Grassroots Campaign is on for Hanashi Program

"Preserve the Legacy" – a five-week fundraising campaign of the Go For Broke National Education Center – launched October 5 and ends November 16. Its purpose is to raise $200,000 to fund acceleration of the Hanashi Oral History Program. (See "Program Highlight" on Hanashi background.) The Hanashi program uniquely preserves the legacy of the Nisei WWII veterans – the Japanese American members of our nation's "greatest generation."

Go For Broke seeks donations to accelerate the videotaping of veteran life history interviews. These remarkable men and women are in their 80s. It's a race against time to capture and preserve their stories for future generations. As they pass on, so too, does this important chapter of American history. To date, we have 740 interviews. Our goals are to transcribe, catalogue, and capture 500 more by 2010. The Hanashi collection provides case studies and core content for Go For Broke's educational programs and future exhibitions. It ensures that this inspiring American story is taught in perpetuity.

Gary Yamauchi, vice mayor of the City of Alhambra, leads 40 volunteers in person-to-person fundraising for Go For Broke's 2006 "Preserve the Legacy" grassroots campaign. Yamauchi's uncle, Tom Fukuoka, and his wife Linda's uncle, Joe Kadowaki, were veterans of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team. "It is an honor to help the Go For Broke National Education Center because we owe it to these guys – my generation of Sansei and all succeeding generations have benefited from the sacrifices of the Nisei WWII veterans. Their story needs to be taught to future generations of Americans. Through the Hanashi program, it will," said Yamauchi.

You can help us capture this vital legacy before it's too late.

Click here to donate now!

Gifts received by November 17 will be recognized in the December issue of "The Torch." Thank you!

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