1964		Today

Because we care

In 1952 a group of six women became motivated to help local children in need, after becoming aware of the many children who might not get the simple joy of blowing out candles on their very own birthday cake. They came up with an idea to create awareness and funding for those silent innocents.

The original Makua members created an annual social event to generate awareness for their cause to help the children and in doing so attracted funding to make a difference. The Kona Kai Hotel, under construction at the time, was selected as the first venue for the event in September 1953. The founding members embraced the hotel's island ambience by giving their group the Hawaiian name for parent - ‘Makua' was born.

Makua's roots are still strong in Point Loma. The goal to help local children in need remains Makua's main focus, because young children are still waiting to be reconnected with family; still waiting for someone to listen; still waiting for someone to believe in them as they blow out their candles.

In spite of Makua's decades of service and fundraising, the number of children in the foster care system has never waned. Our future focus lies in engaging women throughout San Diego County to become involved in all realms of service including the creation of additional auxiliaries. Sometimes it takes the love and caring of women to identify what all children need; someone to listen; someone to care; someone to give them the hope of a future where people believe in them.

Serving a Need in Our Community

Makua's affiliation with Voices for Children provides the platform to help foster youth realize hope for a positive future. Through our education program Makua creates awareness of the vital importance of the CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocate, program, which provides a trained volunteer empowered by the juvenile court to look out for their case child's unique needs. Makua hosts Teen and CASA panels for the public to be enlightened directly by the young adults who've reaped the rewards of being supported by a person who believes in them. We also facilitate juvenile court tours where members and visitors are exposed to the CASA program at its very core. We manage an annual holiday gift drive for foster children and continue Makua's tradition of hosting a themed annual event always keeping the promise of putting the ‘fun back into fundraiser'. This annual event raises much needed funds for Voices for Children's programs.