A Farewell Message from our Executive Director Naomi Kawamura
After five years at the Nikkei Place Foundation, I will be stepping down as Executive Director.
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
Happy New Year: An Exciting 2020 Ahead
As we launch into our good work this year, we look forward to sharing with you some exciting new initiatives and upcoming events…
New Years Greetings from Our Executive Director
Dear Friends,
As the new year begins, the Foundation would first like to thank you for being a friend and supporter of Nikkei Place. We also hope that this message finds you and your loved ones well and ready for 2020!
As we launch into our good work this year, we look forward to sharing with you some exciting new initiatives and upcoming events that will be taking place here at Nikkei Place, including our annual Thomas Shoyama Sakura Gala on Saturday, April 4th and our annual Charity Golf Tournament taking place on May 29th!
Something that I am also particularly excited about is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Nikkei National Museum and Cultural Centre. Throughout the year, we will be sharing some of the stories of the many incredible people in our community who have helped to contribute to establishing Nikkei Place. We’ll also be launching an exciting new 2020 Campaign related to this anniversary, please stay tuned for more details.
And again, we want to thank you for supporting Nikkei Place and for being an integral part of our community. We hope to connect with you soon!
Warmly,
Naomi Kawamura
Spring Update: Letter From Our Executive Director
Read a letter from Naomi Kawamura, our Executive Director, about what we’ve been up to this Spring, as well as what’s on the horizon.
Dear Friends of Nikkei Place,
It’s been an exciting spring so far at Nikkei Place – and there’s even more on the horizon!
In March, we celebrated Nikkei heroes at our annual Thomas Shoyama Gala, and raised funds for the Nikkei Place Foundation. On this night, we presented Kaye Kaminishi of the historic Vancouver Asahi baseball team with the Thomas Shoyama Lifetime Achievement Award, for helping bridge racial divides through the game of baseball. We also recognized Shig and Akemi Hirai (owners of Fujiya and other businesses) for over three decades of entrepreneurial success and their immense generosity to the community. I also had the pleasure to award the Foundation’s 2018-19 Nikkei Youth Bursary Award to the Shin-Asahi baseball team as they embarked on a tour of Japan (read all about their trip here!)
I am happy to share with you that the Nikkei Place Foundation was recently awarded a federal “Employment and Social Development Canada” grant, which will help fund projects aimed at expanding the social participation of seniors at our charity. Stay tuned for more information about this new initiative!
Other exciting things include the 14th annual Nikkei Place Charity Golf Tournament, which happened on May 31st in support of Nikkei Seniors Health Care and Housing Society, and the public re-opening of the Nikkei National Museum’s renovated space on July 20th (with free admission)!
What makes Nikkei Place is YOU
Since the founding of Nikkei Place, our community’s generosity has always been the backbone of Nikkei Place. Support from you and the rest of our community is what defines our past, our present, and our future. Giving to Nikkei Place Foundation means helping fund much-needed public programming, support and care for seniors, initiatives that inspire youth, and the extraordinary staff who make it all happen.
I invite you to stay tuned to our website for all the latest community updates. And if you haven't already received one in the mail, please check out our newest brochure to learn more about our core values, the many things that we are doing here at Nikkei Place, and what we aspire to do with the support of you and the community.
Please consider making a donation to the Nikkei Place Foundation today!
Warmly,
Naomi Kawamura
Executive Director, Nikkei Place Foundation