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ELLEN ENDO JOINS GO FOR BROKE NATIONAL EDUCATION CENTER STAFF
Former Editor-in-Chief of "Rafu Shimpo" Becomes Chief Operating Officer of Organization
(Torrance, Calif. – January 5, 2007) – The Go For Broke National Education Center is excited to announce that effective January 2, 2007, Ellen Endo joined its staff in a newly created position of chief operating officer. No stranger to the organization, Endo served on Go For Broke's board of directors since 2004. In her new role, she is working closely with Executive Director and President Christine Sato-Yamazaki to advance Go For Broke's mission to preserve and teach the legacy of the WWII Nisei veterans.
The Nisei WWII veteran story in part led Endo to Go For Broke as she has fond memories of her late father's dedication to military service. Unlike many of his Army brethren anxious to return home after World War II, M/Sgt. Masami Endo (Service Company) was determined to stay in Europe. M/Sgt. Endo's commitment to the Army lasted 12 years, including service during the Korean War.
Re-enlisting in the U.S. Army extended his tour of duty, but it also meant that he would be able to stay close to Giovanna, the young Italian woman he hoped to marry despite the Army's policy discouraging such unions. Masami and Giovanna persisted and eventually were allowed to wed in a Catholic ceremony in Pisa. Daughter Ellen was born in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy.
Endo brings a wealth of community and entertainment industry experience to Go For Broke and will help to effectively streamline operations and raise the awareness of the organizations programs nationally. Endo comes to Go For Broke after five years as editor-in-chief/managing editor of "The Rafu Shimpo" newspaper. She previously worked for the newspaper as a high school and college student before leaving in the late 1970s to become a creative executive with the ABC Television Network.
In 1982, she joined Embassy Communications as vice president of development; and in 1987 was named MGM/UA's senior vice president, series development and movies for television, then joined Republic Pictures Productions in 1989 as executive vice president. Following Viacom's acquisition of Republic in 1996, Endo struck out on her own, co-founding an international television and motion picture distribution company, Duet Entertainment.
An active community leader, Endo is president of the Little Tokyo Business Association and represents Go For Broke on the Little Tokyo Community Council Executive Committee. She is also a former member of the USC Asian Pacific Alumni Association board.
She has four adult children, ranging in age from 18-33, and resides in Sherman Oaks.
The Go For Broke National Education Center teaches and preserves the history and legacy of American veterans of Japanese ancestry whose heroism and sacrifices during World War II triumphed over racism and intolerance. In addition to the Hanashi Oral History Program, whose collection is one of the nation's largest, Go For Broke's programming includes An American Story Teacher Training Program, www.GoForBroke.org educational website, and Resource Center.
Established in 1989, the organization (formerly 100th/442nd/MIS WWII Memorial Foundation) built the Go For Broke Monument near Los Angeles' Civic Center as an eternal tribute to those who served in the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, Military Intelligence Service (MIS), and the many other men and women who served overseas during World War II.
