Jack Gifford who was the major contributor to the Kalae Iki baseball Clinics died of an apparent heart attack on January 13th, 2009. Gifford amassed a fortune in the analog chip industry and founded the chip maker company Maxim Integrated Products.
Gifford graduated from UCLA and invited many of the Division I coaches whom he developed a relationship with. He was instrumental in getting them here and making the Kalae Iki Baseball Clinic one of Hawaii’s premiere baseball clinics.
The foundations of Jack Gifford and Betty Kanuha, Joey Estrella (UHH Vulcan Baseball Coach), and the County of Hawaii gave Hawaii youths exposure to some of the top notch college minds. His monetary contribution to this camp made it possible for these coaches and their families to enjoy the Kona and Waikoloa coast while giving baseball players in Hawaii first notch information.
Division I coaches like Sam Piraro (San Jose State), Mark Marques (Stanford), Mark O’Brien (Santa Clara), John Savage (UCLA), Tom Myers (UC Santa Barbara), Ed Sprague (Pacific University), and Chad Konishi (UH Pitching Coach) made it an annual summer trek to the Big Island. This made it the most potent, concentration of baseball minds to assemble in Hawaii at the same time.
The clinic also helped parents in preparing students for possibly playing at the college level. The Clinic also had a message for kids to keep your grades up and make use of your time wisely and not waste it on things like; TV, IPOD, cell phones and other modern distractions.
Gifford earned a scholarship to play baseball at UCLA where he played alongside former head coach Gary Adams, whom made it to the Kalae Iki camp. Gifford also generously supported the University of Hawaii-Hilo baseball program, as well as several California college baseball programs including; Stanford, California, Santa Clara, San Jose State, and UCLA.
Gifford most recently funded the construction of the UCLA’s Jack and Rhodine Gifford Hitting Facility, a state of the art batting practice complex on the campus of UCLA.
The Giffords whom have a home in Kona loved the Big Island and spent most of their time here. The baseball clinic will probably continue but Kona has lost one of it’s most giving individuals and baseball has lost one of it's most passionate ambassadors.
Gifford was 68, and is survived by wife Rhodine, and three daughters – Laural Lynch, Tracy Jones, and Jacquelyn Disney.
Gifford graduated from UCLA and invited many of the Division I coaches whom he developed a relationship with. He was instrumental in getting them here and making the Kalae Iki Baseball Clinic one of Hawaii’s premiere baseball clinics.
The foundations of Jack Gifford and Betty Kanuha, Joey Estrella (UHH Vulcan Baseball Coach), and the County of Hawaii gave Hawaii youths exposure to some of the top notch college minds. His monetary contribution to this camp made it possible for these coaches and their families to enjoy the Kona and Waikoloa coast while giving baseball players in Hawaii first notch information.
Division I coaches like Sam Piraro (San Jose State), Mark Marques (Stanford), Mark O’Brien (Santa Clara), John Savage (UCLA), Tom Myers (UC Santa Barbara), Ed Sprague (Pacific University), and Chad Konishi (UH Pitching Coach) made it an annual summer trek to the Big Island. This made it the most potent, concentration of baseball minds to assemble in Hawaii at the same time.
The clinic also helped parents in preparing students for possibly playing at the college level. The Clinic also had a message for kids to keep your grades up and make use of your time wisely and not waste it on things like; TV, IPOD, cell phones and other modern distractions.
Gifford earned a scholarship to play baseball at UCLA where he played alongside former head coach Gary Adams, whom made it to the Kalae Iki camp. Gifford also generously supported the University of Hawaii-Hilo baseball program, as well as several California college baseball programs including; Stanford, California, Santa Clara, San Jose State, and UCLA.
Gifford most recently funded the construction of the UCLA’s Jack and Rhodine Gifford Hitting Facility, a state of the art batting practice complex on the campus of UCLA.
The Giffords whom have a home in Kona loved the Big Island and spent most of their time here. The baseball clinic will probably continue but Kona has lost one of it’s most giving individuals and baseball has lost one of it's most passionate ambassadors.
Gifford was 68, and is survived by wife Rhodine, and three daughters – Laural Lynch, Tracy Jones, and Jacquelyn Disney.
