Congratulations to our volunteers, corporate sponsors and NPO partners on another successful Day of Service. This year's event on October 3 attracted nearly 300 volunteers dedicating their time on 5 large projects. Volunteers made greeting cards with residents of the Hakujusou senior citizens home; learned photography and made one-of-a-kind frames for their photos with the children at the Wakabaryo children's home; took visually-impaired children on a virtual trip around the world to Taiwan, India, France, and Colombia at the international festival; teamed with Special Olympics athletes and their coaches in an exciting bowling tournament; and painted and planted both inside and out on the playroom and garden renovation project at Saiseikai Central Hospital's nursery for infants and toddlers. HOT partnered with California-based environmental designer and founder of With A Brush of Love, Lauren S. Henry on the renovation project. Lauren specializes in designing surroundings for children with special needs. In the evening volunteers shared stories and reflected on the day at the After Party hosted by corporate partner Bank of America Merrill Lynch. Together volunteers gave back approximately 1,000 hours in service to the Tokyo community.

The HOT Day of Service is a one-day event which engages volunteers, primarily from our corporate partners and their families, in larger-scale service activities that may be more permanent or provide a deeper connection to partner agencies than our ongoing projects. The event also serves as a showcase for volunteerism, promotes Hands On Tokyo as a vehicle to provide meaningful service opportunities, enables both foreigners and Japanese nationals to give back in a tangible way to local, underserved populations and raises funds to support Hands On Tokyo's year-round service projects.

This incredible effort would not have been possible without the tremendous support of our 12 corporate partners, 10 in-kind sponsors, 5 NPO partner agencies and especially all of you--our volunteers--who gave so much of your time in service to our community. Our sincerest appreciation to each of you. Please visit the link below to view and download photos of this remarkable day at:

Day of Service Images
(password: thankyou)

Here are a few of our favorites!

HOT is honored to announce our new partnership with The Peninsula Tokyo. This month The Peninsula Tokyo officially adopted HOT as one of its three principle charities. Since the hotel's opening, it has focused on making a difference by supporting children and women's health issues through Make-A-Wish JapanŽ and the Pink Ribbon Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign. This new partnership continues to emphasize the importance that The Peninsula places on supporting the community it resides in. Through HOT's regular projects The Peninsula Tokyo can continue to make a difference. Nearly 30 Peninsula Tokyo volunteers came out for the Day of Service on October 3, including general manager Malcolm Thompson who did not hesitate to get a little green painting railings and walls at the Saiseikai renovation project. A heartfelt thank you to all at The Peninsula Tokyo for making HOT a part of your Tokyo family.

113 Teradata Japan employees gathered on August 31 at their company office to learn more about volunteering and help raise money for the HOT Blind Tennis program. Employees were encouraged to drop by during their lunch time to enjoy a cup of coffee from Tully's and hear presentations by President & CEO Yoshikawa and HOT on the importance of volunteering and how to participate in the Day of Service. Employees made donations through their purchases of coffee and snacks. Teradata Japan then matched their donations bringing the total raised to over 50,000 yen. The funds will be used to purchase special tennis balls needed for the blind tennis program.

In early September HOT corporate partner Waters participated in the  JAIMA Show 2009 at Makuhari Messe. In addition to promoting the  company's latest technology, the Waters booth spotlighted its community service activities with HOT. Visitors to the booth received  a special leather book cover introducing HOT and our activities. By emphasizing its partnership with HOT in such a  unique way, Waters helped spread the message of volunteering to the  scientific community.

We are currently accepting donations for live and silent auction prizes.

For further information on how to be a part of this most elegant event, contact Marjorie.chiba@handsontokyo.org or visit our website to download donation forms.

Hands On Tokyo
Executive Tower Azabudai #402
Azabudai 1-4-3
Minato-ku, Tokyo 106-0041.
Tel: 03-5404-3563  Fax: 03-3583-2127

Program Manager: salaried, full-time position at HOT office. Person will develop new volunteer projects and manage existing ones.

Project Coordinator: volunteer, part-time position. Project coordinators are the on-site leaders ensuring that every HOT project runs smoothly.

Teen Advisor: volunteer position. We have selected our first 6 teens for our new teen advisory board, but we are still accepting applications from interested candidates.

For details on any of the positions or to apply, please contact Marjorie Dewey Chiba at: marjorie.chiba@handsontokyo.org

National School for the Blind
English Conversation for High Schoolers
Nov. 28 (Sat); Dec. 12 (Sat) 10:00-12:00
(for ages 15 and up)

English Conversation for Blind Adults
Nov. 7 (project full); Dec. 5 (Sat) 9:45-12:00PM
(For ages 10 and up)

Second Harvest Rice Ball-Making
Nov. 13 (project full) & 27 (Fri.) 10:00-12:00
(all ages welcome)

Hakujusou Senior Home
Nov. 21 (Sat); Dec. 5 (Sat) 2:00-4:00 PM
(families and children of all ages welcome)

Wakaba-ryo Children's Home
Nov. 28 (project full); Dec. 12 (Sat) 10:00-12:00
(For ages 10 and up)
Sponsored by:


Special Olympics Bowling
Nov. 14 & 29 (Sat., Sun.); Dec. 12 (Sat)
9:40-12:00
(For ages 18 and up)

Special Olympics Motor Development
Nov. 7 (Sat.); Dec. 12 (Sat) 1:00-3:00 PM
(For ages 18 and up)
Sponsored by: