ACE donates to ASCCC

Press Release - After a memorable celebration during the holidays, the season of giving continues at the Ace Hardware Store in Malaeimi as they contributed a sizable donation to the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition (ASCCC).

The ceremony took place at the Ace Hardware Store yesterday morning.

The 2nd Annual Holiday Fundraising Project funded the amount of $6,756 dollars to help the non-profit organization that’s aiding cancer patients in American Samoa.

Ace Hardware Operations Manager Nadine Taufaasau noted, “There are some wonderful organizations in our community, but for our second annual Holiday Project, we chose to partner once more with the American Samoa Community Cancer Coalition to help raise funds for the awareness and education of cancer in American Samoa.” 

“Our project was the same as last year,” she said, “and that was to include our customers and employees in our fundraising efforts, and invite them to participate. At the time of the customers’ purchases, cashiers asked the customers if they’d like to make a donation to the Cancer Coalitionn.”

Taufaasau said that “during the month of December, we posted Angels on the walls above our Customer Service Department and at our Checkout Areas, which represented the generous donors who contributed. With any donation made by the customer, Ace matched their donation. By the end of the Christmas week, we had raised $3,378.41.”

Ace then matched the donation, she explained, and “the total contribution to the Coalition was $6,756.82. We are very happy with the outcome of our fundraising efforts and Ace thanks its customers and the public for their donations. We are humbled by the response.”

Samoa News also had the chance to speak to Jennifer Tofaeono, who is the LBJ Director of Patient Business Services and has been with ASCCC since it was established in 2004, and is its current chair. 

Tofaeono stated: “We are very grateful that Ace has continued to donate and support this cause. 

This helps us provide financial stipends for our cancer patients, which aids them with their medical treatment. Some of the funds are granted to the patients to seek medical care off-island when needed.  Once again, I would like to thank Ace Hardware for joining us in fighting cancer in American Samoa.”

Making the presentation on behalf of Ace was Nadine Taufaasau (Operations Manager) and Teni Maae (Floor Manager), along with several Ace supervisors. Cancer Coalition board members Tautasi Archie Soliai and Ike Scanlan were on hand, along with Coalition Vice President Rochelle Reid, who joined Tofaeono during the presentation of the Ace donation.