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GO FOR BROKE RECEIVES $45,000 GRANT FROM UNION BANK OF CALIFORNIA
(Torrance, Calif. – February 22, 2007) – The Go For Broke National Education Center, a nonprofit organization that gathers and maintains the nation's largest collection of WWII Japanese American veteran oral histories, has received a $45,000 grant from Union Bank of California to help fund Go For Broke's An American Story Teacher Training Program. The grant will provide funding for a workshop, field trips to the Go For Broke Monument in Los Angeles and oral history interviews conducted through Go For Broke's Hanashi Oral History Program.
"Union Bank of California believes the Japanese American WWII veterans' story engages students to explore issues of racial tolerance and civil liberties through their struggles, sacrifices, and ultimate heroism," said Bruce Corbin, senior vice president, Union Bank of California Foundation. "This story teaches core values that are imperative to educate future generations of Californians and we're very proud to support the Go For Broke National Education Center's teacher training efforts."
Eleventh grade high school students in California are required by state curriculum standards to study about segregated military units of World War II, which includes the Japanese American units of the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and Military Intelligence Service. Go For Broke's An American Story workshops enable California teachers to meet state requirements while learning how the stories of the 100th/442nd/MIS veterans can be applied in the classroom.
"Go For Broke truly appreciates the generous grant from Union Bank of California that will support our programming to preserve this significant but still not widely known American story and ensure it is taught in California classrooms," said Christine Sato-Yamazaki, executive director and president, Go For Broke National Education Center. "In addition, we'd like to extend a special thank you to Paul Abe, vice president and priority banking manager, Union Bank of California, who is also an active and valued Board of Director for Go For Broke and was instrumental in our receiving this generous grant."
In addition to the workshops, Union Bank will fund field trips to the Go For Broke Monument, located in Los Angeles' Little Tokyo district. Students will take a tour of the monument with WWII Japanese American veteran docents - who will not only explain what the Go For Broke Monument stands for, but also share personal experiences from the war. Moreover, Union Bank's grant will sponsor at least two veteran interviews, which will be recorded on professional quality digital video. To date, Hanashi has more than 740 interviews in its archive.
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 and An American Story Teacher Training Program, Go For Broke boasts a comprehensive educational www.GoForBroke.org website, and Resource Center.
The Go For Broke National Education Center was established in 1989 and 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.
