SAN FRANCISCO — The board of the San Francisco Japantown Foundation last week approved $35,000 in grants to 11 nonprofit organizations:
Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach ($1,000)
GenRyu Arts ($1,000)
Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California ($5,000)
Kimochi Inc. ($5,000)
Kokoro Assisted Living Inc. ($1,000)
National Japanese American Historical Society ($5,000)
Nichi Bei Foundation ($5,000)
Nihonmachi Little Friends ($5,000)
Nihonmachi Street Fair ($1,000)
Parent Teacher Community Council of the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program ($1,000)
Sakura Matsuri Inc. ($5,000)
These organizations have demonstrated their value to the Japantown community, the effectiveness of their services and/or activities, and their financial sustainability.
The 2013 grants program differed from previous years in two ways: (1) direct grants were provided without requiring a matching fund requirement; (2) these grants are not designated for specific projects or programs, allowing recipients to use the funds for a variety of purposes (with some restrictions).
The San Francisco Japantown Foundation’s mission is to support cultural, community and educational activities. It is dedicated to preserving and honoring Japantown’s history, to welcoming and serving its residents, visitors, businesses, congregations and community organizations, and to supporting the growth and development of the community’s Japanese cultural theme.
In particular, the foundation support activities that reflect the Japanese American experience, and that engage Nikkei of all generations and other supporters of Japantown.
The foundation was formed in December 2006 through generous endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, the late Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP. Including its 2013 grants, the foundation has provided more than $635,000 in funding since 2007.
For more information, visit http://japantownfoundation.org.