Hotel Kabuki Selects Japantown Foundation as Philanthropic Partner

Hotel Kabuki, a Joie de Vivre Hotel, has selected the San Francisco Japantown Foundation as its philanthropic partner. The Japantown Foundation will receive funds raised through the hotel's You Can Make a Difference program.

Each hotel in the Joie de Vivre family of properties has a You Can Make a Difference program, which invites guests to donate $1 a night for the length of their stay toward the hotel’s local philanthropic partner, although they can opt out of the donation at checkout. One hundred percent of the funds raised through the Hotel Kabuki's program will be donated to the Japantown Foundation.

"The Hotel Kabuki and Joie de Vivre have always been invested and involved in the communities where our hotels are located," said John Henry, the Regional Managing Director at Joie de Vivre Hotels, who oversees the Hotel Kabuki and Hotel Tomo properties in San Francisco’s Japantown neighborhood. "We will continue to support the Japantown community through our partnership with the Japantown Foundation."

Joie de Vivre Hotels donates approximately $1.5 million annually to local organizations in the form of gift certificates, cash donations, in-kind donations, and events.

In September, Henry joined the Japantown Foundation’s board of directors, which includes board president Donald K. Tamaki, Hats Aizawa, Bob Hamaguchi, Richard Hashimoto, Mary Ishisaki, Keith Kamisugi, Diane Matsuda, Jon Osaki, Allen Okamoto, Jerry Ono, and June-Ko Nakagawa.

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation’s mission is to support cultural, community and educational activities for San Francisco Japantown. The Foundation provides grants to not-for-profit organizations, groups and individuals conducting projects aligned with or further the Foundation’s mission. The foundation was formed in December 2006 through generous endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP. Including its 2013 grants, the Foundation has provided more than $635,000 in funding since 2007.

Since its founding in San Francisco in 1987, Joie de Vivre has made curating authentically local and eclectic experiences its signature. Each one of Joie de Vivre's more than 30 hotels is an original concept designed to reflect its location and engage the five senses. Today, the company manages the largest collection of boutique hotels and resorts in California and is expanding outside the state with hotels in Honolulu, Chicago and Scottsdale, Arizona. Joie de Vivre is a Commune Hotels & Resorts brand. For more information, please visit www.jdvhotels.com.

John Henry of Joie de Vivre Hospitality Joins Japantown Foundation Board

Hospitality industry executive John Henry has joined the San Francisco Japantown Foundation board of directors.

Henry is a Regional Managing Director at Joie de Vivre Hospitality and oversees the Hotel Kabuki and Hotel Tomo properties in San Francisco Japantown. A 16-year veteran in the hotel business, Henry was formerly the general manager of the Hotel Kabuki. He also served as the general manager of both the Radisson Hotel San Francisco Fisherman's Wharf and Radisson Hotel San Francisco Airport Bay Front.

“John has supported the Japantown Foundation for several years and plays a key role in the economic vibrancy of the neighborhood,” said Donald K. Tamaki, foundation board president, “He will strengthen an already incredible board of directors and help our organization continue serving the Japantown community.”

Henry joins existing board members Tamaki, Hats Aizawa, Bob Hamaguchi, Richard Hashimoto, Mary Ishisaki, Keith Kamisugi, Diane Matsuda, Jon Osaki, Allen Okamoto, Jerry Ono, and June-Ko Nakagawa.

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation’s mission is to support cultural, community and educational activities for San Francisco Japantown. The Foundation (http://japantownfoundation.org) provides grants to not-for-profit organizations, groups and individuals conducting projects aligned with or further the Foundation’s mission. The foundation was formed in December 2006 through generous endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP. Including its 2013 grants, the Foundation has provided more than $635,000 in funding since 2007.

Japantown Foundation Awards Grants to 11 Organizations

The board of directors of the San Francisco Japantown Foundation this week approved $35,000 in grants to 11 nonprofit organizations.

• Asian Pacific Islander Legal Outreach ($1,000)

• GenRyu Arts ($1,000)

• Japanese Cultural and Community Center of Northern California ($5,000)

• Kimochi, Inc. ($5,000)

• Kokoro Assisted Living, Inc. ($1,000)

• National Japanese American Historical Society ($5,000)

• Nichi Bei Foundation ($5,000)

• Nihonmachi Little Friends ($5,000)

• Nihonmachi Street Fair ($1,000)

• Parent Teacher Community Council of the Japanese Bilingual Bicultural Program ($1,000)

• Sakura Matsuri Inc. ($5,000)

These organizations demonstrated the value of their organization to the Japantown community, the effectiveness of their services and/or activities, and their financial sustainability.

Our 2013 grants program differed from previous years in two ways: (1) we provided direct grants without requiring a matching fund requirement; and (2) these grants are not designated for specific projects or programs, allowing recipients to use the funds for a variety of purposes (with some restrictions).

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation's mission is to support cultural, community and educational activities for San Francisco Japantown. We are dedicated to preserving and honoring Japantown's history, to welcoming and serving its residents, visitors, businesses, congregations and community organizations, and to supporting the growth and development of the community's Japanese cultural theme. In particular, we support activities that reflect the Japanese American experience, and activities that engage Japanese of all generations and other supporters of Japantown.

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation was formed in December 2006 through generous endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP. The Foundation’s mission is to support cultural, community and educational activities for San Francisco Japantown. Including its 2013 grants, the Foundation has provided more than $635,000 in funding since 2007.

Grant Applications Period Now Closed

The 2013 grants applications period ended on July 29 at 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Thank you to the almost 20 organizations that submitted applications for our 2013 grants program.

A committee of the Japantown Foundation's board will review the applications by August 12 and submit recommendations to the full board by August 19. We expect to announce our 2013 grantees on or around August 21.

Please email any questions regarding this process to board member Keith Kamisugi at keith@japantownfoundation.org.

Japantown Foundation Grant Applications Available June 27

The San Francisco Japantown Foundation is inviting applications from qualified organizations for direct grants of up to $10,000. Applications will be available at japantownfoundation.org/grants on Thursday, June 27, and are due by Monday, July 29, 2013.

The foundation's 2013 grants program will provide direct grants, rather than the matching grants provided in previous years. These grants will also be for organizations, rather than for specific projects or programs. The foundation made these changes based in part on feedback from community members.

Grants may be used for a variety of purposes, including but not limited to administrative costs, program expenses, or salaries. The foundation will award grants to organizations that demonstrate the value of their organization to the Japantown community, the effectiveness of their services and/or activities, and their financial sustainability. Startup projects or organizations founded after January 1, 2012, will not be eligible and grants may not be used to pay for past debts, or current operating deficits.

Applicants must meet several eligibility requirements, including status as a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organization, or be fiscally sponsored by a tax-exempt organization. Applicants may request up to $10,000, but the foundation may award grants in lower amounts based on funding availability.

Applications are due on Monday, July 29, 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time and grants will be announced on or around August 21.

"Our 2013 grants program continues our commitment to supporting organizations, groups and individuals working to advance the Japantown and Japanese American communities," said foundation board president Donald K. Tamaki, a partner with the Minami Tamaki LLP law firm. "I want to express the board's appreciation to our donors, supporters, and the community for their support of the Japantown Foundation."

The Japantown Foundation was formed in December 2006 through generous endowments by Kintetsu Enterprises of America, Jack Hirose, Hats and Amey Aizawa, Union Bank, and Minami Tamaki LLP. The foundation’s mission is to support cultural, community and educational activities for San Francisco Japantown. The foundation has provided more than $600,000 in funding since 2007.

For more information, visit http://japantownfoundation.org/grants.