Largest single donation in The IRONMAN Foundation’s history will fund two mobile health trailers following Hurricane Lala

Nāʻālehu, Hawai’i – (September 24, 2026) - Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center is deeply grateful to announce that The IRONMAN® Foundation has awarded a $350,000 monetary gift to support the purchase of two mobile health trailers that will help restore access to essential healthcare services in Na’alehu following the devastating impacts of Hurricane Lala.

The contribution is the largest single donation in the IRONMAN Foundation’s 23-year history and will allow the health center to bring comprehensive care back to Nāʻālehu while its flood-damaged Kaʻū Family Health and Dental facility undergoes extensive repairs, a process that could take up to a year.
The new trailers will be converted into fully equipped clinical spaces designed to provide all aspects of health care, including medical, dental, behavioral health and pharmacy support services. They are expected to arrive in Nāʻālehu by September 29^th.

“This extraordinary gift is an investment in the health, strength and recovery of the entire Kaʻū community,” said Victoria Hanes, incoming CEO of Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center. “Because of The IRONMAN Foundation’s generosity, our patients will not have to wait for our building to reopen before they can access the care they need. We are profoundly grateful for a partnership that is helping our community heal and move forward.”

A Partnership That Began With a Phone Call
In the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Lala, representatives from the County of Hawaiʻi Mayor’s Office joined Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center in assessing the damage to the nonprofit health center’s Kaʻū Family Health and Dental location.

Situated near the severely damaged Punaluʻu Bake Shop, the health center was inundated with floodwater, deep mud and debris, leaving the building without power or connectivity and unsafe for patient care.

Recognizing the urgent need to restore local health services, the Mayor’s Office connected the health center with Diana Bertsch, IRONMAN Senior Vice President and longtime Kona resident, who shared, “IRONMAN cares deeply for our island home year-round, not just during race week. We have a philanthropic arm, The IRONMAN Foundation, to help us step up during times like this and there was never any question that we would.”

What began with a phone call quickly became a coordinated effort spanning Kona, Nāʻālehu and Florida. Through conversations about the community’s most immediate needs and the long road to recovery ahead, the partners identified mobile health trailers as the fastest and most effective way to restore comprehensive care.

IRONMAN Group Chief Executive Officer Scott DeRue and Bertsch worked closely with the health center and The IRONMAN Foundation to make the contribution possible.

“We wish this gift had never been necessary; and that the people of Kaʻū had never experienced the devastation that made it so urgently needed,” said Audra Tassone-Indeck, Executive Director/Vice President of The IRONMAN Foundation. “But when the island that has welcomed and supported the IRONMAN World Championship for so many years needed help, we knew we had to respond. This contribution reflects our commitment to helping Hawaiʻi Island recover and ensuring that Kaʻū families can once again access essential healthcare close to home.”

Each year, the IRONMAN World Championship brings athletes, volunteers and supporters from around the world to Kailua-Kona. Beyond race day, The IRONMAN Foundation works to create a lasting, positive impact in the communities that host IRONMAN events.

Continuing Care Through the Recovery
Since Hurricane Lala, Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center employees, many of whom were also personally affected by the storm, have continued caring for Kaʻū residents through a temporary mobile clinic with a single examination room.

Health center teams have also worked alongside community partners to reconnect patients with medications, medical services and other essential support. The two new trailers will significantly expand the health center’s ability to provide care while repairs to the permanent facility continue.

“We extend our deepest mahalo to the IRONMAN Foundation, the IRONMAN Group and the County of Hawaiʻi for helping bring healthcare home to Kaʻū,” Hanes said. “Their generosity is giving our patients, our employees and our entire community something powerful during a difficult chapter: renewed hope and a clear path forward.”

About Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center 
Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center is a non-profit, federally qualified health center providing comprehensive, patient-centered primary care services to communities across Hawaiʻi Island. The organization is the largest non-profit community health center on Hawai’i island, with clinic locations in Hilo, Kailua-Kona, Kaʻū, Keaʻau, Kealakehe, Kealakekua, Ocean View, Pāhoa, and Waikoloa. 

Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center offers medical, dental, behavioral health, pharmacy, and school-based health services. Founded to improve access to quality health care regardless of their ability to pay, Hawaiʻi Island Community Health Center serves patients of all ages with a focus on prevention, wellness, and whole-person care. The health center employs approximately 500 health care professionals and support staff, serves nearly 40,000 residents island-wide and has an operating budget of nearly $70 million.  

About The IRONMAN Foundation
The IRONMAN Foundation, Inc. creates positive, tangible change in IRONMAN® race communities by engaging athletes and volunteers to participate in programs that demonstrate service through sport and commitment to community. Since 2003, over $60,000,000 has been provided through IRONMAN charitable giveback programs, including the IRONMAN Foundation, to more than 10,000 local, regional, national, and global nonprofit initiatives. Through these partnerships, the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series, and the UTMB® World Series of trail running participants are powerfully linked to the community and together help leave a positive legacy behind in race communities long after event day. For more information on The IRONMAN Foundation programs, including Team IMF, Community Fund, Bikes For Kids, Swim Ready, and Your Journey Your Cause®, visit www.ironmanfoundation.org.

About The IRONMAN Group
The IRONMAN Group is the world’s largest operator of participation sports with a portfolio of brands, events, media, partners, merchandise, and digital platforms operating in over 50 countries worldwide. A global portfolio consisting of hundreds of events includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150® Triathlon Series, IRONKIDS®, premier running events including the Rock ‘n’ Roll® Running Series and City2Surf®, the UTMB® World Series of trail running, the Epic Series™ of mountain biking including the Absa Cape Epic®, and a collection of road cycling and other multisport races. Since the inception of the iconic IRONMAN® brand and its first event in 1978, millions of athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines around the world. From its beginnings as a single race among friends in Hawai’i, The IRONMAN Group has become a global sensation and collection of high-growth lifestyle brands that inspire people to unlock their potential in life. For more information, visit www.ironman.com/about/ironman-group.