Compassion for Japan continues | In Good Company: Rose Dennis
Published 11:17 am Monday, May 2, 2011
It is very impressive how giving we are to those in need. To date, The American Red Cross has raised $171 million for The Japanese Red Cross to assist the victims of the March 11 earthquake and tsunami in Japan.
I attended a small fundraising event recently at the Kaname Restaurant in the International District in Seattle. Eastsider’s and restaurant owner’s Megumi and Todd Kanzaki opened up their restaurant and provided us with the perfect Japanese buffet to raise money for a Japanese widow who resides in Bellevue. Unfortunately, her husband was in the Sendai Airport when the tragedy happened.
Over $3,000 was raised in two short hours, with money still coming in. Megumi shared “We are impressed by how generous and warm-hearted the American people are. The majority of the guests do not know the family, but came to support us, as our friends.” info@kaname-izakaya.com, www.kaname-izakaya.com.
Megumi and Emilee Kanzaki
Japanese culture, food shared as money raised for relief
The Columbia Tower Club was the perfect venue (the sun was shining, so the views were amazing) to be at recently to continue supporting Japan. Compassion Japan was a fundraising evening sharing the Japanese culture with food, dance and music. The event was emceed by KING 5 NEWS Owen Lei; Scott Oki was the honorary chair. Scott is the co-founder and chairman of the board of a new nonprofit organization www.seeyourimpact.org, whose mission is to put 100 percent of the monies received to a cause designated by the donor. That one night, they raised $36,000 for the orphans in Japan. Another great thing about Scott’s new organization is that each donor will receive updates via email, along with an actual photograph that both specifically show how their donation is being used.
Scott shared, “I have been donating money for many years, and I never really knew how my donation was being utilized. Our goal is to communicate on a one to one basis so every donor can see the impact of their dollars at work.”
The live and silent auction benefited The Japanese Red Cross, via The American Red Cross. The auction raised $20,000, with the total night’s proceeds exceeding $50,000! Co-Chairs Dr. Yumi Abei, Gary Roberts and Dr. Sheree Wen all worked hard the past six weeks to make this event come to fruition. www.compassionjapan.com.
Miss Greek Pageant benefits Free Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
The annual Miss Greek Pageant contest recently took place in Meany Hall at the University of Washington. The Miss Greek Pageant was initiated by Christopher Chan and the brothers of Delta Tau Delta in the fall of 1986 as a charitable fraternity philanthropy whose proceeds were to benefit cancer research at the world famous Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center. Over the years, this event has supported research programs instituted by “The Hutch” and have helped hundreds of thousands of Americans afflicted by the scourge known as cancer.
The Miss Greek Pageant involves one contestant from each sorority at the UW. Preparations begin months in advance for the men of Delta Tau Delta as well as the women. This year $73,000 was raised for Fred Hutch.
Each female contestant is judged on: fundraising, talent, philanthropic services & community awareness, and personality.
The contestant who wowed the judges and was selected as Miss Greek 2011 was Meeghan Dooley of Alpha Delta Pi. First runner up was Bryanda Wippel, Alpha Gamma Delta, Medina. Other Eastside contestants included Laura Hedeen, Alpha Epsilon Phi, Sammamish; Marylynn Crist, Alpha Phi, Redmond; Shelby Ehlert, Delta Delta Delta, Woodinville; Lauren Richards, Gamma Phi Beta, Sammamish; Courtney Fields, Delta Zeta, Duval; Suzanne Myklebust, Kappa Delta, Bellevue. www.fhcrc.org.
Lauren Kuhn, Miss Seattle 2011 (left) and Meeghan Dooley, Miss Greek 2011
Fashion photographer film opens
I have never met famed “New York Times” photographer Bill Cunningham. Rumor has it, if you are walking on the sidewalk in Manhattan and he sees you, but does not take a photograph … you are seen as not being fashionable. Ouch!
We will have the opportunity to indirectly meet Bill and see what all the fuss is about in a new documentary about his work that opens on April 29 at the Harvard Exit Theatre in Seattle (807 East Roy).
Known as a cultural anthropologist, Bill has been seen for decades riding all over Manhattan on his bicycle, photographing and chronicling fashion trends that are worn on the streets for his column “On the Street” along with his photos of society events for his second column “Evening Hours.”
Anna Wintour, famed, glamorous, and longtime editor of “Vogue” magazine shared, “We all get dressed for Bill.” Now, to find that perfect outfit to wear to the opening. www.billcunninghamnewyork.com.
