| Marjorie Dewey-Chiba's Resignation
By: Hands On Tokyo Board of Directors |
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We are saddened to announce that due to medical reasons, Marjorie Dewey-Chiba has resigned from Hands On Tokyo. She is one of HOT's co-founders and has been an integral part of our success to date. As our Executive Director, Marjorie oversaw growth in our registered volunteer base, ongoing volunteer programs, and volunteer hours. Despite a difficult economic environment, Marjorie helped to add new corporate sponsors such as Peninsula Tokyo, Gap, and ICAP Securities among others. We are grateful for Marjorie's significant contributions to HOT and wish for her full recovery.
While we search for a new Executive Director, D. Steven Lin (Chairman) and Aya Higa (Vice Chair) will assume Executive Director duties on an interim basis. Hands On Tokyo will continue to operate its 11 ongoing volunteer programs and will continue to evaluate new programs in this time of increasing need.
As a result of everybody's dedication and support, HOT has doubled the number of volunteer hours through our ongoing programs, and have arranged over 200 volunteer activities in 2009. We thank you for your belief in our mission to accelerate the growth of volunteerism in Japan by joining Japanese and foreigners in service with meaningful volunteer activities.
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| Volunteer Spotlight: Sally Williard
My HOT Volunteer Experience |
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In February 2008, I arrived in Tokyo from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA for a two-year secondment with British American Tobacco (BAT) Japan. Settling in was easy since I had traveled to Japan in the past with my US employer, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company. After several months however, I realized something was missing from my life.
 After reading a magazine article about Hands On Tokyo, I realized the missing piece was the opportunity to volunteer in my new community. Both my US and Japan employers have a super legacy of supporting employees during volunteer activities so it made sense that was what I needed in my new home. I signed up for the Special Olympics Motor Skills Development Project. Suddenly, my life in Tokyo had changed in yet another super way. Over the next few months, I also participated in Special Olympics Basketball, activities at Wakaba-ryo Children's Home, and Day of Service. Another memorable activity was the Walk / Run around the Imperial Palace.
In 2009, I volunteered through HOT projects with students at National School for the Blind, English Conversation for High Schoolers, and English Conversation with the Tokyo Metropolitan Welfare Association of the Blind. On the 2009 Day of Service, I volunteered at the Special Olympics Bowling Project. I returned to it several weeks later and was so inspired by the perseverance and skill of the athletes. When asked what my favorite HOT activity was, I answered, "The one I just did." The variety of projects, enthusiasm of the participants, and warm caring sponsors and volunteers made each event an extraordinary time.
My secondment with BAT Japan has ended and with mixed feelings, I've returned in December to Winston-Salem. I'm excited to return to my life in the US but am sad to leave the wonderful work, life and volunteer opportunities I enjoyed in Japan. Thank you Hands On Tokyo!
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| Sponsor Spotlight:
ICAP Totan Securities Co., Ltd.
On Charity Day, EVERY DEAL COUNTS
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ICAP is the world's premier interdealer broker and provider of post trade services. They are also the source of global market information and research for professionals in the international financial markets. With more than 4,300 staff, they have a strong presence in London, New York and Tokyo, and their businesses are distributed across more than 50 locations in 32 countries worldwide.
 Since its creation, ICAP has always donated to charity. In 1993, they decided to do something radical to make a significant difference to charities, and came up with the idea of ICAP Charity Day. All revenues and commissions made on Charity Day are given away to selected charities - with each ICAP office supporting its locally nominated charities. This method of giving is very unique because most companies choose to donate money out of their profits. At ICAP, the brokers and the company give away 100% of their commissions and revenues made on that day. ICAP held its 17th global annual Charity Day on Wednesday, December 9, 2009. They raised 1.7 billion yen (US$18.7 million) on this day. Since 1993, ICAP's Charity Day has raised 10.6 billion yen (US$119 million) and supported over 820 needy causes worldwide. It is inspiring to see what a difference ICAP Charity Day makes to so many people.
ICAP Totan Securities chose to include HOT as one of the charities to benefit from Charity Day 2009. President & CEO of ICAP Totan Securities, Bryan Massey, stated, "Having become familiar with Hands On Tokyo's activities, volunteers and its multiple projects,ICAP Totan Securities decided that HOT was clearly deserving of its support and thus selected HOT as one of its Japan based charities for Charity Day 2009. ICAP's funding will help Hands on Tokyo to double the number of volunteer projects this year and to expand its activities beyond Tokyo to other major urban centers of Japan." HOT is very grateful to have ICAP as a corporate sponsor and look forward to impacting lives in Tokyo as a team.
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Project Highlight: Onigiri for the Needy
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The economic downturn has significantly increased the number of unemployed and those in need in Tokyo. Every Friday, HOT volunteers make rice balls to help Second Harvest Japan fulfill its mission of delivering food to the needy. Second Harvest is Tokyo's only food bank and one of HOT's first NPO partners.
Each rice ball is hand-made using special rice ball moulds, and after they have cooled down, they are wrapped individually for distribution. HOT takes special precaution to maintain health code standards, and all volunteers wear gauze face masks and plastic gloves. All utensils, masks, gloves, and equipment needed to make the rice balls are provided. Once the rice balls are wrapped, Second Harvest picks them up and distributes them on Saturday.
The Onigiri Project (Rice Ball-Making) is held at the HOT office and The Peninsula Tokyo in alternating weeks. A recent Onigiri Project was held on Friday, March 12nd from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM at the HOT office. Six volunteers made a total of 258 rice balls on this day.
In 2010, we expect to make over 10,000 onigiri for the needy as a result of the support of HOT volunteers.
This project is always looking for volunteers for ages 8 and up. If you are interested in participating or would like more information, please contact Kyoko Shimizu. (info@handsontokyo.org).
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Event
Dinner and Auction February 5, 2010
The Peninsula Tokyo
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The third annual Taste for Volunteering held on February 5th at the Peninsula Tokyo was a success. Over 200 guests from all parts of the community participated in this fundraising event. At the Peninsula's elegant Grand Ballroom, the guests enjoyed the delicious food, excellent service, great wines from Japan Europe Trading and Wine-In-Style, and the Mojito Bar from Bacardi. Live entertainment by pianist, Alex Heideman, and students from the ASIJ Vocal Jazz Ensemble gave warmth to the evening.
The raffle, live auction and silent auction helped to raise over 25% of HOT's annual operating budget. Donations of over 60 items varied in price, but British Airways' donation of business class tickets from Tokyo to Bordeaux and the Massey family's donation of their villa in St. Emilion made the Bordeaux vacation auction item the highlight of our event. All items were sold out. Since its inception in 2008, A Taste for Volunteering has raised over 26 million yen. All proceeds from this evening will directly benefit the eleven ongoing volunteer programs to serve the Tokyo community. Many heartfelt thanks go to the generous donors and volunteers who helped to make this event festive and memorable.
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Upcoming
Volunteer Opportunities
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Volunteers Needed
For All Projects! ****************
Sign up today!
National School for the Blind
English Conversation for High Schoolers
April 24 (Sat) 10:00-12:00
(for ages 15 and up)
English Conversation for Blind Adults
April 3 (Sat) 9:40-12:00 (For ages 10 and up)
Second Harvest Rice Ball-Making
April 23 (Fri) 10:00-12:00 (for ages 8 and up; children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult)
Second Harvest Rice Ball-Making
at The Peninsula Tokyo April 2 (Fri), 16 (Fri) 14:00-15:00
(for ages 8 and up; children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult)
Hakujusou Senior HomeApril 17 (Sat) 14:00-16:00 (families and children of all ages welcome)
Wakaba-ryo Children's HomeApril 10 (Sat) 10:00-12:00 (For ages 10 and up) Sponsored by: 
Special Olympics BowlingApril 3 (Sat), 18 (Sun) 9:40-12:00 (For ages 18 and up)
Special Olympics Motor DevelopmentApril 10 (Sat) 13:00-15:00 (For ages 16 and up) Sponsored by:
Special Olympics BasketballApril 4 (Sun), 11 (Sun) 13:00-15:00
(For ages 8 and up; children under 10 must be accompanied by an adult)
Special Olympics Advanced BasketballApril 4 (Sun), 11 (Sun) 15:00-17:00 (Must be able to play basketball)
To volunteer for any project,
e-mail us at: info@handsontokyo.org or call: 03-5404-3563 |
Sponsors
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For further information on sponsorship opportunities with Hands On Tokyo, please contact info@handsontokyo.org |
| Board of Directors |
Dawson Steven Lin, Chairman
Hiroshi Amemiya
Marcela Campos
Chisa Fujita
Michael Heideman
Aya Higa
Sheree Hsu
Roger Jasek
Michael Khoo
Terence Murphy Judith Ravia-Hajdenberg
Asha Pai Sethi
Donald Soo
Haruko Tokura Staff
Yumiko Tategami, Program Manager
Kyoko Shimizu
Seiko Togasaki
Chihoko Ishikawa
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Advisors
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Deva Hirsch,
Founder and President, Emeritus
Advisory Board
Yoshiki Otake, Founder and Chairman
AFLAC Japan
HOT Advisory Board Chairman
Akie Abe
Wife of former Prime Minister Abe
Tetsuya (Ted) Fujita. former President
AXA Financial Life Insurance Co., Ltd.
Fred Harris, Founder and Chairman
The Design Studio
Yuichi Katoh, Chairman
Asia Pacific Land
Hideo "Joe" Morita, President
Morita Asset Management
Parker Simes, Chairman
Capital International K.K.
Paul Yonamine, President and CEO
Hitachi Consulting Co., Ltd.
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