National

Japanese American Citizens League

The Japanese American Citizens League announced its partnership with Direct Relief International in establishing the Japan Relief and Recovery Fund, which will be used exclusively for relief efforts in Japan. All contributions will go directly to relief and recovery efforts in Japan. None of the funds donated for Japan will be used to pay for fundraising or administrative expenses, or for programmatic activities in other places. Other costs are being converted by a separate generous bequest received in 2007. To donate, visit http://dri.convio.net/JapanRelief.

Checks may be made out to “Japan Relief and Recovery Fund” with “JACL” in the memo line, and mailed to Direct Relief International, 27 South La Patera Lane, Santa Barbara, CA 93117.

Text “Give10” to 20222 to make a $10 contribution by text; be sure to confirm contributions when sending them in by text.

San Francisco Bay Area

Konko Churches of North America (KCNA)

Checks to support relief efforts in Northeastern Japan may be made payable to “Konko Churches of North America (KCNA)” and sent c/o Konko Church of San Francisco, 1909 Bush St., San Francisco, CA 94115. For more information, call Rev. Masato Kawahatsu at (415) 517-5563.

New People to screen ‘Hula Girls’ Saturday, March 26

NEW PEOPLE will present a screening of director Lee Sang-il’s “Hula Girls,” to raise funds for Japanese earthquake and tsunami relief Saturday, March 26 at 2, 4:34 and 7 p.m. at 1746 Post St. in San Francisco’s Japantown. Donations of $10 or more per person are suggested.

Proceeds from the screenings will be donated to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund, administered by the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California.

The heartwarming film is set in Fukushima Prefecture, where the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant is located. The power plant was heavily damaged during the recent earthquake and tsunami on March 11.

In anticipation of the planned closing of a coal mine that will devastate the town, the mining company plans to build a Hawaiian center to promote tourism.

For more information, contact NEW PEOPLE at (415) 525-8630 or www.newpeopleworld.com.

Hope to Japan

Numerous individuals and organizations will gather Tuesday, April 5 at Hotel Nikko San Francisco located at 222 Mason St. in San Francisco, at 6 p.m. for food and drinks.

The Consul General of Japan in San Francisco, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce of Northern California, the Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California and the Japan Society of Northern California are among the event’s supporters.

Tickets cost $150. The event will support relief efforts through Japan Red Cross.

San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants announced that they, together with their Giants Community Fund, will assist the survivors of the Northern Japan earthquake and tsunami with a $12,500 donation to the JCCCNC-established Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund.

Golden State Warriors and U.S. Fund for UNICEF

The Golden State Warriors will partner with the U.S. Fund for UNICEF to help aid in the relief efforts in Japan following the massive earthquake and subsequent tsunami that struck the Northeastern part of the country on March 11. As part of this combined effort, the Warriors will donate $5 to the U.S. Fund for UNICEF for every remaining ticket sold to their two home games later this week at Oracle Arena, Friday, March 25, against the Toronto Raptors (7:30 p.m.) and Sunday, March 27, against the Washington Wizards (6 p.m.). Tickets can be purchased by calling 1-888-GSW-HOOP or online at www.warriors.com. The U.S. Fund for UNICEF will have representatives stationed at select Oracle Arena entrances and throughout the building on both the concourse level (behind section 124) and Club 200 (behind sections 208 and 225) on both days to collect monetary donations from fans who wish to contribute directly to the cause. The Warriors will also host a silent auction at both games this weekend with a portion of the proceeds benefiting UNICEF to further aid in Japan relief efforts. The auction will be held on the concourse level (behind section 121) and will commence when the doors open 90 minutes prior to tip-off and conclude at the end of halftime both nights. There will be no online bidding for this particular auction.
For more information, visit www.UNICEFUSA.org.

Benefit Concert for Japan
A benefit concert titled “Kokoro: keeping Japan in our hearts and minds” will be held on Thursday, March 24, 6:30 p.m., at the Marin Academy Gymnasium, 1600 Mission Ave., in San Rafael. The event will feature San Francisco Taiko Dojo, Marin Academy Taiko and other special guests.
Tickets are $10 at the door. All proceeds go to the Northern Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. For more information, visit www.ma.org.