No-Show Charity Ball

Nov 16

Annual ACCJ gala offers a chance to give through virtual raffle and auction

By C Bryan Jones

Last year, the coronavirus pandemic made planning one of the biggest dates on the American Chamber of Commerce in Japan (ACCJ) calendar difficult, and the Charity Ball Committee (CBC) rose to the challenge with a successful online event that raised more than ¥7.4 million—topping the 2019 gala.

Despite the hope that 2021 would see a return to the traditional format, it was once again impossible to plan such an event. But as a cornerstone of the chamber’s fundraising for community support, the Charity Ball remains a top priority and the CBC has organized a fun and exciting online auction and raffle which will run December 1–11.

“Though much has changed over the past year, what remains consistent is ACCJ members’ passion for supporting and contributing to the communities in which we live and work,” said ACCJ President Jenifer Rogers. “Each year, we are grateful for ACCJ members’ enthusiastic and generous participation in the Charity Ball. This year is no exception.”

The ACCJ supports Mirai no Mori, which creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned children in Japan. Photo: LIFE.14

Charities

The CBC and the Community Service Advisory Council select several charities to promote, publicize, and support each year with the funds raised through the Charity Ball. Favored are smaller non-profit organizations (NPOs) with specific needs that work to help the homeless and support women’s issues, children, education, and US–Japan relations.

Three NPOs to which the ACCJ donated in 2021 through the Community Service Fund are:

Hands On Tokyo, which focuses on children’s homes, disaster relief, and those with special needs
Mirai no Mori, which creates life-changing outdoor programs for abused, neglected, and orphaned children in Japan
Save Food, which provides cooked food through Commune, a cafeteria where people can have meals together and connect

This year, the chosen charities focus on the homeless through the long-established Mike Makino Fund, which supports the Sanyukai homeless shelter as well as the Franciscan Chapel Center and Tokyo Union Church rice programs.

Money raised through this year’s Charity Ball will also support the ACCJ Community Service Funds for Tokyo and Kansai, which traditionally help our communities through food banks, local children’s homes, and programs that assist these shelters for at-risk children and women. For the first time, the ACCJ Kansai chapter is collaborating with the Tokyo chapter on fundraising through the Charity Ball.

“The Community Service Fund is an important part of our charitable giving as it enables us to respond quickly to urgent needs and emergencies that come up,” explained Barbara Hancock, who chairs the CBC and works each year with vice-chairs Lori Hewlett and Kevin Naylor to plan the big event.

You could have Felix Sonnyboy and Rambling Steve Gardner perform a private acoustic concern at your office event or home party.

Community

Many great entertainers have lent their talents to the Charity Ball over the years, including:

Steve Gardner
Felix Sonnyboy
Kevin McHugh
Erika Abe
And more to come!

Due to restrictions on public gatherings, many have lost the opportunities to perform and make a living during the past two years. The CBC would like to highlight them this year and hope that you will support them as they recover from the pandemic.

Likewise, restaurants that have supported the Charity Ball, including Soul Food House and Devil Craft, have also faced businesses challenges, and the CBC encourages you to help these beloved members of our culinary community.

Auction

Singer-songwriter Felix Sonnyboy, in collaboration with artist Erika Abe, is auctioning off a one-of-a-kind, hand-painted sunflower-themed ukulele. The price for this item will include a one-hour ukulele lesson with Sonnyboy and a one-hour painting demo with Abe.

Together with Rambling Steve Gardner—a Charity Ball favorite—Sonnyboy is also presenting a private acoustic concert. The duo is offering either a performance at your office event or home party or a workshop/concert for your service organization, club, or school.

Gardner is also making available some of his amazing photographs from the Old South that are in his book Rambling Mind, which traces the blues across Mississippi in stunning black-and-white imagery.

Art lovers will be thrilled by a major offering organized by 2018 ACCJ Volunteer of the Year (Kansai) Royi Akavia, who is a long-term supporter of ACCJ featured charity Food Bank Kansai. For this year’s auction, Akavia and his companies—Double Bounce Productions, Inc. and KOA Production, Inc.—have arranged a donation which includes art by both himself and six other artists: DAAS, Eamon Harrington, Clifford Land, Roberto Mitrotti, Dorit Schwartz, and Shlomo Tuvia. A curated selection will be available for bid.

*Marilyn* by DAAS, print signed and numbered.
100% of the sale price goes to the ACCJ

More enticing auction items are expected between publication of this issue of The ACCJ Journal and the start of the event.

Join us!

While the No-Show format is a departure from the traditional year-end gala, it builds on the great success of last year’s virtual event and offers even more opportunities for ACCJ members and their guests to support the chamber’s mission of helping the community and those in need.

“We look forward to your support for our charities and those who continue to struggle through the prolonged pandemic,” said Hancock. “Please watch our website for updates. We look forward to your participation!”

Learn more

Visit accj.or.jp/charityball

Sponsorships

Donations are appreciated in cash or products/services to be auctioned as prizes.

To support the Charity Ball, visit:

accj.or.jp/cb2021-sponsors-application