A Farewell Message From Our Executive Director Naomi Kawamura
Dear friends,
After five years at the Nikkei Place Foundation, I will be stepping down as Executive Director. I will be pursuing an opportunity this Fall to lead a U.S.-based organization that I have long admired.
In the past two years, we have had to respond to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. This shifted our operations in significant ways. We also experienced the painful loss of our founding Board President Robert Banno. Despite these ups and downs, I am deeply grateful to the Foundation staff for the work ethic and commitment to Nikkei Place. I am also incredibly proud of what we have accomplished together during my tenure, including:
Significantly lowering the Foundation’s operating expenses year over year
Expansion of our planned giving program and significantly increasing the endowment
Ensuring our procedures align with best practices and Canada Revenue agency’s requirements for charitable organizations
Overhauling and redesigning the look and feel of our website with a focus on user experience
Awarding six Youth Bursary Awards to deserving youth since its launch in 2016.
Receiving several new awards from new granting organizations - including federal and international funding sources.
Thanks to our long-time supporters, the Foundation is also now in a healthy financial situation.
I am deeply appreciative to the Nikkei Place Foundation staff and volunteers who made the day-to-day work feel connected and personally meaningful. I will continue to support the future successes of Nikkei Place.
With gratitude,
Naomi Ostwald Kawamura