Waste Management - Keeping Hawaii Clean

Mayor Hannemann leads elected officials in raising funds FOR upcoming American Diabetes Association Walk

Kapolei, Hawaii, March 5, 2007 - Mayor Mufi Hannemann will lead a select team of elected officials from the Leeward Coast to team up with Waste Management of Hawaii to raise money for the American Diabetes Association, Hawaii.

Invitations were also extended to state Senate President Colleen Hanabusa, Representative Karen Awana, Representative Maile Shimabukuro, Representative Kymberly Pine and City Councilmember Todd Apo to walk in the upcoming Walk for Diabetes on March 17, 2007.

Waste Management of Hawaii will donate $500 to ADA on behalf of Mayor Hannemann, who is the honorary chairman of the walk. The firm is also donating $500 for each invited elected official who signs up and completes the walk wearing a Waste Management t-shirt. The locally based company, which operates Waimanalo Gulch Landfill, sent letters to elected officials from its neighboring Leeward communities where diabetes is prevalent to help generate more awareness of the problem.

"There are currently more than 111,000 people in Hawaii who have diabetes, with as many as 40,000 of them undiagnosed," said Majken Mechling, executive director of American Diabetes Association, Hawaii. "While there are fluctuations in Hawaii's rates of self-reported diabetes, the overall trend is upward. Of all the children born in the United States in the year 2000, 1 out of every 3 will have diabetes in their lifetime. In Hawaii that trend will be closer to 2 out of every 3!"

Paul Burns, Waste Management of Hawaii vice president and general manager, said, "This is another way Waste Management of Hawaii supports organizations like the American Diabetes Association to heighten awareness and give hope to those afflicted by this disease. I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Mayor Hannemann and the other elected officials who decide to take us up on this effort to support our local American Diabetes Association."

For more information about America Walks for Diabetes call 947-5979.

Waste Management is the leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in North America. For more information about how we think green, log onto www.wm.com.

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