2024 Hope & Heroes Benefit Gala and Galleria

In 2008, 8-year-old Nicki Lee turned a simple school community service project into what would become a philanthropic movement. Driven by her passion for singing, she held a living room concert that raised $1,100 for the organization. Her mother, interior designer Cathy Lee, took her to the house on Judd Hillside to learn the true meaning and impact of charity.

The experience inspired Nicki to form Kidz For A Cause. In 2018, Kidz For A Cause came full circle, raising $360,000 to transform the little-used recreation room Nicki first visited at RMCH Hawaii. Cathy donated her time and expertise to lead this complex expansion, securing substantial in-kind donations and services. More than a year later, RMCH Hawaii celebrated its new family recreation center — a vibrant, two-story oasis with a whimsical tree house, gaming and play areas, and an 18-foot palm tree, all designed to spark hope and healing.

“I designed this center to be a place that could take away worry and pain, in both children and parents, even if only for a short time,” Cathy said. Now, children undergoing medical treatments eagerly anticipate their return to the home, and time at the center creates cherished memories for families long after they leave.

Thanks to the Lee family, RMHC Hawaii has a magical, safe space where even the most vulnerable children can simply be kids.