SAN FRANCISCO — The San Francisco Japantown Foundation awarded $40,000 in grants to 11 community organizations on Dec. 10 at the Union Bank of California, Japantown Branch.
The Foundation’s 2007 competitive grants totaled $25,000 and were distributed among eight organizations in varying amounts of $5,000 or less. The Foundation also approved $15,000 in special grants, made possible by a donation from Jack Hirose, to three Japantown organizations.
The grants were given to nonprofit groups with cultural, community and educational activities that the foundation felt best promote and support San Francisco’s Japantown, according to Foundation Board President Donald Tamaki.
Rosalyn Tonai, executive director of the National Japanese American Historical Society, said their grant will be used to support their Japantown Youth Heritage Walking Tour program, which trains youth in cultural and historical interpretation, communication skills, and analysis of past and present issues impacting Japantown.
The Japanese American National Library will use the funds to support indexing publications important to the Japanese American community into a database.
The Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium plans to increase their organizing capacity. The Japanese Benevolent Society of California’s grant will support that organization’s efforts to honor ministers who have served the Japanese American community. The Japantown Merchants’ Association will use their donation for the 2008 Cherry Blossom Festival, which will take place on April 12 -13 and 19 - 20.
Rich Hashimoto of the Japantown Merchants’ Association notes that as Japantown goes through major changes — including a proposal to renovate the Japan Center malls — it is important for the community to have a celebration like the Cherry Blossom Festival, and for community members to give input in the Better Neighborhood Plan currently being formed.
“Without this plan, there will be no moratoriums or restrictions for future development. It will have an adverse affect on this community and there will be no more Japantown — similar to what happened to Seattle’s Japantown, which is now called the International District,” Hashimoto said. “That is why it is important that we keep the Cherry Blossom Festival going. The festival attracts hundreds and thousands of visitors to the community; they know this part of San Francisco is Japantown.”
The Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California has plans to use their money to support the Center’s Kodomo No Hi (Children’s Day) Festival and School Visit Program. Elementary school students from San Francisco are introduced to the customs and practices of this Japanese national holiday.
The San Francisco Japantown Foundation was formed in 2006 through initial endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, and Minami Tamaki LLP. The latter handles the Foundation’s pro bono legal work.
This round marked the Foundation’s initial disbursement of awards. Next year, they will work to obtain additional grants and donations, and board members encourage the public to consider donating to the Foundation.
“Donations and grants to the Japantown Foundation are a tangible way for people to support the preservation of the history, growth and development of the Japantown community,” said Foundation Board member Keith Kamisugi. “More than the tax deduction, a donation to our Foundation supports a broad range of nonprofits and activities, and communicates that our community is dedicated to helping itself.”
Donations to the Foundation can be made online at www.sfjapantownfoundation.org, or made payable to “San Francisco Japantown Foundation” and addressed to San Francisco Japantown Foundation, c/o Minami Tamaki LLP, 360 Post St., 8th floor, San Francisco, CA 94108.
San Francisco Japantown Foundation 2007 Grant Recipients
» $3,000 – Bay Area Day of Remembrance Consortium
» $1,500 – Gen Taiko
» $1,000 – Hokka Nichi Bei Kai
» $3,000 – Japanese American National Library
» $1,500 – Japanese Benevolent Society of California
» $5,000 – Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California
» $5,000 – Japantown Merchants Association (for Cherry Blossom Festival)
» $5,000 – National Japanese American Historical Society
» The Foundation’s special grants of $5,000, made possible by Jack Hirose, were awarded to Kimochi Inc., Nihonmachi Little Friends and Pine Methodist Church.