Japanese Student Association plans fundraising efforts for March
The Japanese Student Association is putting fundraising efforts to assist those affected by the earthquake and tsunami off the coast of Japan last March on hold.
Last semester, JSA contributed to helping the relief effort by hosting fundraisers to aid those who suffered from the violent natural disasters. The damage from both the earthquake and tsunami left homes obliterated and tens of thousands of lives lost.
JSA’s response to the 9.0-magnitude earthquake that hit the north coast of Japan and the tsunami that followed on March 11 was aimed at involving students and faculty on the SU campus.
JSA member fought to be a part of the overall worldwide efforts to help reach the goal of Japan’s reconstruction bill. After the damage was calculated, Japan faced an estimated cost of $180 billion to rebuild damaged communities and the country’s economy, according to the JSA website.
JSA plans to continue fundraising events next semester, said Yuriko Takahashi, JSA’s vice president and a doctorate student studying chemistry. JSA hasn’t formally met and discussed when it should restart fundraising, Takahashi said.
She said she plans on keeping the same support networks from last year to help stir donations in upcoming fundraisers because the support system has been effective up to this point.
As of June, about $9,000 was raised, Takahashi said. Through different fundraising events, such as encouraging each student to donate $1 to help aid the efforts last semester, she said she plans on keeping the streak of charity at an optimal level.
There are two obstacles JSA has in pooling together charity efforts, Takahashi said. First, she and others are experiencing an academic overload in their studies. Second, this semester is a difficult time of year to draw students’ attention, she said.
‘We hope we can have a fundraiser next March to remember those who suffered from the earthquake and tsunami,’ Takahashi said.
In a letter dated May 25 from Shigeyuki Hiroki, the ambassador and consul general of Japan in New York, Hiroki thanked all of those who collaborated and contributed to the earthquake and tsunami disaster relief efforts, according to the consulate website. Hiroki praised citizens for collecting $536,340.39 in donations for relief efforts.
Published on October 11, 2011 at 12:00 pm
