Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Japan Relief Fund-Raiser

The days before I had left Japan, I had gone around, trying to find a place where I could help and volunteer.  After inquiring at different refugee camps, I did find a nursery where I could play and look after kids.  Unfortunatly, after one day volunteering there, Rotary decided that I had to leave, because of how close the Fukushima Nuclear Plant was to Sendai.

I came home depressed, home-sick for Japan, and feeling completely helpless.  As and eighteen year old with no job, no school, I thought there was nothing I could really do to help anyone.  On April 16th, I gave a speech at my 5960 Rotary District Conference.  I talked for fifteen minutes about my experiences before, during and after the earthquake in Sendai.  I also talked about what Japan was like now, since it was slowly falling out of breaking news.  I thought it went rather well.  My voice cracked a couple times when I talked about leaving, not being able to say goodbye to my friends, but I kept composed.  I was a good thing that I didn't look at my parents, who had come to watch, because apparently both of them had cried.  If I had seen them, I probably would of broken down.  Afterwards, lots of people came up and congragulated me for my speech.  One woman, who helped with organizing the Rotary exchange student orientations, came up to me, tears still around her eyes and down the sides, saying that she was very moved.  This kind of surprised me.  Although it was a stressful and somewhat painful experience for me, I didn't expect people that people would of been able to fully relate to what I had been feeling, but many had.

On the car ride home, my mom told me that this was an oppurtunity.  I had put myself on the map, and many Rotarians would be willing to help me out after listening to my story.  She asked me if I wanted to do a fund raiser, and I replied, "Yes."  We started brainstorming, trying to put ideas together.  We both agreed that the first step was to email Mr. Wegmann, the President of the Cannon Falls Rotary Club.  He thought it was a great idea, so he emailed some others to try to get something started.  A couple of weeks and multiple email fowards later, we've got something;

On May 24 at 7:00 p.m., the Cannon Falls Rotary Club and I will be holding a Japan Relief Fund Raiser in the auditorium of the Cannon Falls High School.  There will likely be a raffle/auction along with some displays about Japan and the disaster.  The money collected will be donated to Shelter Box.  The main event will be a 20-30 min. speech that I will give concerning my experiences and the state of Japan.   I'm asking anyone that comes to please give a recommended minimum donation of $10.  My goal is to raise $10,000 from this event and other ideas that I have brewing.  I know this is a high bar to set, especially since it's my first fundraiser, but I feel with the support of my family, friends, Rotary Club and community, I can reach it.  I hope to see as many people as possible at this event. 

Here's the link to the Facebook event, if you would be interested in going.

If you are unable to go, but still want to help contribute to my goal, I'm also asking people to send donations to my Cannon Falls Rotary Club at

CF Rotary Japan Relief Fund-raiser
P.O. Box 155
Cannon Falls, MN 55009



There are still lots of details that need to be planned out, but I'm really enthusiastic.  If it's one thing that Cannon Falls can be, it's supportive in a time of need.  I think people will also be very interested to hear about my experiences and my point of view since everyone has only been exposed to what the news has been willing to share.  I hope I can have your love and support too, and thanks.
The fourth floor computer lab at Tokiwagi about a week after the earthquake.