{"id":184700,"date":"2023-10-08T08:00:54","date_gmt":"2023-10-08T18:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=184700"},"modified":"2023-10-27T12:33:44","modified_gmt":"2023-10-27T22:33:44","slug":"walter-dods-5m-donation-rise","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2023\/10\/08\/walter-dods-5m-donation-rise\/","title":{"rendered":"Walter A. Dods Jr. makes $5<abbr>M<\/abbr> donation to <abbr>RISE<\/abbr> center"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 3<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><div class=\"responsive-video-wrap-post\"><figure class=\"wp-block-embed wp-block-embed-youtube is-type-video is-provider-youtube epyt-figure\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\"><div class=\"epyt-video-wrapper\"><iframe  id=\"_ytid_48229\"  width=\"620\" height=\"349\"  data-origwidth=\"620\" data-origheight=\"349\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/_21lE0VjZ5s?enablejsapi=1&origin=https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu&rel=0&autoplay=0&cc_load_policy=0&cc_lang_pref=&iv_load_policy=1&loop=0&fs=1&playsinline=0&autohide=2&theme=dark&color=red&controls=1&disablekb=0&\" class=\"__youtube_prefs__  no-lazyload\" title=\"Walter A. Dods Jr. makes $5M donation to RISE center\"  allow=\"fullscreen; accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen data-no-lazy=\"1\" data-skipgform_ajax_framebjll=\"\"><\/iframe><\/div><\/div><\/figure><\/div>\n<p>Honolulu philanthropist and former First Hawaiian Bank Chairman Walter A. Dods <abbr title=\"Junior\">Jr<\/abbr>. is donating $5 million to the University of <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span>\u2019s new <a href=\"http:\/\/rise.hawaii.edu\/\">Residences for Innovative Student Entrepreneurs<\/a> (<abbr>RISE<\/abbr>) at <abbr title=\"University of Hawaii\">糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa. In recognition of this momentous gift, the building will be renamed the Walter Dods, <abbr>Jr.<\/abbr> <abbr>RISE<\/abbr> Center.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_184974\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-184974\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-dods-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"Walter Dods in front of Walter Dods Jr. RISE Center\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-184974\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-dods-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-dods-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-dods.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-184974\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Walter A. Dods <abbr>Jr<\/abbr><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Dods is an alumnus of <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/shidler.hawaii.edu\/\">Shidler College of Business<\/a>, a longtime donor to <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> and former president of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uhfoundation.org\/\"><abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Foundation<\/a>\u2019s Board of Trustees.<\/p>\n<p>The student entrepreneurship and innovation center, with housing for 374 students, opened in August. Programs at <abbr>RISE<\/abbr> are operated by the <a href=\"https:\/\/pace.shidler.hawaii.edu\/\">Pacific Asian Center for Entrepreneurship<\/a> (<abbr>PACE<\/abbr>) at the <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa Shidler College of Business. The historic new gift builds on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uhfoundation.org\/news\/first-hawaiian-bank-foundation-dods-give-500k-uh-rise-project\">Dods\u2019 earlier gift<\/a> to <abbr>PACE<\/abbr> announced in 2022.<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;I\u2019m honored to champion a program that\u2019s growing new generations of critical thinkers and entrepreneurs who will create the businesses that grow <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span>\u2019s economy,&rdquo; said Dods. &ldquo;I look forward to seeing the future these <abbr>PACE<\/abbr> at <abbr>RISE<\/abbr> students will create for themselves, our state and the world.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>Dods is one of the most influential businessmen and philanthropists in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span>, and has been an active community volunteer and fundraiser since early in his career. He retired from First Hawaiian Bank in 2004 after a 36-year career there, the last 15 years as chairman and <abbr title=\"Chief Executive Officer\">CEO<\/abbr>. A recognized industry leader, Dods was the national president of the American Bankers Association in 1996.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_184703\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-184703\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-in-rise-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"three people standing in a building\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-184703\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-in-rise-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-in-rise-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-in-rise.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-184703\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Walter A. Dods <abbr>Jr<\/abbr>., Sandra Fujiyama and Tim Dolan at RISE<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Walter Dods has embodied leadership, entrepreneurship and innovation over his long career at First Hawaiian Bank as well as through his expansive and generous service to the community,&rdquo; said <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> President David Lassner. &ldquo;It is beyond appropriate to link the Dods name to the premier place and program that will nurture our future leaders who will drive <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span>\u2019s economy, and we thank Walter for his forward-thinking and generous commitment to our students.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Walter\u2019s incredible vision and generosity enables us to attract passionate students, cutting-edge professionals and faculty, and offer meaningful programming at <abbr>RISE<\/abbr>,&rdquo; said Sandra Fujiyama, executive director of <abbr>PACE<\/abbr>. &ldquo;It\u2019s so exciting to see these students transform into the next generation of changemakers and problem-solvers to start their own businesses or join existing ones.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"blocklink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/tag\/rise\/\">Read more about the <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa <abbr>RISE<\/abbr> center<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n<p>Dods\u2019 roots in <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span>, and his dedication to the community, run deep.<\/p>\n<p>Born to a blue-collar, working-class family in Honolulu, he went to work after graduating from Saint Louis School, and later attended night classes at <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa while working full-time. Dods graduated in 1967 with a bachelor&#8217;s degree in business administration. In 1993, he was honored with the <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Distinguished Alumni Award.<\/p>\n<h2>Dods\u2019 long history of support to <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_184705\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-184705\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-rendering-rise-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"photo of a building\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-184705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-rendering-rise-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-rendering-rise-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-rendering-rise.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-184705\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Signage rendering of new Walter Dods <abbr>Jr.<\/abbr> <abbr>RISE<\/abbr> Center<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>His philanthropic support of <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> stretches back to 1975, when he was among the founders of <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Foundation\u2019s President\u2019s Club to encourage support for <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> from alumni, friends and community leaders. He served on the <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Foundation Board of Trustees, was its president from 1978 to 1980 and chaired the 1998 <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Campaign for <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span> that raised $116 million for the university.<\/p>\n<p>Dods and his late wife, Diane, established the Walter A. and Diane N. Dods Endowed Scholarship Fund with a gift of $1 million, for students who are immigrants or children of immigrants. He also helped raise $1.6 million to establish the Dan and Maggie Inouye Distinguished Chair in Democratic Ideals and co-chaired the committee to establish the Senator Daniel K. Akaka Regents Scholarship Endowment.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_184707\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-184707\" style=\"width: 300px\" class=\"wp-caption alignright\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-students-in-complex-300x169.jpg\" alt=\"dozens of people smile for a photo\" width=\"300\" height=\"169\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-184707\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-students-in-complex-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-students-in-complex-130x73.jpg 130w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-students-in-complex.jpg 676w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-184707\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><abbr>RISE<\/abbr> students gather in August during an opening reception<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>&ldquo;Walter\u2019s long dedication to community service and to <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> is exceptional,&rdquo; said Tim Dolan, <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> vice president of advancement and <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Foundation <abbr>CEO<\/abbr>. &ldquo;His exemplary leadership in business and philanthropy is inspiring and we couldn\u2019t be more grateful for this special gift.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In 2004, Dods was awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, with Gold and Silver Star, an imperial honor from the Government of Japan. Since retirement, he has served as the board chairman of Alexander &#38; Baldwin, and later Matson. He was also a trustee of the Samuel Mills Damon Estate, and served as non-executive board chairman for Hawaiian Telcom and Mid Pac Petroleum. He is currently a director on the board of Par Pacific Hawaii.<\/p>\n<p><abbr>RISE<\/abbr> was built as the first public-private partnership between <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr>, <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Foundation and Hunt Development Group <span aria-label=\"Hawaii\">Hawai&#699;i<\/span>.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_184701\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-184701\" style=\"width: 676px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-headshot.jpg\" alt=\"person smiling\" width=\"676\" height=\"381\" class=\"size-full wp-image-184701\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-headshot.jpg 676w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-headshot-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/manoa-shidler-uh-foundation-walter-dods-headshot-130x73.jpg 130w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 676px) 100vw, 676px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-184701\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Walter A. Dods <abbr>Jr<\/abbr>.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Dods is an alumnus of <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> M\u0101noa\u2019s Shidler College of Business, a longtime donor to <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> and former president of the <abbr>糖心Vlog官方<\/abbr> Foundation\u2019s Board of Trustees.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25,12],"tags":[498,734,1466,425,1593,146,271,319,9,56],"class_list":["post-184700","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","category-video","tag-business","tag-entrepreneurship","tag-manoa-enhancing-student-success","tag-pacific-asian-center-for-entrepreneurship","tag-rise","tag-shidler-college-of-business","tag-uh-alumni-association","tag-uh-foundation","tag-uh-manoa","tag-video-2","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184700","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/16"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=184700"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184700\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":185904,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/184700\/revisions\/185904"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=184700"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=184700"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=184700"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}