HONOLULU — Roland Casamina, founder and CEO of House of Finance, Inc. and founding president of the Filipino Community (FilCom) Center, has establish a $50,000 endowed scholarship at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Shidler College of Business. The Roland Casamina and House of Finance, Inc. Endowed Scholarship will provide tuition support for undergraduate business students who demonstrate leadership potential and a commitment to community service.

Casamina said, "I’m just happy to be able to give back, no matter how small, to the University that gave me so much."

Born in a small province in the Philippines, a young Casamina arrived in Hawai‘i in the late ’60s. Hoping for a better life, he worked as a busboy while attending Farrington High School and supported himself as a waiter during his college years at the University of Hawai‘i.

Soon after graduating from UH, the 22 year-old Casamina was hired as a branch manager for International Savings and Loan. He quickly rose up the ranks to vice president and eventually left in 1995 to establish the House of Finance, Inc., a company that specializes in residential loan funding.

In 2010 and 2011, Pacific Business News ranked House of Finance, Inc. 15th in residential loan funding in Hawai‘i, out-funding many of the mid-size banks in the State.

In 2002, Casamina and partner Eddie Flores, Jr. were instrumental in procuring donations from the community and building the Filipino Community Center in Waipahu.

Casamina received his BBA from the Shidler College of Business in 1976. He and his wife Evelyn have four children and two grandchildren.

“We want to thank Roland, Evelyn, and their entire family for their commitment to improving academic opportunities for our local students,” said Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business. “The Casamina family is already well-known for their support of the FilCom Center. However, with this scholarship gift, they have expanded their legacy by making higher education possible for more of Hawai‘i’s students.”

You can make a gift securely online at www.uhfoundation.org/GiveToShidler

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Press release from July 11, 2012: House of Finance Founder Roland Casamina establishes $50,000 scholarship at the UH Manoa Shidler College of Business