Published May 3, 2018

Congratulations to all the recipients of Keiro’s 2017 Grants Program! We look forward to working with you in partnership for the coming year!

(Recipients in alphabetical order)

AIA Abide In Awareness: Offers qi gong workshops for older adults and caregivers in the community to promote and explore alternative and self-healing exercises since 2015

• Support from Keiro will: support additional workshops in both English and Japanese for the residents of the former Keiro facilities. The residents will be able to learn exercises, breathing techniques, and meditation to reduce stress and improve their overall wellbeing.

Alzheimer’s Greater Los Angeles: Provides innovative and culturally sensitive services to those affected by Alzheimer’s disease through its helpline, educational programs, events, and memory programs since 1980

• Support from Keiro will: Allow ALZGLA to conduct a campaign to produce a series of bilingual video profiles of Japanese American and Japanese caregivers (estimated 2,600 to 7,800 in Los Angeles county) of older adults with dementia and address the stigma of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

Asian Traditional Dance & Music Foundation (Wakahisakai): A Japanese dance group that represents the Japanese classical dance of Seiha Wakayagi-Ryu of Japan.

• Support from Keiro will: Share and teach classes using Japanese dance techniques to the residents of the former Keiro facilities, providing a culturally sensitive way for them to socialize and exercise with their peers

Continuing Education for the Nikkei Widowed, Inc.: Provides support to Japanese American and Japanese older adults who have lost their spouses.

• Support from Keiro will: Assist CENW in continuing its vital outreach to the widowed through regular social gatherings, educational opportunities, and grief support, helping them to overcome the hardships of widowhood together.

East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center: For the past 35 years, ESGVJCC has been holding its weekly Senior Wellness Program, which provides social activities, exercise programs, a nutritious lunch, and educational programs to its older adult members.

• Support from Keiro will: Expand its current two-day program and improve access to the program through the purchase of a van to transport its members.

ESGVJCC Leisure Club: Meets weekly on Wednesdays at East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center (ESGVJCC), serving 50 older adults.

• Support from Keiro will: Support their lunch program, including new kitchen equipment.

First Presbyterian Church, Altadena: Established over 100 years ago, the church serves a congregation of primarily Japanese American older adults.

• Support from Keiro will: Partially fund repair of the church’s parking lot, creating a safer environment and decreasing fall hazards for the older members. Funding from Keiro will also support a staff position to serve as a resource for older congregants on issues such as transportation, caregiving, spiritual, and social needs.

Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute: For over 50 years, GVJCI has served the Japanese American and Japanese community in the South Bay through educational, social, and cultural programs for all ages. They offer a variety of programs throughout the week serving around 900 older adults annually.

• Support from Keiro will: Partially fund a bilingual assistant position to oversee programs and classes for Japanese American and Japanese older adults.

GIVE Urban Farms: Provides training and education about urban farming to promote healthy eating in partnership with Union Church of Los Angeles. They provide innovative educational and social programs around urban gardening for Union Church’s Parkinson’s Support Group, which serves Japanese American and Japanese older adults with Parkinson’s and their caregivers.

• Support from Keiro will: Support the program to create their own gardens, providing healthy produce, exercise, socialization, and an opportunity to reconnect with an activity that so many Japanese and Japanese Americans enjoy.

Go For Broke National Education Center: Shares and passes down the legacy and the stories of Japanese American World War II veterans.

• Support from Keiro will: continue to provide much-needed transportation for the remaining WWII veterans to attend GFBNEC events. It is vital to our community that the veterans remain engaged and their legacy of courage and sacrifice is passed down to future generations.

Grateful Crane Ensemble: Conducts concerts that benefit the emotional, social, and intellectual wellbeing of Japanese American and Japanese older adults and their caregivers through performing their favorite songs in both Japanese and English.

• Support from Keiro will: Support for a three-part Caregiver Concert series in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.

Japanese American Cultural & Community Center: Founded in 1971, JACCC is one of the largest ethnic arts and cultural centers in the U.S. offering programs promoting Japanese American and Japanese culture.

• Support from Keiro will: Support JACCC’s “Ukuleles for Little Tokyo” program, which teaches low-income, Japanese-speaking older adults to play the ukulele. The ukulele classes will continue to help the participants improve their wellbeing, as music has been shown to have positive effects on both mental health and quality of life.

Japanese American National Museum: Promotes understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience with the wider community. Serves over 6,000 older adults annually as visitors.

• Support from Keiro will: Partially fund a volunteer manager to coordinate volunteers and allow for purchase of lightweight stools for older adult docents and visitors to use at the museum. The majority of the current volunteers are over 65 years old, and their commitment and willingness to share their past experiences are vital to JANM’s mission.

Japanese American Optimist Club: Supports the Japanese American community’s youth through a variety of programs and services since 1954. For the past 10 years, JAO has partnered with Keiro’s former facilities to provide opportunities to volunteer and engage with the residents.

• Support from Keiro will: Continue to support valuable intergenerational interactions through JAO’s annual bingo program and holiday craft projects at the former facilities.

Japanese Christian Church Federation of Southern California: Unites the various churches and ministries that provide Japanese-language programs in Southern California. For the past 45 years, JCCFSC has conducted monthly worship services in Japanese for the residents of the facilities formerly owned by Keiro.

• Support from Keiro will: Help JCCFSC meet a key need by continuing to provide spiritual support and guidance for residents in the former Keiro facilities who are unable to attend regular religious services.

Little Tokyo Nutrition Services: For the past 40 years, LTNS has provided daily hot Japanese lunches and escort and referral services to older adults living in Little Tokyo and the surrounding areas.

• Support from Keiro will: Help continue to serve approximately 120 meals daily to low-income residents of Little Tokyo Towers and an additional 55 meals to local homebound Japanese American and Japanese older adults, offering not just a hot meal but also regular visits to check in on the wellbeing of the older adults.

Little Tokyo Service Center: Has been servicing the greater downtown and LA community for over 37 years. Recognizing a need for bilingual social services in the South Bay, LTSC established a satellite office to provide those services as well as caregiver support and opportunities for socialization.

• Support from Keiro will: Partially fund LTSC’s South Bay office, supporting their efforts to help older adults live the best quality of life possible.

Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center/Long Beach Pioneer Project: For over 60 years, LBJCC and LBPP has focused on improving the quality of life for older adults in the local Japanese American and Japanese community.

• Support from Keiro will: Continue to help expand services in the local community through a weekly program offering an affordable lunch, exercise classes, health education, and transportation support.

Los Angeles Holiness Church English division: A multi-generational Christian church founded in 1921 that serves both English and Japanese-speaking congregations. With an aging congregation, LAHC enhances the spiritual, social, emotional, and physical wellbeing of older adults and caregivers in its congregation through its Senior Ministry and Caregiver Support.

• Support from Keiro will: Continue to support the church’s caregiver support group and program to provide support to the older adult members needing additional physical and emotional support.

Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple- Buddhist Women’s Association: LAHHBT has been providing weekly religious and spiritual services for Japanese American and Japanese families since 1905. The temple also serves as a gathering place, offering regular activities and social support.

• Support from Keiro will: Fund weekly tai chi and qi gong classes for the older adult members.

Los Angeles Men’s Glee Club: Been supporting Japanese American and Japanese older adults in the community through special choral performances and concerts for the past 19 years as the only Japanese men’s chorus in Southern California.

• Support from Keiro will: Offer core operating support for LAMGC’s performances. In addition to the audiences, the chorus group also benefits its mostly senior members by providing a place to not only practice music but also socialize.

Martial Arts History Museum, Inc.: MAHM has been partnering with Nikkei Senior Gardens (NSG) for the past three years to provide biweekly tai chi classes.

• Support from Keiro will: Allow MAHM to produce professional quality exercise DVDs in English and Japanese for both the NSG residents and community organizations who wish to enhance or offer a senior exercise class.

Mission Valley Free Methodist Church: Focuses on connecting people and providing care to those in need with the purpose of becoming a loving community, inviting, and challenging people to move towards Christ. Nearly 30% of its congregation over the age of 65.

• Support from Keiro will: Sustain its bi-monthly lunch program that engages its older members, providing education, exercise, and other social activities. This program offers older members the opportunity to enhance their social networks, especially for those whose family and friends have passed on or moved away.

Newport Beach Higashi Honganji Buddhist Temple: A Buddhist temple with a vision to provide knowledge and resources for Japanese-speaking seniors in the Orange County area.

• Support from Keiro will: Provide general operating support for the development and continuation of classes on topics including technology, financial and retirement planning, long term care, and Dharma study.

Nikkei Senior Gardens: An assisted living facility located in San Fernando Valley serving Japanese American and Japanese older adults. Since 2009, NSG has provided high quality care offering assisted living and memory support to its residents.

• Support from Keiro will: Help purchase a nine-passenger bus to allow for the residents using mobility aids to attend outings as well as doctor appointments.

Okinawa Association of America: Provides programs to promote Okinawan culture and enhance the welfare of its members. Nearly 75% of OAA’s members are older adults.

• Support from Keiro will: Help install needed air conditioning/heating units in Yamauchi Hall where the classes and events are held. OAA has developed programs and services to meet their older adult population, including technology, exercise, and cooking classes.

OPICA Adult Day Care Center Inc.: A well-established organization that provides support for older adults with memory disorders and their families, including a weekly program specifically for Japanese American and Japanese older adults in West Los Angeles.

• Support from Keiro will: Support core operating expenses for the culturally sensitive Japanese services.

Orange County Buddhist Church: Serves families of all ages seeking spiritual awakening through Shin Buddhism, and offers a variety of regular programs to its hundreds of older adult members.

• Support from Keiro will: Allow OCBC to continue its Tomodachi Bento program where church volunteers will deliver a nutritious bento and social visit to 50 older adults twice a month, ensuring that these homebound members do not become socially isolated.

Orange County Friendship Choir: A Japanese-speaking choir group comprised primarily of members over the age of 65, established in 2009.

• Support from Keiro will: Help continue providing opportunities for older Japanese-speaking members to gather, socialize, and share their musical talents with the community without worrying about language barriers.

Orange County Japanese American Association: Promotes social services and Japanese cultural activities in Orange County. Serving over 1,500 people annually, OCJAA strives to meet the needs of Japanese older adults, particularly those who may face language barriers and are unaware of available assistance. Many of the classes currently being offered are taught by volunteer older adults.

• Support from Keiro will: Allow OCJAA to offer new classes and expand their current facility’s space to better serve the growing need of its members.

Pacific Theatre Production Corp.: Has been performing music, dance, and plays for residents of healthcare facilities for the past 12 years.

• Support from Keiro will: Expand its Japanese performances for the residents of the former Keiro facilities, bringing them joy and stimulation as they remember their childhood songs and stories.

Pasadena Nikkei Seniors: Established to enhance the quality of life of and provide a comfortable social environment for older Japanese American and Japanese members. As a completely volunteer-led organization, PNS sponsors events throughout the year including monthly lunches, flu shot clinics, bus trips, and educational courses.

• Support from Keiro will: Provide ongoing operational support of the monthly lunch program, helping keep the meals affordable and ensuring that PNS can continue offering valuable social engagement for its members.

Sakura Chorus: Been providing concerts for the residents of the former Keiro facilities in addition to performing in the Los Angeles South Bay area for 35 years. Sakura Chorus consists of nearly 30 older female members.

• Support from Keiro will: Provide operating and transportation support for the concerts.

San Fernando Valley Hongwanji Buddhist Temple: Serves nearly 200 individuals, including many older adults.

• Support from Keiro will: Support installation of acoustic paneling in the social hall which will have a significant, positive impact on reducing the echo and reverberation in the hall. This will allow all members, especially the older adults, to fully participate in social activities and discussions that are held in the social hall.

San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center: Has served the Japanese American and Japanese community of all ages for over 50 years. Its senior programs alone reach over 300 older adults annually.

• Support from Keiro will: Support to continue weekly technology classes for its older members. These classes will help older adults stay connected and share information, as smart phones, tablets, and computers have become some of the dominant ways to do so.

Seinan Senior Citizens’ Club: Founded in 1971 to address the needs of Japanese older adults. Currently serving over 200 members, many of whom are over age 80, SSCC provides classes, lunches, karaoke, and arts courses in the Crenshaw area.

• Support from Keiro will: Support a much-needed floor replacement, reducing fall hazards, and other renovations.

South Bay Singers: Offshoot of the Orange County Friendship Choir, and partners with the South Bay Junior Singers to perform intergenerational concerts.

• Support from Keiro will: Fund a joint concert, ensuring that the older choir members can pass on Japanese folk songs and traditions to the younger generations.

Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple: 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 members.

• Support from Keiro will: Support VHBT’s Senior Outreach Program, including a Patient Advocate to assist older members and their families with education and accessing resources.

West Covina Christian Church: The Harvesters Senior Ministry program at WCCC was established in 2015 after church members recognized the growing needs of its older congregation. Through a variety of programs, the Harvesters offer much-needed support and social engagement.

• Support from Keiro will: Help with the Harvesters’ ongoing operational expenses, ensuring that they can continue to provide a weekly lunch and outreach to homebound members.

Zenshuji Soto Mission: Founded in 1922, the temple has served the Japanese American and Japanese community through spiritual support and regular programs. With an aging membership, Zenshuji continues to develop new activities for its older members.

• Support from Keiro will: Support the Zen Aerobics program, which provides a unique spiritual-based exercise program meeting the physical, mental, and spiritual needs of its participants.