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Japan America Society Honors Disneyland Resort For Humanitarian Efforts Following Earthquake

L-R) Terry Hara, Co-Chair, JASSC’s 103rd Anniversary Dinner & Gala; 2011-12 Disneyland Ambassador Jolie Hales; Mickey Mouse; and Tammie Kanda, Co-Chair, JASSC’s 103rd Anniversary Dinner & Gala.

Los Angeles, CA, USA (June 21, 2012) /PRNewswire/ — The Japan America Society of Southern California(JASSC) presented its Kokusai Shimin Sho “International Citizens Award” to Disneyland Resort and Operation Tomodachi, the joint U.S. Forces and Japan Self-Defense Forces humanitarian relief effort, at the JASSC’s 103rd Anniversary Dinner & Gala Celebration at the Disneyland Hotel on June 15, 2012.


“The Japan America Society of Southern California’s annual celebration is not only a time to bring our members and guests together, but also to honor outstanding efforts to foster the spirit of friendship and cooperation between Japanese and Americans,” said Nancy Woo Hiromoto, chair of the JASSC. “Last year’s tragic earthquake and tsunami in Japan brought out the best of both peoples, and we are proud to honor Disneyland Resort and Operation Tomodachi for their extraordinary contributions to the relief efforts.”

Speaking at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, Calif. on behalf of Operation Tomodachi, Admiral Patrick M. Walsh, commander, U.S. Pacific Fleet (Ret.), said, “I am honored, I am grateful, and I am humbled, for the privilege to stand here this evening and represent the men and women of our armed forces who participated in an important operation, under extraordinary conditions, at a remarkable time in history.”

Also receiving the award on behalf of the Japan Self-Defense Forces was Jun Niimi, consul general of Japan in Los Angeles.

Disneyland Resort was recognized for Tokyo Disney Resort’s immediate response after the March 11, 2011 earthquake, which initially stranded 69,000 people at Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea. Disney employees provided humanitarian aid in the form of blankets, food and water, heaters and raincoats for visitors who were required to stay due to the transportation challenges associated with the earthquake.

“More than $630,000 was donated by our cast members and matched by the Walt Disney Company, and in addition our friends at KABC7 TV Los Angeles helped raise over $1,000,000 in donations from our viewers,” said 2011-12 Disneyland ambassador Jolie Hales.

The evening also included a silent auction that raised $33,000 dollars for the JASSC and musical performances by six-time GRAMMY Award winner Daniel Ho, and by acclaimed jazz and classical pianist-composer-arranger Yuko Maruyama. The event capped a year in which the JASSC’s 2011 Japan Relief Fund raised more than $1.4 million to help victims in Japan.

About Japan America Society of Southern California
The Japan America Society was founded in 1909 to build economic, cultural, governmental and personal relationships between the people of Japan and America. It has grown to become the West Coast’s premier educational and public affairs forum dedicated to the United States–Japan relationship by offering unique opportunities to become involved in the business and cultural relationship between the two countries. The Japan America Society’s active calendar of events includes breakfast and luncheon programs, business networking mixers, weekend family events, and programs highlighting art, music, fashion, film, performing arts and other special activities. Annual events include the 44th Japan America Golf Classic & Tennis Open, Family Fishing Trip and Family Whale Watch Cruise, 16th Japan America Kite Festival® and 6th U.S.-Japan Green Conference. The Japan America Society of Southern Californiais a qualified 501(c)(3) nonprofit, charitable and educational organization and it is supported by 135 Japanese and American corporate members and more than 2,000 individual members.

Joe Kleiman
Joe Kleimanhttp://wwww.themedreality.com
Raised in San Diego on theme parks, zoos, and IMAX films, InPark's Senior Correspondent Joe Kleiman would expand his childhood loves into two decades as a projectionist and theater director within the giant screen industry. In addition to his work in commercial and museum operations, Joe has volunteered his time to animal husbandry at leading facilities in California and Texas and has played a leading management role for a number of performing arts companies. Joe previously served as News Editor and has remained a contributing author to InPark Magazine since 2011. HIs writing has also appeared in Sound & Communications, LF Examiner, Jim Hill Media, The Planetarian, Behind the Thrills, and MiceChat His blog, ThemedReality.com takes an unconventional look at the attractions industry. Follow on twitter @ThemesRenewed Joe lives in Sacramento, California with his wife, dog, and a ghost.

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