Published May 30, 2017

LOS ANGELES, May 25, 2017 – Keiro has announced its 2017 Grants Program cycle, an important component of Keiro’s programs to support thousands of older adults and caregivers in the Japanese American and Japanese community. In its second annual cycle, Keiro’s Grants Program will invest up to $500,000 in funding to community-based organizations in Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange counties.

The goals of Keiro’s Grants Program are to:

• Enhance the quality of life of older adults in Our Community who are most in-need or vulnerable
• Promote culturally sensitive programs and services accessible to Japanese American and Japanese older adults
• Strengthen systems of support for older adults through local service providers, programs, and caregiver resources
• Advance the Genki Living® holistic approach to aging issues

Keiro’s Grants Program awards support to qualified organizations through a competitive, community-based review process. Grant proposals are reviewed and evaluated by an independent Grants Review Committee. The committee, comprised of community leaders, will assess proposals, conduct site visits, and deliberate on each project.

“We recognized the powerful impact that local organizations like ours can have in enhancing the quality of senior life in our community,” said Leona Hiraoka, Keiro President and CEO. “In keeping with our mission, Keiro created the Grants Program to provide enhanced services and resources, and to foster innovation in the area of senior care in order to improve quality of life for our aging community.”

Keiro’s 2017 Grants Program will offer three levels of funding. Small Grants provide funding of up to $10,000 for community-based organizations. Organizations that are a good fit include grassroots, new, small, and/or volunteer-led organizations. Medium Grants are designed to provide support to organizations looking to expand services to older adults and caregivers. Medium Grants can range from $10,000- $50,000. Large Grants of $50,000- $100,000 will provide support to organizations with established operating capacity and scale. Proposals for program support, capital costs, capacity building, and general operating support will all be considered. The proposal deadline for the 2017 grants cycle is September 1, 2017.

The Grants Program seeks to achieve the greatest impact by addressing issues affecting Japanese American and Japanese older adults with the greatest need or vulnerability.  These populations include, but are not limited to, older adults who are facing challenges due to isolation, multiple health conditions, memory and cognitive disabilities, low income, immigration or residency status, and/or being monolingual Japanese speakers or the oldest of the old.

During the summer months, Keiro will offer free informational workshops in the community to discuss goals of the program, eligibility requirements, and guide prospective grantees through the application process.

“We look forward to helping organizations that are interested in applying for funding as a way to support their programs,” said Brandon Masashige Leong, Keiro’s Director of Programs & Strategic Partnerships. “We will be offering assistance in how to successfully apply for Keiro’s grants.”

Workshops are scheduled as follows:

• Thursday, June 15, 2017 – 4:00 pm- Japanese American National Museum
• Thursday, June 22, 2017- 10:00 am- Faith United Methodist Church
• Monday, June 26, 2017- 2:00 pm- East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center
• Tuesday, June 27, 2017- 10:00 am- Online Webinar
• Tuesday, July 11, 2017- 10:00 am- Venice Japanese Community Center
• Saturday, July 15, 2017- 10:00 am- Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
• Wednesday, July 19, 2017- 2:00 pm- Orange County Buddhist Church
• Friday, July 28, 2017 – 12:00 noon- Online Webinar

Keiro’s goal is to enhance the quality of life for older adults in Our Community through its three core program areas: Services to Older Adults, Support for Caregivers, and Programs for Residents of Keiro’s Former Facilities. Recognizing that there is no single way to accomplish this goal, Keiro will use diverse strategies to achieve the greatest impact.

For additional information regarding Keiro’s Grants Program, including downloadable grant applications, guidelines, and to register for an upcoming informational workshop, please visit www.keiro.org/grants or call 213.873.5705.

Keiro® is expanding its reach to broadly engage and support thousands of Japanese American and Japanese older adults throughout Los Angeles, Ventura, and Orange counties. Keiro provides services to older adults and caregivers, along with programs for residents of Keiro’s former facilities.