Japanese American National Museum promotes understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience. Located in the historic Little Tokyo district of downtown Los Angeles, JANM is a hybrid institution that straddles traditional museum categories and strives to provide a voice for Japanese Americans as well as a forum that enables all people to explore their own heritage and culture.
Toyota Motor North America has pledged $500,000 and five new Lexus vehicles to the Japanese American National Museum over the next five years. The vehicles will serve as prizes for opportunity drawings that the museum holds annually as part of its Gala Dinner fundraising activities. The cash and opportunity drawing ticket sales revenue will provide general operating support for all of JANM’s activities, including exhibitions, public programs, and educational initiatives.
“This multiyear commitment from Toyota is incredibly generous and just the latest example of the abundant support Toyota has provided to the Japanese American National Museum for many, many years,” said Ann Burroughs, President and CEO of JANM. “Knowing that we can count on this pledge for five years into the future gives us the ability to think and plan in important ways that will truly benefit the museum and the people, of all ages and backgrounds, who we serve.”
Since 1992, Toyota has provided over $1.7 million in direct funding to JANM. Since 2003, the company’s support of JANM has also included a brand new vehicle for the opportunity drawing, collectively valued at over $500,000. Additional support for the museum comes from Toyota employee donations that are matched by the company.
“Toyota believes deeply in the mission of the Japanese American National Museum and our ongoing support demonstrates our company’s overall commitment to the museum. We appreciate JANM’s dedication to educating the public about the Japanese American experience and the lessons it holds for today and the future,” said Tracey Doi, Chief Financial Officer of Toyota Motor North America. Doi also sits on JANM’s Board of Governors.
“It’s gratifying to have a company of Toyota’s stature make a multi-year commitment to the Japanese American National Museum,” added Rick Noguchi, JANM’s Vice President of External Relations. “The Lexus Opportunity Drawing has proven very successful over the years and unrestricted operational support allows the museum to use the funding when and where it is most needed as we strive to inform and educate our visitors.”
Established in 1985, since opening to the public, JANM has presented over 70 exhibitions onsite and traveled 17 of its exhibitions to locations around the world, including the Smithsonian Institution and the Ellis Island Museum in the United States, and several leading cultural museums in Japan and South America. Congratulations JANM, you deserve it~
For more information visit www.janm.org or call 213.625.0414.
