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April Wubbens - Hawaii International Child

Posted on September 1, 2019

Makana Pono: Employee Giving Program

April Wubbens
Supportive Care Social Worker, Oahu

Organization: Hawaii International Child
From L to R: Abby Sylvester, Dir. of Social Work, Hawaii Int. Child with her children, Heavenly & Akira; Lani Oprescu, Dir. of Domestic Programs, Hawaii Int. Child; April Wubbens, IH Supportive Care Social Worker; Sean Reeks, IH Dir. of Bus. Dev.; Meagan Kim, Client Serv. Coordinator, Hawaii Int. Child
For years, Islands Hospice has supported nonprofi ts near and dear to employees’ hearts through the Employee Designated Giving Program.
Now known as Makana Pono (righteous or purposeful giving), the employee giving program allows outstanding employees to give $5,000 to a nonprofit of their choice.

This month’s Makana Pono recipient is April Wubbens, a supportive care social worker who has worked at Islands Hospice for nearly two years. She helps patients and their families navigate end-of-life planning, discuss options and determine their goals of care.

April’s life changed in 2015 when she and her husband adopted their daughter, Wrenly. She chose to make her donation to Hawaii International Child, which helps children in Hawaii and around the world find their forever families through domestic and international adoption.

“Adoption allowed my husband and I the opportunity to be parents and made our lives so full,” said April. “Adoption can be difficult to navigate and having kind, caring professionals to help lessen the fear and anxiety about the unknown is critical.”

Hawaii International Child Support provides support to children, birth parents and adoptive parents before, during and after the adoption process. The organization competes home studies, provides counseling and offers training programs for parents.

“There are so many children needing forever homes and I am grateful for the opportunity to give back to a cause that so greatly impacted my life for the better,” April added.