LAHAINA, Hawaii — Grooby has launched a fundraiser to contribute to the ongoing wildfire relief effort in Lahaina, on the island of Maui in Hawaii.
The studio, which was Hawaiian-based for over ten years before relocating to Los Angeles in 2010, will donate 100% of proceeds from special membership signups to paysites TGirls.xxx, GroobyGirls.com, AsianTGirl.com, or Black-TGirls.com.
"We're shocked at seeing what is going on with the fires in Maui," said CEO Steven Grooby. "Grooby, although started in Europe, really grew when in Hawaii, and many of our staff were either born there or spent a large portion of their lives. Shannon, Kristel, Frank, Gus, Alex, and our ex-designer Dev were all hired for our Honolulu office and we've had many other staff over the years. We all still have friends and family in Hawaii. Hawaii holds a very special place in my life — it's where my business grew, it's where I forged friendships that have lasted a lifetime, it was my home for over 12 years, it was where I met my wife, and where my son was born. Our hearts go out to those who have lost their families, homes, and lives."
Added Hawaii-native Kristel Penn, Grooby's creative and editorial director, "I frequented Maui often as a teenager from Oahu participating in extracurricular activities in school. I adventured there and cultivated friendships there throughout my lifetime. And although Hawaii is technically made up of eight separate islands, we consider ourselves to be part of the same local community. The ‘Aloha Spirit’ is something you see back home, especially during crises like these, with strangers helping each other like we are all family and it’s something that I carry with me even after moving to Los Angeles. Grooby has strong roots back in Hawaii and so it’s only natural that it’s our time to help."
Users can pay $45, $75 or $100 for a 45-day membership, allowing subscribers to donate those funds toward the relief effort as a one-time payment.
For more information, visit Grooby.