On Jan. 24, Keiro announced the recipients of its 2018 Grants Program cycle, awarding a total of nearly $250,000 in funds to support 30 nonprofit organizations in combating social isolation among Japanese American and Japanese older adults and caregivers in Southern California.
The focus of Keiro’s Grants Program this year is on projects that help reduce and prevent social isolation, a growing health epidemic across the U.S. Social isolation impacts more than 8 million older adults nationwide, and its health effects can be as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
“Keiro is proud to be able to support many organizations who are playing an active role in the community to address and prevent social isolation, ensuring that older adults in our community can age well wherever they call home,” said Lynn Miyamoto, Keiro board chair. “At the same time, we appreciate the opportunity to be able to learn what needs are out there and how we can collaborate with community partners to solve this pressing issue in the aging field.”
The Keiro Grants Program funds qualified nonprofit, community-based organizations that serve the Japanese American and Japanese older adult population, specifically supporting projects that focus on social isolation and create a positive impact on the quality of life for the community. The grant proposals were evaluated by an independent review committee composed of nine members of the Japanese American and Japanese community with experience in business and nonprofits.
After much in-depth review based on criteria outlined in the Keiro Grants Program guidelines, the committee’s recommendations were presented to the Keiro Board of Directors for approval.
“As a new member of the Keiro Grants Review Committee, I was pleased by the number of applications from churches, temples, senior groups, and non-profit organizations from Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties that are doing grassroots work in support of those individuals and families coping with social isolation,” says Chris Komai. “Some of the programs are quite innovative and I am hoping the Keiro Grants Program will encourage others to think creatively in dealing with this serious issue in our greater Japanese American and Japanese community.”
Recipients for Keiro Grants Program’s 2018 Cycle
American Society of Hiroshima-Nagasaki A-Bomb Survivors
Centenary United Methodist Church
Cerritos Baptist Church
Christ Episcopal Church
Continuing Education for the Nikkei Widowed
East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center
First Presbyterian Church Altadena
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
Grateful Crane Ensemble
Japanese American Christian Chapel
Little Tokyo Nutrition Services
Long Beach Pioneer Project/Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center
Los Angeles Holiness Church
Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Los Angeles Men’s Glee Club
Mission Valley Free Methodist Church
Newport Beach Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple
Nikkei Choral Federation of Southern California
Okinawa Association of America
Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Friendship Choir
Orange County Japanese American Association
Pasadena Nikkei Seniors
San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Seinan Senior Citizens’ Club
Union Church of Los Angeles
Venice Japanese Community Center
Visual Communications Media
West Covina Christian Church
Zenshuji Soto Mission
Independent Grants Review Committee
Lance Hama
Ken Hayashi
Chris Komai
Hiroko Murakami
NJ Nakamura
Mark Oune
Julie Senaga
Ron Takasugi
Michelle Yamashiro
About Keiro
Keiro is a mission-driven organization engaged in improving the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers in the Japanese American and Japanese community of Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties. Keiro delivers a wide range of resources to address the challenges and barriers that aging presents: isolation, limited financial resources, complex health conditions, and cognitive and memory disabilities.
Keiro also partners with companies and organizations that can expand its services and ability to reach seniors and caregivers, and participates in research and innovative work where Keiro can contribute to advancing progress in resolving the challenges of aging. Keiro is based in Los Angeles. For more information, visit http://keiro.org.