Orphan Fundraiser

Donations are still being received by The International Women in Action (IWA) for children orphaned by the earthquake, tsunami, and ongoing radiation crisis in Fukushima Prefecture, northeast of Tokyo.

The IWA hosted a fundraiser called "Celebrate the Holidays Japanese Style" on Sunday, November 6, in Indianapolis Indiana. Organizer, Julie Pappas, recruited more than 100 volunteers to teach Japanese crafts of origami, kirigami, furoshiki, and shodo. The afternoon charity event also featured an Ikebana demonstration, craft sales, and silent auction. In addition, Azusa Miyawaki gave a first-hand account of how the devastation of March 11 impacted her family living in the Fukushima area.

Proceeds from this event will benefit Japanese children orphaned by the crisis. Donations for this purpose can be made on the Nippon Initiative's donor site: www.nipponnow.org. Simply click on "Invest" and chose "Give".

For more on Sunday's fundraiser, watch NI's interview with Julie Pappas on YouTube.