Published
CEO Leona Hiraoka Departs for New Venture
March 12, 2019 – Keiro has announced that President & CEO Leona Hiraoka has decided to pursue new leadership opportunities following a tenure that brought community leaders, healthcare leaders, and prominent local and multinational organizations to the table to build solutions that serve older adults in the Japanese American and Japanese-speaking community.
“Keiro is proud to have had Leona help advance us through a difficult period and lead the creation of programs and relationships in partnership with the community,” said Keiro Board Chair Lynn Miyamoto. “In pursuing both large-scale and grassroots initiatives, she has led with passion and a commitment to innovation.”
In 2018 alone, Keiro advanced a culturally responsive palliative care program, a social services resource program for those with pressing needs, and social innovation programming, as well as continued a grants program that supported dozens of local community organizations’ older adult services. Keiro’s first-ever festival celebrating older adults (Keiro no Hi) attracted 1,000 attendees to Little Tokyo.
The Keiro Board of Directors has appointed Gene S. Kanamori as President & CEO. “Having served as Keiro’s interim President & CEO in the past, Gene is a proven leader and the Board is confident that Keiro’s programs and services will continue with great success,” stated Ms. Miyamoto.
About Keiro
Keiro is a mission-driven organization engaged in improving the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers in the Japanese American and Japanese community of Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties. Keiro delivers a wide range of resources to address the challenges and barriers that aging presents: isolation, limited financial resources, complex health conditions, and cognitive and memory disabilities. Keiro also partners with companies and organizations that can expand its services and ability to reach seniors and caregivers, and participates in research and innovative work where Keiro can contribute to advancing progress in resolving the challenges of aging. Keiro is based in Los Angeles. For more information, visit keiro.org.