- Hawaii.
So tell me why Hawaii is so special to the two of you.
- We started going to Hawaii
when our son graduated from high school.
Through our son we became involved
in a lot of conservation programs in Hawaii
as well as scholarships and it's now evolved
into some very serious and very exciting ocean work
with the steering of ASU.
So a gentleman by the name of Greg Asner is the person
that is leading this charge.
What he is able to accomplish
or what we're going to accomplish in Hawaii,
I know we are, can be translated to ocean reefs
throughout the world.
- We have a huge gratitude. Thanks to the two of you
for encouraging ASU to come to Hawaii
and the work of the Center for Global
Discovery and Conservation Science is incredible,
what's happening and where we're going.
- The Center for Global Discovery
and Conservation Science is a unit
of the Global Futures Laboratory
at Arizona State University.
Here in Hawaii the work we're doing
is focusing on restoring both ecological integrity
of our coral reefs and also cultural practices
around those coral reefs by supporting our communities.
The Dorrance Family Foundation support to our program
and our effort has been literally foundational.
The support has been instrumental
in not only advancing the science
which is part of the story, but also advancing our delivery
of the science to these communities
and to the ecosystems that we're focusing on.
- The Dorrance Family Foundation was founded in 1999
by my parents Bennett Sr. And Jacquie Dorrance.
It was mostly focused initially on a scholarship
coming out of some studies that they had in Arizona.
They went after trying to support the potential scholars
that had gone through hardship and were in financial need.
- Here at the scholarship program
we want to change the lives of individuals
to enjoy life more, to be more successful,
and to pass that on.
- What makes ours unique is not so much the No. 1,
it's the first in the family to go to college,
breaking that cycle.
- I think the important thing
when you think about your philanthropy
the impact that it makes, you can actually see
that it totally changes a person's life.
How much do you think Arizona State University
has helped change the environment here in Arizona?
Today there's many companies moving to Arizona
and you've got to credit Michael Crow and the fact
that we have graduates that are we're ready to work
in all these different companies.
- With Dr. Crow giving people the opportunity
to really go for it without a lot of restraints
and regulations, he is able to really put a fire
under all of these projects.
And without him, I just don't think they would be happening
at such an accelerated rate.
- ASU is in Hawaii with a number of friends
and partners and allies because we see Hawaii as the place
that can be this pathway to demonstrating
what the future can be like, a very transcultural,
multicultural place yet grounded in Indigenous culture,
a place that can be unbelievably sustainable,
a place that can rethink the relationship
that we have with the planet.
- For me, as philanthropists
they've just really done what really generous people do,
which is to say, what are your needs?
Here are our interests.
Let's work together and move this.
Their support has been tremendous in all the best ways,
not just financially, but also emotionally
and in terms of their cheerleading work.
They are all in on ASU and they're all in on Hawaii.
- I've been doing this for three decades
and I've never been in a relationship
with a foundation that is so interested in the outcomes
and so focused on the change making
that's really focused on what are the best pathways
to the solutions that we all seek.
And I think that is the model for other foundations
and I think that The Dorrance Family Foundation
has been a pathfinder and sort of trailblazer in that space.
- So I just would want to say on behalf of ASU,
on behalf of President Crow, ASU Foundation,
we are just so grateful that you're a true partner
with us and what you've been able to do,
what you will continue to do
through the work of The Dorrance Family Foundation.
So from the bottom of my heart, Mahalo.
- Mahalo.