Robyn Washousky has dedicated her life to community service, a passion stemming from her childhood experiences volunteering with her father at homeless shelters in Clarence, New York. Over the years, this commitment has evolved into leadership roles in various philanthropic organizations and, more recently, into her work in Hawaii, where she has led workplace donation drives for the Helping Hands Hawai‘i Adopt a Family campaign for 14 years. This initiative aims to provide local families in need with essential items from their wish lists during the holiday season.
The Adopt a Family campaign allows donors to “adopt” a family, purchasing gifts directly from their wish lists or making online contributions to support families not yet matched with donors. According to Kristine Garabiles, program manager at Helping Hands Hawai‘i’s Community Clearinghouse, the organization aims to assist 550 households across Oahu and neighboring islands this year, including at least 100 elderly residents, known as kupuna.
Washousky, now 46, first became involved with the campaign while working at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii. She quickly recognized the potential of pooling contributions from her office to meet the needs of families. Her workplace has participated in the campaign for the entirety of her 13-year tenure there. “What warms my heart is giving back to others,” Washousky reflected. “It’s something I look forward to every year.”
In her new role as executive director at Asia Pacific Aesthetics, Washousky has continued her commitment to the campaign. This year, her office adopted a family comprising a single mother and her two children who recently escaped a domestic violence situation. The family’s wish list included basic necessities like sheets, blankets, shampoo, conditioner, and cookware—items many take for granted, rather than luxuries such as electronics or designer clothing.
Colleague Nicole Navarro, 54, expressed enthusiasm for contributing to the cause after Washousky introduced the campaign to the team. “We all enjoyed being part of this Adopt a Family campaign. It was nice to see the office come together for a good cause,” Navarro stated. “I will be signing up next year so that my family can experience helping a family in need.”
The campaign carries personal significance for Washousky, particularly following the passing of her father, Richard C. Washousky, who inspired her charitable efforts. Diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014, he passed away in 2022. Washousky made a commitment to ensure her children could build a relationship with him during his illness, traveling between Hawaii and Buffalo, New York, several times a year. “Family is everything. To my dad, I made a promise to keep this family together,” she said.
Managing family connections has been challenging for Washousky, with relatives spread across multiple states—her brother in Pennsylvania, her sister in South Carolina, and her mother in North Carolina. “We’re trying to keep that family together while we’re all over the place,” she explained. “It’s tough, but I do my best to make it happen because I don’t want to see our family drift apart. I know that would make him proud.”
Her brother, David Washousky, emphasized their father’s dedication to community service. “My dad was always big on ‘doing the right thing,’” he noted. “It’s usually a little harder or more uncomfortable to put yourself out there to make a difference.” He also shared that Robyn served as a mentor through the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, demonstrating her commitment to making a positive impact.
Though the donor registration period for the Adopt a Family campaign has closed, those wishing to support families in need can still contribute. Donations can be made online at helpinghandshawaii.org or by dropping off gift cards or unwrapped gifts at the Community Clearinghouse located at 2100 N. Nimitz Hwy. Contributions will be allocated to families that have not yet found donors, ensuring that many will receive much-needed support this holiday season.
