Japan Relief Fundraising Closing Ceremony

On May 13, we had the Japan Relief Fundraising Closing Ceremony at Fresno State Science II Room 109.
We invited Mr. Yoshiro Tasaka, an offiver of the General Consulate of Japan in San Francisco to the ceremony and hand our check to him (actual check will be passed later).

The ceremony was started by the opening statement by Takahashi-sensei, and Katsuyo-sensei was followed by doing a speech about recognition of fundraising activities of other organizations.
Then, Jared and I presented the fundraising activities and the account activities of JSA,
and we handed our check to Mr. Tasaka.
Unfortunately, we could not make our actual check by this day due to the bank, so it will be hand to the Consulate later soon.

Finally, the ceremony was closed by the closing statement by Takahashi-sensei.

By the way, the final amount of donation is...

$9188.10!!

I would like to thank all members and people who helped our fundraising events, supported us, and donated money for the relief.

This event was also on the Fresno State News...
http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2011/05/students-present-9188-in-donations-for-japan/

Students present $9,188 in donations for Japan

MAY 13, 2011 – 3:28 PM   shareshare

California State University, Fresno students, led by the Japanese Students Association (JSA), presented more than $9,100 to a representative of Japan’s Consulate General office in San Francisco for victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.

Yoshiro Tasaka, consular community affairs adviser, was presented the check Friday, May 13, by JSA officers Tomoki Ueda and Jared Kneefel, representing their group, Students of Public Health Association and the University Student Union, who gathered donations.

JSA alone raised $9,004 through such efforts as fund drives, partnerships with on-campus events, yard sales and a yoga charity event. Their most recent effort was a partnership with 18 Japanese restaurants where funds were collected from customers and the general public.

At the Phillip Lorenz Memorial Keyboard Concert on campus featuring Japanese pianist Nobuyuki Tsujii, more than $400 was raised through CD sales.

The other groups conducted a “Pass a Can for Japan” drive among public health students and placed collection stations in the Student Recreation Center.

Another drive on campus raised $4,750 sent to the relief effort earlier.

At the May 13 presentation, JSA officers recognized the Japanese minor program in the Department of Linguistics for its efforts. Those donations came mostly from students and their families, said Katusyo Howard, a counselor emeritus who coordinated the various campaigns with support from the Jan & Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service-Learning.

“I am very proud of the amazing efforts of our Japanese Student Association and other student clubs as well as all those whose generosity helped make this campaign a big success,” said Dr. Paul M. Oliaro, vice president for Student Affairs at Fresno State.

“The commitment of Fresno State students to the Japan relief effort is truly inspirational,” he added.

In April, deputy consul general Michio Harada visited Fresno State to view a samurai artifacts exhibit at the Henry Madden Library and applauded the students’ relief efforts.

(Copy by University Communications Christy Patron)