Cerritos Baptist Church (CBC) is home to a congregation with many Japanese American older adults and caregivers. CBC provides fellowship and activities to its older adult and caregiver members.

• Funding from Keiro will support CBC’s efforts to keep its older adult and caregiver members connected through monthly meal deliveries, porch visits for those in need, fellowship gatherings, and field trips to keep their most in-need older adults and caregivers connected through social opportunities.

CharanPoran USA, Inc. is an organization that issues quarterly Japanese newsletters, called Kawaraban, for members in and around the South Bay area. These newsletters are created by older adult authors for older adult readers with a variety of topics in each issue.

• Funding from Keiro will support CharanPoran USA, Inc.’s ability to provide informative articles, information, and content to Kawaraban recipients on a quarterly basis. General operating support will allow CharanPoran USA, Inc. to produce and distribute these newsletters while helping enhance the quality of life for members and the public.

Chatsworth West United Methodist Church (Chatsworth West UMC) is a community church based in the San Fernando Valley that is home to a congregation of Japanese American members. The church serves as a gathering place for community activities to support older adults and congregants.

• Funding from Keiro will support Chatsworth West UMC’s kitchen remodel project that will allow the church to support its aging congregation and their ability to provide meal programs for Nikkei Senior Village (independent senior living). The gathering over food helps support quality of life for members in this way.

Continuing Education for the Nikkei Widowed, Inc. (CENW) was established to provide support to Japanese American and Japanese older adults who have lost their spouses. The group, of which 95% are over the age of 80, meets monthly to provide educational opportunities and support to its members.

• Funding from Keiro will support CENW’s ability to keep its widow/widower members connected through a monthly newsletter, monthly educational meetings, and an annual holiday gala to support members and their ability to socialize with each other and stay involved.

East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC) has provided programs and services that promote the Japanese American culture and heritage since 1961. ESGVJCC’s Senior Wellness Program offers engaging social activities, exercise programs, and educational seminars for its older adult members both in-person and virtually.

• Funding from Keiro will support supply costs to improve the Senior Wellness Program’s technology to keep members connected as a way to improve their quality of life.

First Presbyterian Church Altadena (FPC Altadena) was established over 100 years ago and serves a congregation of primarily Japanese American older adults.

• Funding from Keiro will support FPC Altadena’s various socially, mentally, and physically engaging programs and core operations to keep older adult members engaged in wellness programs ranging from arts/crafts, exercise, and technology assistance.

Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute (GVJCI) has served the Japanese American and Japanese community living in the South Bay for over 50 years through educational, social, and cultural programs for all ages. They offer a variety of programs throughout the week and have returned to in-person programs.

• Funding from Keiro will support GVJCI’s initiative to provide technology services for local older adults through program implementation. This will include administrative and staff support, along with supply costs for this evolving program to engage with older adults and provide socialization opportunities to outreach to the Japanese-speaking and Japanese American communities.

Hearts of Lavender (HoL) serves the community afflicted with loneliness, depression, and isolation by delivering and arranging flowers for the community both in their homes and at residential care facilities.

• Funding from Keiro will support supply costs to enable HoL to continue with promoting wellness among the community’s older adults and caregivers in residential care facilities and community settings.

Japanese American Centenarian Spirit (JAC Spirit) was developed to recognize and honor the elderly in the Japanese American communities with celebratory birthdays and gatherings.

• Funding from Keiro will support JAC Spirit’s ability to enhance quality of life of the community’s older adults through planned birthday celebrations that mark milestone cultural birthdays including 88^th and 100^th birthdays.

Japanese American Christian Chapel (JACC) serves both Japanese American and Japanese residents of Ventura County, and is focused on providing Sunday services, community outreach, and advancing their mission to care for the elderly.

• Funding from Keiro will support JACC’s patio cover installation project to help encourage older adult members to return to church activities in a safe and distanced manner. Returning to church for activities will aim to improve quality of life through connections made possible by gathering in-person again.

Leisure Club at ESGVJCC is an organization that serves as an outlet for older adults and seniors to enjoy their twilight years through social interactions and connections while promoting healthy aging.

• Funding from Keiro will support a weekly meal program and enhance activities for older adult members including exercise, art, and mental stimulation. Funding will help support the meal program by replacing equipment to allow for more reliable storage and preparation of food.

Little Tokyo Nutrition Services (LTNS) has provided daily hot Japanese lunches and referral services to older adults living in Little Tokyo and homebound individuals within the surrounding area for over 40 years. Currently, LTNS delivers lunches to homebound older adults five days per week.

• Funding from Keiro will support LTNS’s ability to provide residents in and around Little Tokyo with meals and social engagement. Keiro will support staffing costs to allow for this increased capacity to ensure community members receive additional support including wellness checks with their meals.

Long Beach Buddhist Church (LBBC) is dedicated to sharing the teachings of the Buddha and serving as a positive presence in their local community. They strive to honor and continue the traditions of their founding members as they aim to provide services and activities to ensure that Buddhism remains a way of life.

• Funding from Keiro will support LBBC’s outreach project, which includes meals, costs of the care packages, printing, supply costs, and a monthly newsletter to keep both English and Japanese-speaking members engaged and connected while benefiting their quality of life.

Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center (LBJCC) has focused on improving the quality of life for older adults in the local Japanese American and Japanese community for over 60 years.

• Funding from Keiro will support the Long Beach Senior Meal Program to provide nutritious meals and wellness checks for their members. Twice monthly in-person luncheons will be supported alongside a return to providing delivered meals to homebound older adults to benefit their quality of life.

Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple Buddhist Women’s Association has been providing weekly religious and spiritual services for Japanese American and Japanese families since 1905.

• Funding from Keiro will help fund the continuing Tai Chi and Qigong class for older adults. Funding will support the costs of instructor fees and supply costs to allow participants to stay physically and mentally engaged in the programs while promoting an active lifestyle and commitment to continually learning.

Los Angeles Men’s Glee Club (LAMGC) has been supporting Japanese American and Japanese older adults in the community through special choral performances and concerts for the past 20 years as the only Japanese men’s chorus in Southern California.

• Funding from Keiro will support the group’s core operations and allow them to continue remaining engaged in activities that promote their wellness and staying socially active through practicing together as a group.

Makoto Taiko is a Pasadena-based arts organization that teaches and performs Japanese taiko drumming as a musical, physical, and spiritual practice.

• Funding from Keiro will support staffing expenses to allow the group to continue an older adult-centric taiko program specifically tailored to older adult participants involving outreach, socialization, and physical activity exercises to contribute to their overall wellness.

NALC USA (NALC USA) is a volunteer, membership based non-profit organization in California that builds a safe and vibrant network of communities through knowledge, skill, and time.

• Funding from Keiro will support their core operating expenses to help the group return to in-person programs and activities. Core operating costs include support for organizational umbrella insurance, transportation, and meal costs to allow members to reconnect and create stronger relationships between members in the Japanese community.

Orange County Buddhist Church (OCBC)serves families of all ages and hundreds of older adult members through various programs and events.

• Funding from Keiro will allow OCBC to continue the Tomodachi Bento Project’s twice monthly support for homebound older adults with wellness checks taking place during each meal delivery.

Orange County Japanese American Association (OCJAA) serves over 1,500 individuals in the Japanese-speaking community of Orange County and promotes various social services and Japanese cultural activities through virtual events, programs, and educational seminars.

• Funding from Keiro will support staffing and core operating costs to provide support for older adults to stay connected with technology, support for caregivers, and program supply costs for the Japanese community of Orange County.

Oxnard Buddhist Temple (OBT) serves over 100 older adults through Japanese culturally-sensitive services, seminars, and conferences to support its aging congregation. Since its founding in 1929, OBT has remained one of the few organizations that serves the Japanese American and Japanese community in Ventura County.

• Funding from Keiro will allow OBT to renovate their restrooms in the classroom building to be ADA compliant, which will increase the older adults’ ability to participate in activities and maintain their social connections with each other and their community.

Pasadena Buddhist Temple (PBT) has served the community for over 60 years as a spiritual center for members as well as a gathering place for cultural, social, athletic, and other local community events.

• Funding from Keiro will support PBT’s efforts to keep older adults connected through support for meals, care packages, gatherings with lunch, and social activities to allow members to safely stay engaged while promoting health and wellness.

Pasadena Nikkei Seniors (PNS) was established as a completely volunteer-run organization with the goals of enhancing the quality of life of and providing a comfortable social environment for older Japanese American and Japanese members. PNS sponsors a variety of social activities and events that promote both physical and mental wellness, bringing together a group of around 70 individuals during monthly lunches and trips that help bridge the Nisei and Sansei generations.

• Funding from Keiro will support the continuation of the lunch program and transportation costs for programs to keep the older adult and caregiver members of PNS socially connected through meals and activities that promote quality of life.

Sakura Chorus was founded in 1982 as a female choral group and has been providing concerts for the residents of the former Keiro facilities in addition to performing in the Los Angeles/South Bay area. Sakura Chorus is one of the oldest local Japanese choir groups.

• Funding from Keiro will support core operations and transportation for rehearsals and an annual concert that will allow members to maintain their social connections.

San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center (SFVJACC) was established in 1959 and has sought to preserve Japanese culture and promote the Japanese American experience. For over 60 years, SFVJACC has served the Japanese American and Japanese community of all ages, with senior programs alone reaching over 300 older adults annually.

• Funding from Keiro will support SFVJACC’s two program initiatives to improve quality of life of its older adult members. Funding will support a meal delivery program to homebound older adults as well as funding for field trips and transportation that will help members not only connect with each other, but also with historical sites relevant to Japanese American history.

Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple (VHBT) was established over 50 years ago to promote a greater understanding and appreciation of Jodo Shinshu Buddhism. VHBT provides a number of programs to meet the needs of its aging membership.

• Funding from Keiro will support VHBT’s initiatives to serve older adults and caregivers including a monthly care package delivery program, caregiver support group, and senior outreach programs. Various technology, supply, and volunteer/speaker/instructor honoraria will also be provided to keep older adult members and caregivers actively engaged with the temple’s activities.

Venice Japanese Community Center (VJCC) was founded almost 100 years ago and continues its mission to preserve, share, and promote Japanese American and Japanese culture. The center provides many activities for multiple generations and has a large population of older adult members.

• Funding from Keiro will support VJCC’s efforts to keep the local community connected and active through funding for staffing including program coordinators, instructors, and supply costs that will allow program participants to stay involved in health and wellness educational and interactive programs.

Ventura County Japanese American Citizens League (Ventura County JACL) educates the local community about Japanese and Japanese American culture while promoting civil rights for all.

• Funding from Keiro will support core operating expenses to allow Ventura County JACL to continue developing programs that will provide outreach and socialization opportunities to Ventura County older adults and their caregivers including health and wellness education and social engagement.

Visual Communications (VC) is a community-based nonprofit media arts organization that provides services for the older adult community in Little Tokyo through its Digital Histories Filmmaking program. Not only does this program allow older adults a creative outlet to share their stories, but they are also able to socialize together as a cohort and feel a greater sense of community through virtual gatherings.

• Funding from Keiro will support VC’s Digital Histories Filmmaking program that has transitioned to a virtual format in response to the pandemic. This program provides opportunities for older adult participants to share their stories with the community and future generations.

West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple (WLABT) is a community of people joined together to revere the teaching of Shinran Shonin. Members seek to share wisdom and compassion to work towards the realization of a society in which everyone is able to live a life of spiritual fulfilment.

• Funding from Keiro will support WLABT’s programs to keep its older members connected, which includes weekly meal delivery and care packages, providing opportunities for social engagement, wellness checks, and socialization for older adult members, most of whom are over 80 years old.

West Los Angeles United Methodist Church (WLAUMC) is a community church that has been around since 1930.

• Funding from Keiro will support WLAUMC’s Café Aloha monthly meal program that supports older adult members through nourishment and friendly visits from volunteer drivers. This meal program supports the church members including Japanese speaking congregants.

Zenshuji Soto Mission has served the Japanese American and Japanese community through spiritual support and regular programs since 1922. Zenshuji Soto Mission continues to develop new activities to best serve its aging congregation.

• Funding from Keiro will support the instructors and assistants’ costs, program accessibility through technology, supply costs, and advertisements for the class allowing participants to continue staying connected, educated, and participating in weekly wellness classes.