NYdV Newsletter
Let's make a difference 　July- December 2008 (Vol.13)

Thanks to volunteers and supporters, “The Japanese Spa Day” ? Philanthropy through beauty ? was very successful and it was featured on “Business Week” by Reuters. They showed Japanese volunteers enjoying the volunteer activity communicating with the locals in New York.

Explore Japanese Culture After School Program ended for the current year (Sep 2007 -Jun 2008) with big success.

Since September 2008, NYdV provided an opportunity to experiencing cultural difference for 350 children at six locations. We believe that we wouldn’t be able to accomplish this program without your passion and effort for children to provide an opportunity to broad their world for future dreams and to rouse their interest in different culture. The number of volunteers for the program this year totaled 700 and the number goes higher if it includes volunteers who helped administrative work in the office. This program fits very well for volunteers like us who grew up on the “other” side of earth and now live in New York to provide a face-to-face opportunity for cultural exchange between Americans and the Japanese. Our activities to expand possibility for children as much as possible by introducing Japanese culture multilaterally for two months will stay with them as great memory. We sincerely appreciate all of you who supported this program. Thank you so much.

In this program, activities in 4 locations out of 6 were operated with fund from Turn 2 Foundation supported by MLB Yankees player, Derek Jeter. The team leader of NY Yankees supported NY de Volunteer. And they posted an article about NYdV on their website.

Japanese Medical Society of America held a customary year end reception on December 12th, and they had an award ceremony of grant program for Japanese not-for-profit organizations related to medical services. The grant program was established in 2007, and this is their second implementation. In this program, the Medical Society raises contributions from Japanese companies and distributes them to eligible organizations. They divided the grant among total of ten organizations that has played an important part for Japanese community in New York. NYdV has received the grant twice since 2007 and it increased from 500 dollars to 1,500 dollars.

CLAIR (Council of Local Authorities for International Relations) had an orientation for their Short-Term International Study Program on August 27. Noriko Hino, Executive Director of NYdV, was honored to be invited as a guest speakers among with other three speakers including Mr. Koji Yamade from Ishikawa prefecture New York office, Mr. Kizaburo Hayashi from NTV International Corporation, and Mr. Michiru Tamauchi from UNICEF Head Quarter. For participants of the study program including forty staff members of CLAIR, Noriko spoke about volunteer and not for profit organizations in America seen on the spot by operating one in NY. By comparing Japan and America, she passed her passion to the participants about not-for-profit organization in America.

You can now watch NYdV activities on You Tube. Available videos are as follows;

Introduction of NYdV http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=T1XTbsHXYh0 The Japanese Spa Day http://jp.youtube.com/watch?v=AwDdqyZshrU&feature=related

NYdV Activities from July to December in 2008

NYdV has answered needs for local NPOs in New York city by carrying out our programs that contains three elements including experience, education, and exchange, and has boosted the morale of the volunteers to participate.

Seven years has passed since the tragedy of 9.11. To pass on hope for piece over border and religions, NYdV has supported “Memorial Service for 9.11 victims with Floating Lantern” hosted by The New York Buddhist Church along the Hudson river sideA participant, Naoko says:. Soon after I came to NY, I visited World Trade Center Tribute Center and St. Paul Church and learned about feelings of victims’ family and friends, and about fire fighters who’d worked so hard for search and rescue. I also learned that many people remain in sorrow for loosing someone important, and they can’t forget fear of that day. I participated this memorial as a volunteer to understand these feelings more deeply.

About 30 volunteers participated in the event and they had various back grounds such as students, housewives, and office workers, from young to elderly. We introduced each other in the beginning and were able to open up easily. First, we worked on making 108 floating lantern. Everyone worked spontaneously because they were keen to volunteer.

Next, we separated into a few smaller groups and each group had different tasks. My group asked participants of the memorial to write a message on the lanterns. I met a Japanese couple who have participated in this event every year since they lost their son. There was a woman crying while writing a message on a lantern. I imagined she might have lost her lover. I saw somebody writing a message from a friend very carefully. There were people from Europe and Asia too. Seeing messages written in various languages, I realized that this tragedy involved people from all over the world.

We asked victims’ family members to carry the lanterns and floated them on the Hudson River. Their sorrow may never go away, but they seemed very pleased with this memorial service. The floating lanterns looked so illusionary with lights on ground zero. I strongly remember one of the volunteers told me at the end of the event, “Every year on Sep 11th, this memorial service let me forget pain from the tragedy by devoting myself to this volunteer activity.”

By participating in this volunteer activity, I felt the comfort of fellowship without rank. I’d like to participate again.

Thanksgiving Day event was held at J. Hood Wright Recreation Center in New York City on November 20th. The recreation center is located on 175th street in Manhattan near George Washington Bridge. In addition to traditional thanksgiving dishes, food from Dominican Republic was served to three hundred people since there are a lot of residents from Dominican Republic in the neighborhood. NYdV volunteered for soup kitchen service during the event. Volunteers enjoyed communicating with the locals while serving foods, and they experienced real American life. There is no custom of Thanksgiving Day in Japan but it’s a very important holiday for American families to get together every year. About ten volunteers participated in the event and they were very excited when they saw a turkey roasted whole. Some even asked for the recipe. Volunteers enjoyed feeling the American mind.

Message to NYdV Supporters

Thank you so much for supporting NYdV. This is Noriko Hino, Executive Director. “Explore Japanese Culture After School Program”, created and provided by NYdV, is designed to provide children from disadvantaged communities in New York with an opportunity to experience diversity and cultural differences while cultivating sense of global citizenship. This is one of the volunteer opportunities suitable for Japanese people living in New York. The reason for New York City to add our EJC program as their official program was because they realized the importance for children to experience cultural difference for diversity education. By introducing Japanese culture to children, we can show them different ways of thoughts and diversity. I believe that this can’t be done without us, Japanese, who came from the other side of the earth, and who look very different from them. By the end of the program after two months, children in the program told us their dreams. “Now, I love Japan! I’d love to know more about Japan and I’d like to tell about Japan to other children in future.” “I’d like to be an English teacher and live in different countries around the world.” By broadening their world through this program, their dreams become their goals. I’m sure those curious children will enjoy exploring the different world. In recession, I’m sure many of you have been having difficult time. In fact, a lot of NPOs have been suffering from less and less donations. NYdV is not an exception and we are facing difficulty receiving fund for EJC program from New York City this year. We could stop this program because of insufficient budget. However, it means to take an opportunity from children to experience different cultures. We can’t continue our programs without your kind support. Please help us with your donation for continuing our programs. Let’s work together to broaden children’s view point and create bright future for them. Thank you for your cooperation.

Allumonde Wear the cause!

Felissimo and NYdV collaborated on a project called“Alumonde.”One of the projects that Felissimo created is DESIGN 21: Social Design Network, whereby members of the design community, socially conscious individuals, local governments, businesses and non-profit organizations (NPOs) can address social concerns and create smart solutions through design. It's a way in which like-minded people can connect to share resources, inspire each other and take action.


Wear the Cause!
Make a social design statement with the Allumonde ring,
designed exclusively for the Social Design Network by renowned furniture and industrial designer Richard Hutten.
Allumonde represents:
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Connection to One Another
Continuity to the Cycle of Giving
19% of profits go to NY de Volunteer and 2% to UNESCO.
Stainless Steel -$35
Titanium Coating -$55
Silver -$85, Gold-$2,500

Please purchase online: http://www.design21sdn.com/

	NYdV’s Active Supporters Corporate ** Gold Sponsor $1,000　& up The Japanese Medical Society of America, Inc. ADK * Silver Sponsor $500　& up Pallet   In-Kind donation   Karaoke Champ Trend Pot Inc Individual *** Leader $500　& up   ** Supporter $300& up   * Friends $100　& up Ms. Julie Azuma/ Mr. Tamio Spiegel DESIGN21: Social Design Network/ Felissimo Ms. Satomi Kitahara Ms. Kaoru Matsumoto Nihon University Ms.Yumi Shindo　　　　 WILLIAM W. & RITA REICH TRUST     In-kind Ms.Rika Tochinai   Support NYdV! Our continuing operation requires operational funds. We appreciate your support. The full amount of your donation is tax deductible. Corporate * Silver $500　& up ** Gold $1,000　& up *** Platinum $2,500& up **** Partner $5,000　& up Individual * Frend $100　& up ** Supporter $300　& up *** Leader　 $500　& up Please See the benefit details on Sponcer menu page 　Please send checks for donation! $25, $50, $100, 300, 500, 1000 and any amount you want, Make checks payable to: NY de Volunteer Inc. 601 West 110th Street Suite10K5, New York, NY 10025 Click the left button! You can use the Web site, Network for Good! You can donate through the Internet securely and easily! 　Please donate to us through the Internet. We Are Very Grateful For Your Support! |
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