A Farewell Message from our Executive Director Naomi Kawamura

A Farewell Message From Our Executive Director Naomi Kawamura

Dear friends, 

After five years at the Nikkei Place Foundation, I will be stepping down as Executive Director. I will be pursuing an opportunity this Fall to lead a U.S.-based organization that I have long admired. 

In the past two years, we have had to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shifted our operations in significant ways. We also experienced the painful loss of our founding Board President Robert Banno. Despite these ups and downs, I am deeply grateful to the Foundation staff for the work ethic and commitment to Nikkei Place. I am also incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together during my tenure, including:  

  • Significantly lowering the Foundation’s operating expenses year over year

  • Expansion of our planned giving program and significantly increasing the endowment

  • Ensuring our procedures align with best practices and Canada Revenue agency’s requirements for charitable organizations

  • Overhauling and redesigning the look and feel of our website with a focus on user experience

  • Awarding six Youth Bursary Awards to deserving youth since its launch in 2016. 

  • Receiving several new awards from new granting organizations - including federal and international funding sources.

Thanks to our long-time supporters, the Foundation is also now in a healthy financial situation.

I am deeply appreciative to the Nikkei Place Foundation staff and volunteers who made the day-to-day work feel connected and personally meaningful. I will continue to support the future successes of Nikkei Place.

With gratitude,

 

Naomi Ostwald Kawamura