The Players Trust and Japan Society Gather in Tokyo to Spotlight Japan Earthquake Relief Fund Recipients and Ongoing Recovery Work

  Tokyo, Japan, November 12, 2014 /3BL Media/ – Japan Society announced it will host a press event in Tokyo to highlight the Major League Baseball Players Trust’s contribution to the Society’s Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (JERF), and ongoing recovery work the fund supports.   On Saturday, November 15, before the MLB All-Stars play Samurai Japan, the players, as well as representatives from Japan Society, the Players Trust, and the Major League Baseball Players Association will appear at a Tokyo Dome press event to hear from representatives of the five organizations that have received support from JERF and the Players Trust. The grant recipients will discuss their work and the challenges for continuing recovery in Tohoku, the northeastern region of Japan devastated by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami.   Additionally, a group of Major League baseball players, and Players Trust and Japan Society representatives, will visit the Tokyo store of JERF grant recipient Fukushima Organic Agriculture Network on Friday, November 14 at 10:30 am.   “On behalf of all Major Leaguers, I want to thank the Japan Society for all they have done to help us direct funding to the areas and organizations most in need of support,” stated Jeremy Guthrie, a Trustee of the Players Trust and Kansas City Royals pitcher participating in the All-Star Tour. “I look forward to joining a number of my fellow players in Tokyo to hear first-hand how funds from the Players Trust are making a difference in the daily lives of people still trying to return to a life or normalcy. Our hope is that others – whether in Japan or elsewhere – take notice of the great work that our partners are doing in Tohoku, and are inspired to join this effort, as so much more remains to be done. ”   The following players are scheduled to join Guthrie at the press event: Chris Capuano, New York Yankees; Mark Melancon, Pittsburgh Pirates; Tsuyoshi Wada, Chicago Cubs and Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners.   After the Great East Japan Earthquake on March 11, 2011, the Major League Baseball Players Trust, the philanthropic arm of the Major League Baseball Players Association, earmarked $1 million in aid for Tohoku, with the desire to support long-term recovery efforts. In October 2012, the Players Trust approached Japan Society to learn more about the work of JERF.   Impressed by the Society’s achievements through JERF and the long-term commitment to recovery, the Players Trust began a multi-year partnership with the Society, supporting five projects through the fund: Ashoka Japan’s Tohoku Youth Venture program, which supports high school and college student efforts to contribute to recovery in Tohoku; Fukushima Organic Agriculture Network, which supports organic farmers in Fukushima who have been adversely affected by radiation contamination; two mental health projects with the Japanese Medical Society of America — Kokoro-no-Care Nagomi in Fukushima Prefecture and Kokoro-no-Kakehashi in Iwate Prefecture; and a leadership development project with ETIC.   “We are thankful for and honored by the generosity of the Players Trust,” said Japan Society President, Motoatsu Sakurai. “Not only their financial support, but also for this unique partnership and shared concern for the long term recovery of Tohoku. Though we are approaching the four-year anniversary of the earthquake, there is still much work ahead, and the Players Trust’s initiative raises awareness at a critical moment.”   To date JERF has received nearly $14 million since its inception. In 2014 alone, the fund has received over $100,000 in contributions. Including the five mentioned above, there are currently 34 active grants supporting recovery projects in Tohoku.   Launched by Japan Society on March 12, 2011, the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (JERF) has received $13.89 million (as of September 3, 2014) from over 23,600 individuals, companies and foundations. Contributions have been received from all 50 states, and nearly 60 countries around the world. One hundred percent of the fund goes directly to support people affected by the disasters. To date $13.6 M of the fund has been earmarked to 43 organizations in support of 64 projects. For a complete summary of organizations and projects supported by JERF to date, please click here.   Those wishing to donate to JERF can visit www.japansociety.org or mail a check to Japan Society, 333 East 47th Street, New York, New York 10017; Attn: Japan Earthquake Relief Fund. Checks should be made payable to “Japan Society” and indicate “Japan Earthquake Relief Fund” on the memo line of the check. For additional information, email japanrelief@japansociety.org.   Japan Society is an American nonprofit committed to deepening mutual understanding between the United States and Japan in a global context. Now in its second century, the Society serves audiences across the United States and abroad through innovative programs in arts and culture, public policy, business, language, and education. For more information, visit www.japansociety.org or call 212-832-1155.   (Players listed above subject to change.)