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Nikkei Centre continues support Japan earthquake and tsunami relief efforts through hosting events, providing free venue space, and donating portions of proceeds from Centre special events. Since April 2011 we have donated space to community groups to hold fundraising events at Nikkei Centre to benefit the relief efforts and have collected donations on behalf of Red Cross. To date, we have donated over $15,000 worth of space, services, and proceeds to the cause including:
April 2011
- Bloom – Annual Asian Artist Showcase & Fundraiser had a special table for relief
- Wellness seminar to help with post traumatic efforts for family and friends
- Donation of the large event hall over 3 weekends for rehearsal for the Gambare Japan benefit concert
- Housed the tsuru project for Gambare Japan
- Co-hosted a spiritual service for the victims of the disaster
June 2011
- Provided Ellipse Lobby for Linda Ohama’s quilt project assembly
- Special Events hall for a contemporary dance fundraiser
- Portion of proceeds from golf tournament fundraiser were donated to Red Cross
Sept 2011
- Portion of 2011 Nikkei Place Community Awards & Fundraising Dinner
- Continue to collect for the Canadian Red Cross Japan earthquake/tsunami relief
Nov 2011
- Donation of events hall for martial arts charity event to benefit relief effots
- Donation of room for kids sushi cooking class to benefit relief efforst
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UPDATE FROM THE CANADIAN RED CROSS
From Bas Brusche BC Provincial Manager, Public Affairs: The financial contributions from the Canadian Red Cross are not earmarked. This implies that the funds can be used by the Japanese Red Cross where they are most needed. In partnership with the Japanese Red Cross various National Red Cross Societies (including Canada) have made a joint plan for the longer term recovery plan of the affected regions.
Funding of these recovery activities of the Japanese Red Cross will remain necessary for the months and years to come. Therefore the Japanese Red Cross has asked the Canadian Red Cross for a gradual transfer of funds. By July we have transferred $12 million dollar to Japan. All remaining (and future) funds received through the Canadian Japan Earthquake / Asia-Pacific Tsunami fund are held in reserve and will all be gradually transferred to Japan when they are needed by the Japanese Red Cross. There is no risk that the money will be used for other purposes.
kokusaiNovember2011
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Hope Letters Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
1,000 hope letters from around the world made available to classrooms and evacuation centres across Japan
Ottawa, Canada — April 11, 2011 — Hope Letters announces the online publication of 1,000 letters in both English and Japanese submitted by schools and people from around the world to convey hope and support to students across Japan. The letters are published today to mark one month since the tragic events of March 11, 2011 and the start of a new school term across Japan. Notice of publication have been sent to 4,000 English teachers in Japan, Japanese teacher networks, cultural centres, Japanese media, international media and Japanese volunteer centres coordinating relief distribution to evacuation centres.
The letters published today are part of a larger collection of more than 3,000 letters received by Hope Letters since March 11, 2011. The letters were written in English by people from 38 countries. Over 100 schools, scout troops and community groups across North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific are participating in letter writing with Hope Letters. Hope Letters continues to accept letters and plans to publish more translated letters in the months ahead.
“Children and youth are among the most vulnerable in any disaster. In Japan, many children and youth from the affected regions have been relocated to other towns and cities. As they begin a new school year, students in Japan will be wondering what the future holds with the reality of the devastation in their shadows. Through personal words of encouragement from students around the world to students in Japan, Hope Letters aims to turn the worldwide student community into a source of support for students in Japan,” said David Chan, Founder and Editor of Hope Letters.
Living in Sendai, Jacqui Laing is one of 4,000 English teachers in the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) who was invited to share the translated letters with their colleagues and students in schools across Japan. Jacqui said, “Hope Letters is a great way to inspire Japanese students to hold onto hope and stay positive about the future. The opportunity for students to hear the voices of support from people from so many different countries is invaluable. People in Sendai are very touched that so many people have made the effort to send and translate such heartfelt messages.”
In the past three weeks, Hope Letters were distributed to community and evacuation centres in Miyagi, Iwate and Yamagata Prefectures.
The letters published today are available for online access and download at
www.hopeletters.org.
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WAYS TO HELP:
Red Cross has recommended that any support be financial rather than material goods. Donations may be made via toll free phone at 1-800-418-1111 or online at www.redcross.ca/helpnow https://secure.e2rm.com/registrant/donate.aspx?EventID=66175&LangPref=en-CA&Referrer=direct%2fnone where you can designate funds to Japan Earthquake Relief. You can also text donations in $5 increments to 30333 and type in ASIA.
Anonymous cash donations may be made at the front desk of Nikkei Centre during operating hours. All donations will be sent directly to the BC Japan Earthquake Relief for the Red Cross.
Major Banks – BMO, CIBC, RBC, are all accepting Japan Earthquake Relief donations at local branches.
FROM THE CONSULATE-GENERAL OF JAPAN IN VANCOUVER:
(I) Monetary donations made directly to the Consulate General of Japan in Vancouver
Since March 16, the Japanese Consulate has established a specific bank account in order to facilitate handling of donations for the area affected by the earthquake. Those donations will be held by the Consulate General and then collectively forwarded to the Japanese Red Cross Society once all the donations are received.
Please be kindly advised that the Consulate General is only able to hold and forward donations in the form of cheques and cannot do so with cash donations. If you wish to receive a written acknowledgment of your donation, they will issue a donation record with the date, the amount of the donation, and a note confirming that the donation will be sent to the Japanese Red Cross Society.
Please be aware that, according to Canada Revenue Agency regulations, your donation cannot be recognized as a tax deductible donation because the Consulate General is not a registered Canadian charity. We hope that you will understand this condition in advance.
When making out a donation cheque, please make it payable to: “Consulate General of Japan EQ.” Note that “EQ” must be included as cheques cannot be accepted simply made out to the Consulate General.
(1) If you wish to send your donation by mail, please send it to:
Consulate General of Japan (ATTN: Earthquake)
800 – 1177 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC, V6E 2K9
(II) Direct donations to the Japanese Red Cross Society
For direct donations to the Japanese Red Cross Society, there is a transfer fee that will be applied. According to the Canadian Red Cross, the Japanese Red Cross Society is not a Canadian organization so they are not able to give a tax deductible receipt.
(1) If you wish to specify that your donation to be used directly for the people who suffered from the earthquake, direct your donation to:
Name of Bank:Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Name of Branch: Ginza
Account #: 8047670 (Ordinary Account)
SWIFT Cod: SMBC JP JT
Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society
Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN
(The money will be forwarded to the Donation Allocation Committees of individual local authorities from the Japanese Red Cross Society and then through the committees, the donations will be delivered to the people who suffered from this earthquake.)
(2) If you wish that your donation be used to support the general relief activities by the Japanese Red Cross Society for people who suffered in the earthquake, direct your donation to:
Name of Bank: Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation
Name of Branch: Ginza
Account #: 8047705 (Ordinary Account)
SWIFT Cod: SMBC JP JT
Payee Name: The Japanese Red Cross Society
Payee Address: 1-1-3 Shiba-Daimon Minato-ku, Tokyo JAPAN
FROM THE TZU CHI FOUNDATION:
http://en.tzuchi.ca/canada/home.nsf/home/index
