300 for after-school art program and planting of trees.
* Wilmington Jaycee Foundation Athletic Complex; $4,100 grant for purchase of grass-cutting equipment.
* Wilmington/Carson Girls Softball League; $4,000 to upgrade field, buy equipment and expand the program.
* Wilmington Community Free Clinic; $5,000 to establish a bilingual pediatric clinic during evening hours.
* Wilmington Fiesta; $10,000 to support communitywide party that serves as a fund-raiser for the teen center and other Wilmington-based organizations.
Creigh said Hiuka still has about $16,000 more to give away this year in smaller grants, adding that the company is still accepting applications for amounts of less than $1,500. Another ceremony will take place next year to mark the disbursement of $100,000 in grants Hiuka plans to give out in 1994.
Councilman Rudy Svorinich, who attended Tuesday’s ceremony, thanked Creigh and joked that Hiuka spent money faster than the Los Angeles City Council. “You have a future in government,” he said.
Svorinich added that relationships such as the one between Wilmington and Hiuka are becoming increasingly necessary as cash-short Los Angeles finds it harder to fund necessary programs.
