FORMER SECRETARY OF TRANSPORTATION NORMAN MINETA TO SPEAK AT NATIONAL MUSEUM ANNUAL DINNER

Norman Y. Mineta, the first Asian American to serve in a Cabinet post, will be the keynote speaker at the Japanese American National Museum’s 2009 Annual Gala Dinner, "The Pavilion: Home, Community, History—Celebrating 10 Years of Building a Legacy", set for Saturday, April 25, with a reception/silent auction beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel.

This year’s annual dinner will recognize some of the Museum’s key contributors who helped make the construction of the institution’s Pavilion headquarters possible in 1999. Among those to be recognized are George and Sakaye Aratani; Manabi and Sumi Hirasaki; Dr. Toshio and Chizuko Inahara; Siegfred "Sig" Kagawa; Koichi and Toyo Nerio; Reiso and Shizuka Miyamoto; George Takei; Dr. Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki; Taul and Sachiko Watanabe; Frank H. Watase; Shoan and Shizuko Yamauchi; and Takeo and Miyoko Yuki.

The dinner will also pay tribute to the National Museum’s former President and Chief Executive Officer Irene Hirano for her 20 years of service. Hirano became the institution’s first Executive Director in 1988 and saw the Museum through its formative years and expansion into the modern Pavilion that functions as its headquarters in Little Tokyo.

Mineta was first named Secretary of Commerce by President Clinton in 2000. He then was appointed Secretary of Transportation by President Bush in 2001. Previously, Mineta had served for 20 years in Congress, representing San Jose. A long-time Trustee of the National Museum, he was recently named Chairman of the Museum’s Board of Governors. United States Senator Daniel K. Inouye held that position for many years before stepping down this year.

Said Mineta of the honorees, who have named many of the public spaces in the Pavilion, "I believe we are all familiar with people just like them. These are people who give of themselves without thought of personal gain or recognition. These are people who lead by example."

Sachi Koto, best known as a CNN Headline News anchor, will be the mistress of ceremonies for the dinner. Koto worked for CNN for 16 years and had a long career in broadcasting before launching a public relations and video production company, SKC, Inc., in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2005. Koto also serves on the Museum’s Board of Governors and was a member of the Japanese American Leadership Delegation that visited Japan.

Signature Sponsors for the 2009 Annual Gala Dinner are Dr. Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki, and Union Bank/Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd. Mr. Masaaki Tanaka, President and Chief Executive Officer of Union Bank/BTMU, is the Dinner Chairman. Presenting Sponsor for the 2009 Annual Gala Dinner is Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc. who also generously donated a Lexus 2009 GS 450h Hybrid for the dinner’s Lexus Opportunity Drawing. Diamond Sponsors include The Boeing Company, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Dr. William G. & Carol Ouchi, The Pacific Bridge Companies, and Prudential. The Sig Kagawa family is the VIP Reception Sponsor & Host for 2009.

For more information, call the Japanese American National Museum at (213) 625-0414 or go to www.janm.org.