Robyn Washousky’s commitment to philanthropy blossomed during her childhood, thanks to her father’s influence. This dedication has driven her to support her community throughout her life. What began with volunteering at homeless shelters in Clarence, N.Y., has evolved into a significant role in workplace donation drives for Helping Hands Hawai‘i’s Adopt a Family campaign, which aims to provide essential items to families in need across Oahu and surrounding islands.
The Adopt a Family campaign invites donors to “adopt” a family by shopping from their wish list or contributing online. This ensures gifts are purchased for families who have not yet been matched with a donor. According to Kristine Garabiles, program manager at Helping Hands Hawai‘i’s Community Clearinghouse, “The gifts that they get for the family, they’ll drop off at us to receive, and then we plan the distribution for the families to come pick up.”
This year, Helping Hands Hawai‘i aims to assist 550 households, including at least 100 kupuna. Washousky, now 46, first learned of the campaign while working at the Fertility Institute of Hawaii. By combining donations from her colleagues, they could provide a family with everything they required. The company participated in the campaign throughout her 13 years there.
“Really, what warms my heart is giving back to others,” Washousky expressed. “It’s kind of just something that I continue looking forward to every year.” Recently, she transitioned to a new role as executive director at Asia Pacific Aesthetics, where she has continued the tradition of participating in the campaign.
The family they adopted this year—a single mother with two children who recently fled domestic violence—had a wish list that deeply resonated with Washousky. “What they were asking for are things that we take for granted every single day,” she noted. The list included basic necessities such as sheets, blankets, shampoo, and pans, rather than luxury items.
Washousky’s colleague, Nicole Navarro, administrator at Asia Pacific Aesthetics, expressed enthusiasm for the campaign. “We all enjoyed being a part of this Adopt a Family campaign. It was nice to see the office come together for a good cause,” Navarro said via text. She plans to sign up next year with her family to experience helping those in need firsthand.
The Adopt a Family campaign holds special significance for Washousky due to her family dynamics. Her father, Richard C. Washousky, who inspired her charitable work, was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2014. Following his diagnosis, she committed to facilitating her children’s relationship with him, visiting him across the country for the eight years until his passing in 2022.
“I made it a point to bring my children back and forth from Hawaii to Buffalo, N.Y., two to three times a year,” Washousky shared. “Family is everything. To my dad, I made a promise to him. He had told me, ‘Please keep this family together.’” Coordinating these visits among her brother in Pennsylvania, sister in South Carolina, and mother in North Carolina was challenging, but she remains dedicated to maintaining family ties.
Her brother, David Washousky, recalls their father’s teachings about kindness and doing good. “My dad was always big on ‘doing the right thing,’” he said. “We all know what that means deep down, but it’s usually a little harder or more uncomfortable to put yourself out there to make a difference.”
Robyn’s commitment to philanthropy extends beyond her immediate family. She has also taken on mentoring roles, including as a big sister in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program, demonstrating her dedication to making a positive impact in others’ lives.
While the registration period for Adopt a Family has concluded, contributions can still be made online at helpinghandshawaii.org. Donations of gift cards or unwrapped gifts can be dropped off at the Community Clearinghouse located at 2100 N. Nimitz Hwy. These contributions will assist families who have not been matched with donors, ensuring that more individuals receive support this holiday season.
