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UHF staff

The University of Hawaiʻi Foundation, the nonprofit that raises funds for the University of Hawaiʻi, is pleased to announce two new hires, Marcelo Hanza and Keyla Butts:

Marcelo Hanza joins UHF as executive director of Corporate & Foundation Relations.

In his new role, Hanza leads the Corporate & Foundation Relations team responsible for coordinating activity, developing strategies, building relationships and raising funds from corporations and foundations.

Hanza joins UHF from the Mayo Clinic, where he held a number of leadership roles over a decade within corporate and foundation relations. He developed and maintained a portfolio of more than 100 national and international corporations, foundations and strategic partnerships. He also served as the key contact between the Mayo Clinic and senior executives across a range of industries and advised Mayo Clinic executive leadership in strategic planning, corporate and foundation engagement, and the execution of high-value funding opportunities aligned with the institution’s 2030 vision and strategic plan. Most recently he also served as the chair of the Mayo Clinic’s Equity, Inclusion & Diversity Council.

Hanza earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from UH Hilo and a master’s degree in rural and community development from the University of Alaska Fairbanks. He was born in Kailua and grew up on Hawaiʻi Island, where he graduated from Waiakea High School in Hilo.

Keyla Butts joins UHF as director of special events, in charge of planning and executing UHF stewardship events and University of Hawaiʻi alumni events.

In her new role, Butts works with vendors, venues and staff to produce exceptional, memorable events for UHF donors and UH alumni.

Butts was most recently director of business development at Hawaiʻi Pacific University, where she led the special events and business development programs. 

Butts earned a master’s degree in religion and leadership at Liberty University in Virginia and holds a bachelor of arts degree from Trinity Bible College in North Dakota.

 

If you would like to learn how you can support UH students and programs like this, please contact us at 808 376-7800 or send us a message.

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The University of Hawai‘i Foundation, a nonprofit organization, raises private funds to support the University of Hawai‘i System. The mission of the University of Hawai‘i Foundation is to unite donors’ passions with the University of Hawai‘i’s aspirations by raising philanthropic support and managing private investments to benefit UH, the people of Hawai‘i and our future generations. uhfoundation.org