BRIAN SCHATZ

What this episode covers

Brian Schatz’s community involvement is spread too far but not too thin. His public service targets all walks of life, from disadvantaged youth to ailing senior citizens; and different sectors, from education to the environment—all this made possible by the myriad of programs that his $6 million organization, Helping Hands, implements annually. Schatz considers his political involvement as an extension of his public service and not-for-profit commitment. He had begun his non-profit work through the Youth for Environmental Service years prior to joining politics as a member of the House of Representatives in 1998. Politician and philanthropist, Brian Schatz, is put to the fore as he shares with Evan and Kari his experiences as a public servant, his thoughts on politics, and why he commits himself to helping the elderly. Schatz talks about the difficulties he faces in trying to uplift the lives of our senior citizens. He says, “This is the most difficult thing to raise money for and to raise awareness of because it is just not the same, for instance, school supplies for kids; it’s not that warm and fuzzy thing.” “It’s difficult to get corporate sponsorship even community foundation sponsorships for taking care of adults with severe and persistent mental illness. These are the sickest people in our State mentally, and I think it is a measure of our society how we take care of our people like that,” he added. Listen now as Greater Good Radio brings 50-minutes of Brian Schatz. This is a good-listen for our young leaders and those who have dedicated their lives in advancing the State of Hawaii. BIO: Brian Schatz House Bio 2005-06 Current Positions Representative, Hawaii State House of Representatives, since 1998 Vice Chair Committee on Water, Land and Ocean Affairs Vice Chair Committee on Consumer Protection and Commerce Chief Executive Officer, Helping Hands Hawaii, one of Oahu’s largest nonprofit social service agencies Previous Professional Experience Founder/Director, Youth for Environmental Service, an award-winning regional nonprofit environmental organization Founder/Vice President, Web developer Majority Whip Chair, Committee on Economic Development Hubris Online, LLC Teacher, Punahou High School, Social Studies Community Involvement Member, Temple Emanu-El President, Helping Hands Hawaii Director, Makiki Community Library Director, Center for a Sustainable Future Education Punahou High School, 1990 School for International Training, 1992, Kenya, African Studies Program Pomona College, Claremont California, BA in Philosophy, 1994 Manoa Forum Scholar, 2003 Family Son, Tyler Kwok Tin Chee Schatz Married to Linda Kwok Kai Yun Schatz Irv and Barb Schatz, father and mother Steve, Ed, and Jake Schatz, brothers Awards and Recognitions Hawaii Business Magazine’s Power Issue “One to Watch” One of Pacific Business News’ “Forty Under Forty” Honolulu Jaycees “Ten Outstanding Young People in Hawaii” Hawaii Audubon Society President’s Award Al Gore’s Environmental Hero Award Links: Brian Schatz Listen on Youtube: