Pacific Quest’s model focuses on three dimensions of Sustainable Growth™: lasting and meaningful change for students and their families, fostering the ability to adapt to change throughout life, and understanding the relationship between sustainable self and sustainable community/environment. It is in that spirit that Pacific Quest is pleased to announce the formation of the Pacific Quest (PQ) Foundation. Pacific Quest has long been a strong supporter of local charities and with the PQ Foundation, Pacific Quest now has a formal avenue for giving back, as well as a streamlined process for local groups to request support.
The Pacific Quest Foundation is a 501(c)(3) public charity committed to supporting the Hawai’i County community and its existing non-profit organizations. Vice President of the PQ Foundation, Suzanne McKinney, comments, “After years of working in and contributing to the Hawai’i Island community, we are excited to formalize our efforts and reach the broader community. We can now include PQ alumni families in our efforts to give back by raising awareness and funding for local community programming.”
Since Pacific Quest’s start in 2004, the program has developed deep relationships within the local community and assisted over 60 local non-profit organizations. In addition to financial support, the PQ model differs from traditional wilderness programs as students have an active role within the community, through volunteer opportunities. Recent efforts include working with residents at a local elder care center, sandalwood reforestation, beach clean ups, and vetiver propagation to assist in erosion control.
The Pacific Quest Foundation’s mission is to contribute to existing 501(c)(3) organizations on Hawaii Island that steward a healthy island community. Alumni and supporters of Pacific Quest are encouraged to give back to the Big Island through the Pacific Quest Foundation. Pacific Quest underwrites the Foundation’s leadership and administrative costs.
Pacific Quest is an outdoor therapeutic program for struggling adolescents and young adults that offers a clinical, yet holistic, approach to treatment. Our neurodevelopmental approach, combined with horticultural therapy, integrates evidence-based therapeutic methods, whole-person wellness and organic gardening to sustain a healthy community and motivate change.