HELEN YASUDA RECEIVES TANIMURA OUTSTANDING VOLUNTEER AWARD

Dedicated volunteer Helen Yasuda was the recipient of the 2009 Miki Tanimura Outstanding Volunteer Award presented by the Japanese American National Museum at its annual Volunteer Recognition event in May. The awards were presented by Museum staff members for volunteer done in 2009.

The Tanimura Award is named after Miki Tanimura, one of the National Museum’s strongest supporters in the institution’s formative years before its public opening in 1992. She and her husband were killed in a plane accident and this award, the highest honor the Museum presents to its volunteers, was named in her memory. Presenting the award to Helen Yasuda was the Tanimuras’ son Kirby and 2008 Miki Tanimura Award-winner Richard Murakami.

Yasuda, among her many activities with the National Museum, chairs the Volunteer External Relations Committee. This group represents the Museum at community events, such as carnivals and obons, and at cultural and educational gatherings. Yasuda also is a veteran volunteer docent, leading many school tours through the Museum exhibitions.

Ike and Ruth Hatchimonji, who were among only four people recognized with their 20-Year Pins, also were presented the National Museum Family Spirit Award by Museum President & CEO Akemi Kikumura Yano. Director of Programs John Esaki paid tribute to the late volunteer Hermelinda Nieto and presented the Museum’s Meritorious Service Award to her family.

The Volunteer Recognition event included the presentation of the Administration Award to Grace Kanada; Community Awards to both Kimiko Oriba and Sumi Iwasaki; the Program Award to Joyce Layne; and, the Lois Padilla Student Award to Kalani Kim.

The Museum’s Volunteer Recognition event is unique in that the awardees do not know they are being recognized until staff members announce their names during the program. The National Museum has hundreds of volunteers who help operationally and for special events, providing thousands of hours of service each year. In 2009 Museum volunteers recorded 39,790 hours, which equals $805,747.50 (figures are based upon current established hourly volunteer values of $20.25 an hour by the Independent Sector).