Tomodachi Relief Fund

Tennessee Tomodachi Fund for Earthquake and Tsunami Relief

Thanks to the outpouring of donations from friends across the state and across the country, JAST collected nearly $200,000 in the four-month period following Japan’s large-scale triple disaster in March of 2011.

JAST’s Board of Directors voted to collaborate with the New York-based affiliate of the Japan Center for International Exchange (JCIE/USA) for distribution of 100% of the contributions collected ($194,719).  JCIE, in turn, transferred the fund to six targeted relief agencies long at work in the affected areas.  We encourage you to follow their progress via the Center’s informative website at <www.jcie.org/earthquakeupdate.html>.

Now that relief efforts have transitioned to the longer-term recovery process, Japan continues to confront a tremendous challenge.  Restoring health systems and establishing special therapy treatments for mental and emotional trauma – especially among the very young, orphaned and aged – is a particularly difficult prospect.

That is why JAST’s Tennessee Tomodachi Fund campaign is now focused specifically on providing “PARO, the world’s most therapeutic robot” to senior centers, orphanages and other community-based centers in Northeastern Japan.  See for yourself how PARO can help those traumatized by the effects of the devastation on their families and communities at <www.parorobots.com>.

There is much to be done to improve the lives of victims who still suffer from these unprecedented tragedies.  Therefore, donations will continue to be accepted through PayPal or by mail at P.O. Box 190476, Nashville, TN 37219.  Rest assured that 100% of all donations to the Tomodachi Fund will go directly to the PARO project.

Thank you for your support!