Newsletter

I trust you are enjoying this season as the cherry blossoms are beginning to appear throughout Japan.

 

Please find below the April newsletter for HOPE. There is lots of interesting information including news from the Nagoya and Osaka Galas and the upcoming HOPE at the Hilton week and online Travel & Leisure Auction.
 
I want to say thank you for supporting HOPE at this time of economic difficulty. It is encouraging that when many of us are worried about our own financial portfolios that people like you do not forget those who are living in extreme poverty without even clean water to drink. Your ongoing support DOES save lives.
 
The HOPE staff and many volunteers are working hard in preparation for the upcoming HOPE at the Hilton week April 12-19th. In addition to the great prizes you can bid for online (www.hope-auction.com) there are also very interesting events to attend such as the Charity Cut (a haircut for only 2000 yen on April 13th).
 
We are also pleased to that the ACCJ in Tokyo and Kansai will be holding a special CSR event at the Hilton during that week, focusing on the subject of Social Enterprise.

 

Thanks too to the Hilton in Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo for donating 5% of selected restaurants to HOPE all that week.
You can find out more about these events plus much more below and on our website.
 
But I also have a request of you:  Would you help us spread the news about the Charity Cut, and various other events, along with the great travel prizes? 

 

Thanks again for not forgetting about neglected poor.

 

 

On the 6th and the 7th of March in Nagoya and Osaka, HOPE sponsors, HOPE supporters and HOPE staff put on their best and shared a wonderful evening of fun, music, and sharing of a very important message: In times of crisis it is important not to forget those most in need.

 

Thanks to the generosity of the sponsors and guests at the 2009 HOPE Galas in Nagoya and Osaka the lives of the Nhov family in Pursat, Cambodia (see bellow) will be positively transformed by gaining access to clean, safe water.

 

A record-breaking 21.5 million yen was raised at the two events earlier this month. The Osaka event, in partnership with the Ritz Carlton Hotel and under the chairmanship of Paul Dupuis, set a new standard last year by reaching the ten million yen mark and following up its success by raising over ten million yen this year. The Nagoya Gala, in partnership with the Hilton Hotel and under the chairmanship of Harry Hill, challenged by Osaka's great success raised 11.5 million yen this year.
 
"I am not sure I understand why we are seeing record giving," commented Lowell Sheppard, Asia Pacific Director for HOPE International, "but it may be that in times of suffering and fear of potential suffering, that people are more sensitive to those who are suffering more than themselves and dig a little deeper. One thing for sure, lives will be transformed for the better as a result of this outpouring of generosity."

 

In addition to a great line up of artists, a special appearance by Billy Blanks of the famous Boot Camp fitness DVDs, and fine food HOPE premiered a special video: Water; the video can be viewed on HOPE's YouTube channel

The next HOPE Charity Dinner and Auction is to be held on April 17th in partnership with the Hilton Tokyo.

 

Information about the Nhov Family Nhov is one of many families in Cambodia on the waiting list for a HOPE well. Her daily life is fairly typical of all families needing clean water. Nhov has 6 children, her husband works mostly in the jungle for other people to exchange rice to eat. Nhov and her two older children work planting rice, clearing land or cutting wood in the jungle. When they are short of rice they eat wild potato and bamboo shoot. Nhov wants to make her land green but it is impossible because of no water. When they are not working for others Nhov and her children clear their own land, hoping that when they get water they can start growing. Currently their water source is a small stream nearby, but during the dry season they must walk a long distance to get water to drink and grow.

 

Our next HOPE Gala will take place in the Tokyo Hilton on the 17th of April, with special guests Secret Ocean and John Janzen. Bid on items and learn about the work of HOPE with the world's poor.

 

The HOPE Tokyo Charity Dinner is part of our annual HOPE at the Hilton week which takes place at the Hilton Hotel in Osaka, Nagoya, and Tokyo. During this week come visit our water-themed display and learn about the world water crisis and how access to clean and safe water is the cornerstone of economic development. Also, come visit a few of the items that are up for auction on our special newly-launched auction website: www.hope-auction.com.

 

All proceeds of the HOPE auction will go to help HOPE projects so get out your competitive spirit and bid on the wonderful items that are up for grabs. Items include Hilton Hotel packages, a Trek bike, and Northstar adventure packages.

 

Eat at selected restaurants at the Hilton Nagoya, Hilton Osaka and Hilton Tokyo, and 5% of your bill is donated to HOPE.
Each time you attend a HOPE at the Hilton week event or eat in one of the selected restaurants you will be entered into our week long raffle. Raffle prizes include two Business Class tickets from Japan to the US, courtesy of United Airlines.

 

To make a reservation please contact us at info@hope.or.jp or phone us at 052 204 0530.
 
ACCJ CSR Event:

The Social Enterprise Space: A 21st Century Business Model where Corporate and Non-Profit Sectors Meet
Hear Bill Werlin, General Manager of Burton Snowboards speak on this interesting subject:

Hear panel discussion between Lowell Sheppard, Asia-Pacific Director of HOPE International Development Agency, Harry Hill, President of Oak Lawn marketing and John Sparks, chairman of Wall street Associates.

Note: This is an ACCJ event in conjunction with HOPE at the Hilton week. ACCJ Members and guests wishing to attend should book directly at the local ACCJ office in Nagoya, Osaka and Tokyo or phone HOPE at 052-204-0530 for further information.

 
Humanitarism in a Global Age: A case for International Development Lunch Special
Event in cooperation with the I.S.S. (International Social Service). Hear Patricia Bader-Johnston, Former Director of Communications for IBM and VP of Goldman Sachs speak on this interesting subject. This event will be bilingual.

To make a reservation please contact us at info@hope.or.jp or phone us at 052 204 0530.
 
CSR Special and Walkathon Kick Off Party
Hear Jon Sparks, seasoned adventurer and corporate leader speak on the importance of Giving Back locally and globally.

Formula Racing simulators
Sponsored by our friends at Race Fight Club (RFC) try your skills as a race car driver in a world class track in a profession Formula Racing simulator all week at the Tokyo Hilton.

To join any of the following HOPE at the Hilton week events or if you have any questions please contact us at info@hope.or.jp or phone us at 052 204 0530.