2019 ACCJ Charity Ball Charities
Each year, the ACCJ Charity Ball Committee (CBC) and the Community Service Advisory Council (CSAC) select several charities to promote, publicize, and support with the funds raised through the Charity Ball in Tokyo. We favor smaller NPO’s with specific needs that work to help the homeless, women’s issues, children, education and US-Japan relations. This year our charities focus on the homeless, at risk children, children’s homes and programs for these children. Our 2019 charities include the following:
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Mike Makino Fund
The ACCJ Mike Makino Fund for the Homeless is a fund maintained by the ACCJ for charities that focus on helping the homeless in Japan. In the past, the Mike Makino Fund has financially supported the Tokyo Union Church and the Franciscan Chapel Center, both of which sponsor projects to feed the homeless temporarily residing in the parks in and around Tokyo. The Fund also supports the Sanyukai Homeless Center which provides medical care by volunteer doctors, mental and physical care as well as food, clothing and shelter to the homeless. The ACCJ Mike Makino Fund was named after the ACCJ’s dear friend Shojiro (Mike) Makino who passed away suddenly on October 10, 2009 at the age of 80. Mike’s legacy lives on in the newly named ACCJ Mike Makino Fund for the Homeless in his honor. Tokyo Union Church is a recipient of charity donations from the ACCJ Mike Makino Fund for the Homeless. The ACCJ Mike Makino Fund for the Homeless and the ACCJ Community Service Fund support various charities with monies collected at the annual ACCJ Charity Ball. In this video, ACCJ President Emeritus Tom Whitson interviews Paul Fukuda, coordinator of the TUC Mission for our Homeless Neighbors, on the history and current status of TUC's riceball program.
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Volunteers with the Sanyukai Homeless Center reaching out to the homeless.
Katherine Hall of the Franciscan Chapel Center, an ACCJ Mike Makino Fund recipient charity, explains how ACCJ members can get involved in their efforts to help Shibuya's homeless.
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Community Service Fund
The Community Service Fund is a Board-run fund with the mission to administer the contributions of the ACCJ members in support of worthy community service projects. These projects include activities of the American business family and youth communities as well as selected Japanese social welfare organizations. The purpose of the grants is to assist in the community service goals of the recipients.
The Community Service Fund is a Board-run fund with the mission to administer the contributions of the ACCJ members in support of worthy community service projects. These projects include activities of the American business family and youth communities as well as selected Japanese social welfare organizations. The purpose of the grants is to assist in the community service goals of the recipients.
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YMCA Challenged Children's Project – YMCA/ACCJ Ohisama Camp
The YMCA Challenged Children Project (CCP) began in 1987 in cooperation with the National Council of YMCAs of Japan and the Tokyo YMCA. The ACCJ has a long history with the YMCA and the camp has been supported yearly since the start of the Charity Ball in 2002. The CCP’s goals are (1) to support the development of challenged children through camp activities, to develop self-confidence and skills for independent living and learning and to support facilities for the challenged; and (2) to support and promote integration into mainstream society by holding friendship camps and to provide experience and training for current and future volunteers and professionals. |
ACCJ President Emeritus Tom Whitson interviews Nick Masee (Managing Director, Asian Tigers Mobility), Nobu Seki (Executive Director, Foreign Community Supporting Committee, The National Council of YMCAs of Japan), and Tetsuo Murofushi (Foreign Community Supporting Committee, The National Council of YMCAs of Japan) who explain how the YMCA-ACCJ Ohisama Camp makes a difference to the lives of challenged children and their families.
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Fair Start Support
Fair Start provides opportunities for high school students living in orphanages by providing company tours and work experience. Many of these young people (at least 50%) will leave their first jobs after only one year. This is mainly due to the lack of career training and guidance at this crucial time in their lives. Recognizing this situation, Fair Start helps students identify appropriate work according to their interests and helps provide opportunities for work experience in their chosen fields. High School graduates who have been through the Fair Start program have a stronger sense of job roles and workplace relationships resulting in much lower turnover rates. Fair Start not only works with the students but identifies and visits all companies interested in being part of the program. Many students who have interned with a company are ultimately hired. The Fair Start program is dependent on donations and grants.
Good Neighbors Japan
"Good Gohan" supports projects that are being implemented to combat the worsening poverty of Japanese children. About one in two Japanese single-parent families are in relative poverty and need assistance. In an effort to address this issue, Good Neighbors Japan has been offering free food distribution to single-parent families since September 2017 in Ota-ku and Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo. For single-parent families who are raising children in a financially difficult situation, the cost of food is always a major issue, resulting in parents reducing their number of meals a day in order to have enough meals for children.
School-related meals also pose a serious issue, as children are sometimes unable to bring a meal, pay for a meal or have a shortage of food during a long vacation without school meals. This project will provide mental and physical support by supporting the healthy growth of children; providing allowances for living expenses in order to make up for a lack of food expenses; and reducing single-mother and single-father's isolation and mental burden.
Nonohana-no-ie (Wildflower House)
Founded in 1984, Nonohana-no-ie Children's Home is a children's home located not far from the coast in the city of Kisarazu in Chiba prefecture. It has provided a secure home-like environment for hundreds of Japanese and non-Japanese children, who are the victims of child abuse, neglect and other inhumane treatment.
The facility currently accommodates approximately 40 children aged 2-18. Nonohana-no-ie Children's Home acts as the children's second home, with each unit providing a warm, secure, family condition. The group's efforts and contribution to the promotion of children' welfare was recognized and awarded by UNESCO (a division of the UN) as well as by the Prime Minister of Japan and the Emperor of Japan.
NGO Playground of Hope
As a result of volunteering in Tohoku after 3/11, Playground for Hope founder, Michael Anop, came to realize the great need for safe play areas for children across the Tohoku region. Playground for Hope believes “play is critical to children’s psychological as well as physical development and even more so for children who experience elevated stress”. To date Playground for Hope has built over 60 play sets in the area and expanded into revitalizing play spaces affected by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.
Because of the relationship built through working with many children’s homes through the years Playground for Hope (POH) learned that at the age of 18 years old, Japanese orphans (with below average school grades*) are given JPY350,000 and are, for the most part, on their own. Decent employment opportunities, living quarters and all that comes with life on their own, is an immense step into the unknown. Predictably, the failure rates for these disadvantaged youth is notably high. POH has harnessed its trusted relationship with these many Children's Homes and is now in a position to offer full time employment opportunities to these youth; specifically, at Hilton Hotels in the greater Tokyo area. The funding requested is for counseling fees that are absolutely essential to the success of this program. At present, we are seeking to place 8 youth into full time positions each year. Playground for hope is a Tokyo-registered non-profit organization and you can learn more about their work by clicking on the link.
YouMeWe
Today, there are close to 30,000 children living in 600+ homes across Japan. Many kids living in these homes have faced some sort of abuse at the hands of a family member and struggle with PTSD, decreased motivation, lack of confidence, and a distrust of adults. A majority of kids spend their formative years in an institutionalized home until the age of 18, with little access to consistent 1:1 attention and support. About 35% of school-aged children are scholastically two grade levels behind their peers. With the stigma and challenges of living in a children’s home, less than 16% of children go on to attend university (compared to the national average of 60%) and most struggle to become independent members of their community.
With these challenges in mind, YouMeWe took over the Designing Artist Academy (founded in 2009 under non-profit, Livingdreames.jp) in 2018 and this will be the first year DAA is part of YMW. Camp dates are 8/12-8/16, 8/19 & 8/20. We expect to host 40 kids from 5 children's homes (Tokyo Katei Gakko, Kodomono le, St. Josephs, Matsubaen, Port Kanegaya). This annual summer camp program in Tokyo offers kids living in children’s homes (orphanages) a unique opportunity to experience different forms of art taught by professional artists from all walks of life – and from all over the world exposing them to new perspectives, positive messages, and mentors – all in a fun, safe and therapeutic setting.
Fair Start provides opportunities for high school students living in orphanages by providing company tours and work experience. Many of these young people (at least 50%) will leave their first jobs after only one year. This is mainly due to the lack of career training and guidance at this crucial time in their lives. Recognizing this situation, Fair Start helps students identify appropriate work according to their interests and helps provide opportunities for work experience in their chosen fields. High School graduates who have been through the Fair Start program have a stronger sense of job roles and workplace relationships resulting in much lower turnover rates. Fair Start not only works with the students but identifies and visits all companies interested in being part of the program. Many students who have interned with a company are ultimately hired. The Fair Start program is dependent on donations and grants.
Good Neighbors Japan
"Good Gohan" supports projects that are being implemented to combat the worsening poverty of Japanese children. About one in two Japanese single-parent families are in relative poverty and need assistance. In an effort to address this issue, Good Neighbors Japan has been offering free food distribution to single-parent families since September 2017 in Ota-ku and Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo. For single-parent families who are raising children in a financially difficult situation, the cost of food is always a major issue, resulting in parents reducing their number of meals a day in order to have enough meals for children.
School-related meals also pose a serious issue, as children are sometimes unable to bring a meal, pay for a meal or have a shortage of food during a long vacation without school meals. This project will provide mental and physical support by supporting the healthy growth of children; providing allowances for living expenses in order to make up for a lack of food expenses; and reducing single-mother and single-father's isolation and mental burden.
Nonohana-no-ie (Wildflower House)
Founded in 1984, Nonohana-no-ie Children's Home is a children's home located not far from the coast in the city of Kisarazu in Chiba prefecture. It has provided a secure home-like environment for hundreds of Japanese and non-Japanese children, who are the victims of child abuse, neglect and other inhumane treatment.
The facility currently accommodates approximately 40 children aged 2-18. Nonohana-no-ie Children's Home acts as the children's second home, with each unit providing a warm, secure, family condition. The group's efforts and contribution to the promotion of children' welfare was recognized and awarded by UNESCO (a division of the UN) as well as by the Prime Minister of Japan and the Emperor of Japan.
NGO Playground of Hope
As a result of volunteering in Tohoku after 3/11, Playground for Hope founder, Michael Anop, came to realize the great need for safe play areas for children across the Tohoku region. Playground for Hope believes “play is critical to children’s psychological as well as physical development and even more so for children who experience elevated stress”. To date Playground for Hope has built over 60 play sets in the area and expanded into revitalizing play spaces affected by the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake.
Because of the relationship built through working with many children’s homes through the years Playground for Hope (POH) learned that at the age of 18 years old, Japanese orphans (with below average school grades*) are given JPY350,000 and are, for the most part, on their own. Decent employment opportunities, living quarters and all that comes with life on their own, is an immense step into the unknown. Predictably, the failure rates for these disadvantaged youth is notably high. POH has harnessed its trusted relationship with these many Children's Homes and is now in a position to offer full time employment opportunities to these youth; specifically, at Hilton Hotels in the greater Tokyo area. The funding requested is for counseling fees that are absolutely essential to the success of this program. At present, we are seeking to place 8 youth into full time positions each year. Playground for hope is a Tokyo-registered non-profit organization and you can learn more about their work by clicking on the link.
YouMeWe
Today, there are close to 30,000 children living in 600+ homes across Japan. Many kids living in these homes have faced some sort of abuse at the hands of a family member and struggle with PTSD, decreased motivation, lack of confidence, and a distrust of adults. A majority of kids spend their formative years in an institutionalized home until the age of 18, with little access to consistent 1:1 attention and support. About 35% of school-aged children are scholastically two grade levels behind their peers. With the stigma and challenges of living in a children’s home, less than 16% of children go on to attend university (compared to the national average of 60%) and most struggle to become independent members of their community.
With these challenges in mind, YouMeWe took over the Designing Artist Academy (founded in 2009 under non-profit, Livingdreames.jp) in 2018 and this will be the first year DAA is part of YMW. Camp dates are 8/12-8/16, 8/19 & 8/20. We expect to host 40 kids from 5 children's homes (Tokyo Katei Gakko, Kodomono le, St. Josephs, Matsubaen, Port Kanegaya). This annual summer camp program in Tokyo offers kids living in children’s homes (orphanages) a unique opportunity to experience different forms of art taught by professional artists from all walks of life – and from all over the world exposing them to new perspectives, positive messages, and mentors – all in a fun, safe and therapeutic setting.
2018 Western Japan Disaster Donations
Japan Platform
Japan Platforms supports and distribute donations to multiple local organizations in need. CSAC agreed that the ACCJ should donate 500K to Japan Platform, provided that our donations will be given specifically to local NGOs that involved in flood relief, mainly in Hiroshima area.
Chugoku Bank
Chugoku Bank is one of the 2 madoguchis for direct donations (義援金/Gienkin) through the Kurashiki city government in Okayama Prefecture.
Japan Platform
Japan Platforms supports and distribute donations to multiple local organizations in need. CSAC agreed that the ACCJ should donate 500K to Japan Platform, provided that our donations will be given specifically to local NGOs that involved in flood relief, mainly in Hiroshima area.
Chugoku Bank
Chugoku Bank is one of the 2 madoguchis for direct donations (義援金/Gienkin) through the Kurashiki city government in Okayama Prefecture.
2018 Mercedes-Benz - Cole Haan Cup Golf Tournament
The 16th annual, Mercedes-Benz - Cole Haan Cup (held on October 5, 2018) raised 1,000,000 yen for the YMCA Challenged Children Project. The ACCJ thanks the CCCJ and the EBC for their joint cooperation.
2017 Mercedes-Benz - Cole Haan Cup Golf Tournament
The 15th annual, Mercedes-Benz - Cole Haan Cup (held on October 6, 2017) raised 928,000 yen for the YMCA Challenged Children Project. The ACCJ thanks the CCCJ and the EBC for their joint cooperation.
2016 Mercedes-Benz - Cole Haan Cup Golf Tournament
The 14th annual, Mercedes-Benz - Cole Haan Cup (held on October 7, 2016) raised 757,320 yen for the YMCA Challenged Children Project. The ACCJ thanks the CCCJ and the EBC for their joint cooperation.
Kyushu Update (July 2016)
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The ACCJ made the following contributions to organizations involved in the Kyushu recovery efforts:
NPO United Earth - ¥570,000 Kizuna Project - ¥570,000 NPO United Earth (http://united-earth.jp/) is involved in disaster recovery in the Aso and Minamiaso areas. Kizuna Project (http://kizuna-project.jp/) provides mental care and therapy for children in affected areas. We thank everyone who contributed to the ACCJ Kyushu Earthquake Fund and encourage our members to continue supporting Kyushu recovery efforts. |
NPO United Earth
Kizuna Project
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Past Charity Ball Charities
A Dream a Day in Tokyo
A Dream A Day began inviting terminally ill children and their families to visit Tokyo in 2007, and since then, we have hosted more than 70 children. During their visit, the children can fulfill dreams such as visiting Disneyland, seeing a sports event, or meeting with celebrities. Since our program includes medical staff for ambulatory care and emergency needs, we can cater to children with the most advanced symptoms, who would be unable to travel by their families’ efforts alone. Our focus on children in advanced disease stages makes us unique.
Beyond Tomorrow
BEYOND Tomorrow was established in June 2011 in response to the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Since 2015, BEYOND Tomorrow expanded its regional focus outside disaster torn areas and started working with youths who have socioeconomic challenges. Since its inception, the organization has provided a number of scholarship and leadership opportunities to students facing adversity with outstanding leadership skills and also organized a series of leadership programs. With the belief that adversity makes great leaders, BEYOND Tomorrow provides opportunities to transform one’s grief into abilities to serve others in need.
HELP Women’s Shelter
HELP (House of Emergency Love and Peace) was established in 1986 and is an emergency shelter that accepts women and children regardless of race, visa status, or nationality. HELP provides emergency housing relief and support to approximately 200 needy recipients annually. Just under 50% are from Japan with the remainder being mostly from other Asian countries (essentially Thailand, the Philippines, and Taiwan), some from developing nations such as Colombia and Iran, and a handful of women from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Josei no Ie Saalaa
The House for Women ‘Saalaa’ is a non-profit organization established in 1992 with the purpose to help Thai Women victimized by human trafficking. It runs an emergency shelter as well as hot lines carried in 8 languages: Thai, Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, English, Japanese. In the beginning, all the cases Saalaa dealt with were to support the return of the victims of human trafficking to their countries of origin, namely Thai, Columbia, the Philippines, Indonesia etc. During the 26 years of Saalaa’s operation, the main reason for requesting assistance has changed and is now Domestic Violence toward foreign wives of Japanese and their children. Saalaa is providing assistance not only while the women and children reside at the shelter but also after they move out as they need help to organize their new way of life. In recent years, the women seeking assistance have come mainly from Asian and South American countries, occasionally from African and European countries.
Kokoro - Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center
Kokoro was established in 1998 to educate schoolchildren in Japan about the importance of mutual respect using the lessons of the Holocaust. Through its outreach programs, Kokoro has given workshops & lectures at over 1,000 schools reaching an estimated 200,000 students aged between 10 and 18. “Hana’s Suitcase”, one of the programs Kokoro launched, now an international bestseller and an award-winning film, has been distributed to all of the UN Information Centers as an educational resource. While combating hate speech and racism becomes more and more a challenge we share everywhere, Kokoro continues its effort to help learners become responsible and active global citizens who value human dignity for all and reject discrimination and prejudice.
Lighthouse
Founded in 2004, Lighthouse: Center for Human Trafficking Victims is the only non-profit organization in Japan specialized in working to realize a society without human trafficking, a modern form of slavery. Lighthouse runs a human trafficking hotline and provides direct intervention, counseling, and other support for human trafficking victims in Japan. In 2017, Lighthouse provided direct support to 192 people, most of them are children and teenagers. A majority of the victims were affected by sexual exploitation. The organization also focuses on awareness raising and advocacy. Like a lighthouse that guides sailors to safe harbor in the dark, Lighthouse seeks to be the light of hope for human trafficking victims and to have many people support its cause.
Living Dreams
Living Dreams’ (founded in 2001) new challenge in 2015 is Digital Natives. The organization’s vision is to become the new standard for 21st century learning and living in Japan’s institutionalized children’s homes.
Most children have little (only 5%) access to technology. Enriching and enabling these children through access to the Internet and its tools is a world opener for many of these children. Recent statistics show that only 9% of kids from children’s homes attend university, compared to a national average of 50%. Having choice is very important in life.
Living Dreams’ core focus during 2015 is to develop a 1-to-1 laptop/tablet program program with a cloud-based ecosystem to enrich and enable the children we serve. Our ten pilot homes in Tohoku and Tokyo have been actively up and running from June 2014.
Living in Peace
Living in Peace is non-profit organization based in Tokyo run entirely by volunteers (no paid employees) with the goal of reducing poverty. Our Kodomo Project focuses on children who live in orphanages in Japan. We seek to give them a better chance in life by providing better living environments through funding to rebuild their buildings, by providing scholarships to enable the children to go to college, and by introducing them to different professions during our career sessions so that they can better envision their future career path.
Mirai no Mori
Mirai no Mori is a not-for- profit organization that creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned children in Japan, supporting their growth into happy and successful young adults. Mirai no Mori envisions a Japan where all youth have equal opportunities.
Nonohana-no-ie (Wildflower House)
Founded in 1984, Nonohana-no-ie Children's Home is a children's home located not far from the coast in the city of Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture. It has provided a secure home-like environment for hundreds of Japanese and non-Japanese children, who are the victims of child abuse, neglect, and other inhumane treatment.
The facility currently accommodates approximately 40 children aged 2-18. Nonohana-no-ie Children's Home acts as the children's second home, with each unit providing a warm, secure, family condition. The group's efforts and contribution to the promotion of children's welfare were recognized and awarded by UNESCO (a division of the UN) as well as by the Prime Minister of Japan and the Emperor of Japan.
NPO Institute of Medical Care and Societal Health
The NPO Institute of Medical Care and Societal Health, supported and run by volunteer doctors, plays a vital role in protecting and assessing Fukushima residents’ health. The people of Fukushima, after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, still lack accurate information on radiation and there is a stigma attached to children and families from the Fukushima region. All the activities are run by doctors on a volunteer basis and expenses are out-of- pocket. Around 10 doctors come from outside the prefecture on a volunteer basis. This doctor-led NPO provides:
• Lectures on radiation to instill accurate information among residents (The NPO has provided over 100 lectures)
• Counseling for residents who are concerned about radiation
• Research to identify the health risks for residents
• Educational materials disseminated to the local community, students, teachers, and parents
A Dream A Day began inviting terminally ill children and their families to visit Tokyo in 2007, and since then, we have hosted more than 70 children. During their visit, the children can fulfill dreams such as visiting Disneyland, seeing a sports event, or meeting with celebrities. Since our program includes medical staff for ambulatory care and emergency needs, we can cater to children with the most advanced symptoms, who would be unable to travel by their families’ efforts alone. Our focus on children in advanced disease stages makes us unique.
Beyond Tomorrow
BEYOND Tomorrow was established in June 2011 in response to the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami. Since 2015, BEYOND Tomorrow expanded its regional focus outside disaster torn areas and started working with youths who have socioeconomic challenges. Since its inception, the organization has provided a number of scholarship and leadership opportunities to students facing adversity with outstanding leadership skills and also organized a series of leadership programs. With the belief that adversity makes great leaders, BEYOND Tomorrow provides opportunities to transform one’s grief into abilities to serve others in need.
HELP Women’s Shelter
HELP (House of Emergency Love and Peace) was established in 1986 and is an emergency shelter that accepts women and children regardless of race, visa status, or nationality. HELP provides emergency housing relief and support to approximately 200 needy recipients annually. Just under 50% are from Japan with the remainder being mostly from other Asian countries (essentially Thailand, the Philippines, and Taiwan), some from developing nations such as Colombia and Iran, and a handful of women from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.
Josei no Ie Saalaa
The House for Women ‘Saalaa’ is a non-profit organization established in 1992 with the purpose to help Thai Women victimized by human trafficking. It runs an emergency shelter as well as hot lines carried in 8 languages: Thai, Tagalog, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, English, Japanese. In the beginning, all the cases Saalaa dealt with were to support the return of the victims of human trafficking to their countries of origin, namely Thai, Columbia, the Philippines, Indonesia etc. During the 26 years of Saalaa’s operation, the main reason for requesting assistance has changed and is now Domestic Violence toward foreign wives of Japanese and their children. Saalaa is providing assistance not only while the women and children reside at the shelter but also after they move out as they need help to organize their new way of life. In recent years, the women seeking assistance have come mainly from Asian and South American countries, occasionally from African and European countries.
Kokoro - Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center
Kokoro was established in 1998 to educate schoolchildren in Japan about the importance of mutual respect using the lessons of the Holocaust. Through its outreach programs, Kokoro has given workshops & lectures at over 1,000 schools reaching an estimated 200,000 students aged between 10 and 18. “Hana’s Suitcase”, one of the programs Kokoro launched, now an international bestseller and an award-winning film, has been distributed to all of the UN Information Centers as an educational resource. While combating hate speech and racism becomes more and more a challenge we share everywhere, Kokoro continues its effort to help learners become responsible and active global citizens who value human dignity for all and reject discrimination and prejudice.
Lighthouse
Founded in 2004, Lighthouse: Center for Human Trafficking Victims is the only non-profit organization in Japan specialized in working to realize a society without human trafficking, a modern form of slavery. Lighthouse runs a human trafficking hotline and provides direct intervention, counseling, and other support for human trafficking victims in Japan. In 2017, Lighthouse provided direct support to 192 people, most of them are children and teenagers. A majority of the victims were affected by sexual exploitation. The organization also focuses on awareness raising and advocacy. Like a lighthouse that guides sailors to safe harbor in the dark, Lighthouse seeks to be the light of hope for human trafficking victims and to have many people support its cause.
Living Dreams
Living Dreams’ (founded in 2001) new challenge in 2015 is Digital Natives. The organization’s vision is to become the new standard for 21st century learning and living in Japan’s institutionalized children’s homes.
Most children have little (only 5%) access to technology. Enriching and enabling these children through access to the Internet and its tools is a world opener for many of these children. Recent statistics show that only 9% of kids from children’s homes attend university, compared to a national average of 50%. Having choice is very important in life.
Living Dreams’ core focus during 2015 is to develop a 1-to-1 laptop/tablet program program with a cloud-based ecosystem to enrich and enable the children we serve. Our ten pilot homes in Tohoku and Tokyo have been actively up and running from June 2014.
Living in Peace
Living in Peace is non-profit organization based in Tokyo run entirely by volunteers (no paid employees) with the goal of reducing poverty. Our Kodomo Project focuses on children who live in orphanages in Japan. We seek to give them a better chance in life by providing better living environments through funding to rebuild their buildings, by providing scholarships to enable the children to go to college, and by introducing them to different professions during our career sessions so that they can better envision their future career path.
Mirai no Mori
Mirai no Mori is a not-for- profit organization that creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned children in Japan, supporting their growth into happy and successful young adults. Mirai no Mori envisions a Japan where all youth have equal opportunities.
Nonohana-no-ie (Wildflower House)
Founded in 1984, Nonohana-no-ie Children's Home is a children's home located not far from the coast in the city of Kisarazu in Chiba Prefecture. It has provided a secure home-like environment for hundreds of Japanese and non-Japanese children, who are the victims of child abuse, neglect, and other inhumane treatment.
The facility currently accommodates approximately 40 children aged 2-18. Nonohana-no-ie Children's Home acts as the children's second home, with each unit providing a warm, secure, family condition. The group's efforts and contribution to the promotion of children's welfare were recognized and awarded by UNESCO (a division of the UN) as well as by the Prime Minister of Japan and the Emperor of Japan.
NPO Institute of Medical Care and Societal Health
The NPO Institute of Medical Care and Societal Health, supported and run by volunteer doctors, plays a vital role in protecting and assessing Fukushima residents’ health. The people of Fukushima, after the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami, still lack accurate information on radiation and there is a stigma attached to children and families from the Fukushima region. All the activities are run by doctors on a volunteer basis and expenses are out-of- pocket. Around 10 doctors come from outside the prefecture on a volunteer basis. This doctor-led NPO provides:
• Lectures on radiation to instill accurate information among residents (The NPO has provided over 100 lectures)
• Counseling for residents who are concerned about radiation
• Research to identify the health risks for residents
• Educational materials disseminated to the local community, students, teachers, and parents
Second Harvest
Second Harvest is the only nationwide food bank in Japan. Since its’ incorporation in March of 2002, Second Harvest has been working to improve food security for those in need while helping companies deliver their food donations to those in need. Food banks provide an alternative to destroying food that is still safe for human consumption. Food manufacturers,
retailers and importers have stocks of food they cannot sell. By donating them to Second Harvest they save money on disposal costs, increase employee morale, and make a positive impact in the community. Second Harvest is registered by the Japanese Government as a non-profit organization.
Second Harvest is the only nationwide food bank in Japan. Since its’ incorporation in March of 2002, Second Harvest has been working to improve food security for those in need while helping companies deliver their food donations to those in need. Food banks provide an alternative to destroying food that is still safe for human consumption. Food manufacturers,
retailers and importers have stocks of food they cannot sell. By donating them to Second Harvest they save money on disposal costs, increase employee morale, and make a positive impact in the community. Second Harvest is registered by the Japanese Government as a non-profit organization.
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Left: Introduction to Second Harvest
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Sport for Smile
Sport for Smile, a non-profit organization dedicated to having a positive impact on the less fortunate and providing them access to sports. Support for Sport for Smile will be used for “Sports Mentoring,” a program matching university students to elementary ones from DV (Domestic Violence) homes. Mentors provide a secure environment for these young students so that eventually they are brought out of PTSD, smile and start to participate fully. The goal of the program is to empower them by creating a loving and supportive environment outside of their homes, creating a support that will help them into the future. The program also benefits the mothers/parent of DV children, who have lived with too much pressure to raise and protect their kids solely by themselves.
Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund
Taylor Anderson was teaching English in the coastal city of Ishinomaki when the earthquake and tsunami disaster struck Japan on March 11, 2011. The young 24-year-old American woman had long wanted to become a bridge between the United States and Japan, a country that intrigued her since childhood. Her dream was realized by becoming an assistant language teacher under the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. Taylor taught at kindergartens and elementary and junior high schools and was loved by her Japanese students because of her enthusiasm, dedication and kindness. Although she was lost in the tsunami after helping to guide all her students to safety, Taylor’s inspiration and spirit lives on.
Taylor’s parents, Andy and Jean, believed that she would have wanted them to carry on her dream and passion. They set about to help the children of Ishinomaki by creating reading corners in schools, inviting students to the United States and implementing other projects. Alumni of Taylor’s high school, St. Catherine’s, in Virginia were instrumental in collecting initial funding. To continue implementing these projects, the Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund was established by her parents and supporters in Japan in December 2013. In collaboration with nonprofit and other organizations engaging in Tohoku recovery efforts, the primary mission of the fund is to help students; schools and families in the Ishinomaki area recover from the earthquake and tsunami.
Sport for Smile, a non-profit organization dedicated to having a positive impact on the less fortunate and providing them access to sports. Support for Sport for Smile will be used for “Sports Mentoring,” a program matching university students to elementary ones from DV (Domestic Violence) homes. Mentors provide a secure environment for these young students so that eventually they are brought out of PTSD, smile and start to participate fully. The goal of the program is to empower them by creating a loving and supportive environment outside of their homes, creating a support that will help them into the future. The program also benefits the mothers/parent of DV children, who have lived with too much pressure to raise and protect their kids solely by themselves.
Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund
Taylor Anderson was teaching English in the coastal city of Ishinomaki when the earthquake and tsunami disaster struck Japan on March 11, 2011. The young 24-year-old American woman had long wanted to become a bridge between the United States and Japan, a country that intrigued her since childhood. Her dream was realized by becoming an assistant language teacher under the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) Program. Taylor taught at kindergartens and elementary and junior high schools and was loved by her Japanese students because of her enthusiasm, dedication and kindness. Although she was lost in the tsunami after helping to guide all her students to safety, Taylor’s inspiration and spirit lives on.
Taylor’s parents, Andy and Jean, believed that she would have wanted them to carry on her dream and passion. They set about to help the children of Ishinomaki by creating reading corners in schools, inviting students to the United States and implementing other projects. Alumni of Taylor’s high school, St. Catherine’s, in Virginia were instrumental in collecting initial funding. To continue implementing these projects, the Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund was established by her parents and supporters in Japan in December 2013. In collaboration with nonprofit and other organizations engaging in Tohoku recovery efforts, the primary mission of the fund is to help students; schools and families in the Ishinomaki area recover from the earthquake and tsunami.
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ACCJ President Emeritus Tom Whitson interviews Andy and Jean Anderson, founders of the Taylor Anderson Memorial Fund. The ACCJ's Community Service Advisory Council has decided to offer annual support from the proceeds of the 2015 Charity Ball to the Fund, and this video tells you about the work and goals of the Fund.
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TELL
Established in 1973, TELL is a not-for-profit organization providing world-class mental health support and counseling services to Japan's international community and the community at large. TELL’s services include free phone counseling and information, professional face-to-face counseling, and educational workshops. In 2017 alone, the TELL Lifeline responded to over 7,500 calls for help, with call volume increasing year on year. TELL Counseling provided over 3,500 professional psychotherapy and counseling sessions, and TELL’s workshops and outreach programs provided training and support to hundreds in multiple settings, such as schools, businesses and NGOs.
Ukifune no Sato
Ukifune-no-Sato is a women-led organization in the nuclear accident and tsunami affected town of Odaka in Fukushima. They produce and sell handmade silk jewelry branded “MIMORONE” using locally-grown materials as a new livelihood opportunity for the local community. Funding will be used to produce the DVD/ exhibition panels for more effective sales promotion of “MIMORONE” silk jewelry at events during the summer/autumn festivals in Soma, Sendai and Tokyo and other events throughout the year. Profits from the silk jewelry sales are used to purchase the silkworms and to manage the mulberry fields as well as the production costs/personnel expenses.
US-Japan Bridging Foundation (in memory of ACCJ Board members Ira Wolf and Bob Grondine)
The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was created in 1998 at the recommendation of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission to increase people-to-people exchange and student mobility between the U.S. and Japan. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Bridging Foundation has awarded $6,600,000 in scholarship grants to 1,900 American undergraduate students to study an academic year or semester in Japan. Bridging Scholars return to the U.S. with newly acquired language, culture fluency and global leadership skills that prepare them for the workforce in trade, diplomacy, education, STEM, and other sectors. American and Japanese corporate, foundation, individuals, and government partners support these next generation global leaders who will continue the legacy of strong U.S.-Japan relations. We are honored that the families, colleagues, and friends of Robert Grondine and Ira Wolf, former ACCJ leaders, have worked with the Bridging Foundation to create the Robert Grondine Memorial Bridging Scholarship and the Ira Wolf Memorial Bridging Scholarship. Two U.S. students, who exemplify their commitment to serving and strengthening the U.S.-Japan relationship, receive these distinguished scholarship grants each year.
World Children’s Baseball Foundation
The World Children's Baseball Foundation was established in August 1992 as a non-profit organization. Activities commenced two years before the formal establishment of WCBF with the opening of the World Children's Baseball Fair. This major event was initiated by the world's two home-run kings - Japan's Sadaharu Oh and America's Hank Aaron. Their aim was to expand this wonderful sport, baseball, throughout the world and help children to learn the game. They also hoped this event would promote friendship among children and help to create a borderless world.
The first World Children's Baseball Fair was held in Los Angeles in the summer of 1990. Since then, the fair has been held annually in either Japan, the USA or Canada. Over 200 boys and girls from more than twenty nations and/or regions of the world are invited to each fair. In addition to the annual World Children's Baseball Fair, we also hold baseball clinics and coaching courses in Japan. Promoting a great sport like baseball is an important means of bringing up healthy young people and it introduces them to one of the best possible ways of using their leisure.
Established in 1973, TELL is a not-for-profit organization providing world-class mental health support and counseling services to Japan's international community and the community at large. TELL’s services include free phone counseling and information, professional face-to-face counseling, and educational workshops. In 2017 alone, the TELL Lifeline responded to over 7,500 calls for help, with call volume increasing year on year. TELL Counseling provided over 3,500 professional psychotherapy and counseling sessions, and TELL’s workshops and outreach programs provided training and support to hundreds in multiple settings, such as schools, businesses and NGOs.
Ukifune no Sato
Ukifune-no-Sato is a women-led organization in the nuclear accident and tsunami affected town of Odaka in Fukushima. They produce and sell handmade silk jewelry branded “MIMORONE” using locally-grown materials as a new livelihood opportunity for the local community. Funding will be used to produce the DVD/ exhibition panels for more effective sales promotion of “MIMORONE” silk jewelry at events during the summer/autumn festivals in Soma, Sendai and Tokyo and other events throughout the year. Profits from the silk jewelry sales are used to purchase the silkworms and to manage the mulberry fields as well as the production costs/personnel expenses.
US-Japan Bridging Foundation (in memory of ACCJ Board members Ira Wolf and Bob Grondine)
The United States-Japan Bridging Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, was created in 1998 at the recommendation of the Japan-United States Friendship Commission to increase people-to-people exchange and student mobility between the U.S. and Japan. Now celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Bridging Foundation has awarded $6,600,000 in scholarship grants to 1,900 American undergraduate students to study an academic year or semester in Japan. Bridging Scholars return to the U.S. with newly acquired language, culture fluency and global leadership skills that prepare them for the workforce in trade, diplomacy, education, STEM, and other sectors. American and Japanese corporate, foundation, individuals, and government partners support these next generation global leaders who will continue the legacy of strong U.S.-Japan relations. We are honored that the families, colleagues, and friends of Robert Grondine and Ira Wolf, former ACCJ leaders, have worked with the Bridging Foundation to create the Robert Grondine Memorial Bridging Scholarship and the Ira Wolf Memorial Bridging Scholarship. Two U.S. students, who exemplify their commitment to serving and strengthening the U.S.-Japan relationship, receive these distinguished scholarship grants each year.
World Children’s Baseball Foundation
The World Children's Baseball Foundation was established in August 1992 as a non-profit organization. Activities commenced two years before the formal establishment of WCBF with the opening of the World Children's Baseball Fair. This major event was initiated by the world's two home-run kings - Japan's Sadaharu Oh and America's Hank Aaron. Their aim was to expand this wonderful sport, baseball, throughout the world and help children to learn the game. They also hoped this event would promote friendship among children and help to create a borderless world.
The first World Children's Baseball Fair was held in Los Angeles in the summer of 1990. Since then, the fair has been held annually in either Japan, the USA or Canada. Over 200 boys and girls from more than twenty nations and/or regions of the world are invited to each fair. In addition to the annual World Children's Baseball Fair, we also hold baseball clinics and coaching courses in Japan. Promoting a great sport like baseball is an important means of bringing up healthy young people and it introduces them to one of the best possible ways of using their leisure.
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2018 Charity Ball Proceeds
Total proceeds: ¥8,150,000 Charities donated to and amounts: ACCJ-YMCA Ohisama Camp – ¥1,800,000 Franciscan Chapel Center – ¥500,000 Sanyukai Homeless Shelter – ¥500,000 Tokyo Union Church Mission for Our Homeless Neighbors (MOHN) – ¥500,000 A Dream A Day IN TOKYO – ¥500,000 BEYOND Tomorrow – ¥500,000 Josei no Ie Saalaa – ¥550,000 Lighthouse: Center for Human Trafficking Victims – ¥750,000 Sport for Smile – ¥750,000 Tokyo Holocaust Education Resource Center (Kokoro) – ¥750,000 U.S.-Japan Bridging Foundation – ¥750,000 Ukifune no Sato – ¥300,000 Donations will be made on Tuesday, December 25, 2018 |
2017 Charity Ball Proceeds
Total proceeds: ¥8,500,000 Charities donated to and amounts: ACCJ-YMCA Ohisama Camp – ¥2,000,000 Franciscan Chapel Center – ¥750,000 Sanyukai Homeless Shelter – ¥750,000 Tokyo Union Church Mission for Our Homeless Neighbors (MOHN) – ¥750,000 Second Harvest – ¥1,000,000 Living in Peace – ¥1,000,000 Mirai no Mori – ¥1,000,000 NPO Institute of Medical Care and Social Health – ¥600,000 ACCJ Community Service Fund - ¥650,000 Donations made on Wednesday, December 25, 2017 |
2016 Charity Ball Proceeds
Total proceeds: ¥9,000,000 Charities donated to and amounts: ACCJ-YMCA Ohisama Camp – ¥2,000,000 Franciscan Chapel Center – ¥500,000 Sanyukai Homeless Shelter – ¥500,000 Tokyo Union Church Mission for Our Homeless Neighbors (MOHN) – ¥500,000 Nonohana-no-ie (Wildflower House) – ¥1,500,000 HELP Women's Shelter – ¥1,500,000 Tokyo English Life Line – ¥1,500,000 ACCJ Community Service Fund – ¥1,000,000 Donations made on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 |
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2015 Charity Ball Proceeds
Total proceeds: ¥11,950,000 Charities donated to and amounts: ACCJ-YMCA Ohisama Camp – ¥3,000,000 Franciscan Chapel Center – ¥750,000 Sanyukai Homeless Shelter – ¥750,000 Tokyo Union Church Mission for Our Homeless Neighbors (MOHN) – ¥750,000 Lighthouse Japan – ¥1,500,000 Living Dreams – ¥1,500,000 Taylor Anderson Fund – ¥1,500,000 ACCJ Community Service Fund – ¥2,200,000 |
2014 Charity Ball Proceeds
Total amount raised for charity: ¥10,943,064 Charities donated to and amounts: ACCJ-YMCA Ohisama Camp – ¥2,000,000 Franciscan Chapel Center – ¥750,000 Sanyukai Homeless Shelter – ¥750,000 Tokyo Union Church Mission for Our Homeless Neighbors (MOHN) – ¥750,000 JKSK – ¥1,500,000 Smiling Hospital Japan – ¥1,500,000 Taylor Anderson Fund – ¥1,500,000 ACCJ Community Service Fund – ¥2,193,064 |
Mercedes-Benz - Cole Haan Golf Tournament Proceeds
2016 YMCA Challenged Children Project - ¥757,320 2017 YMCA Challenged Children Project - ¥928,000 2018 YMCA Challenged Children Project - ¥1,000,000 |