‘VISION, VALUES, VOICES’ THEME FOR NATIONAL MUSEUM’S 2013 ANNUAL GALA DINNER ON APRIL 13

Los Angeles, CA - The Japanese American National Museum will present its 2013 Gala Dinner, Silent Auction, and After Party on Saturday, April 13, 2013 at the recently-renovated Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Century City. This year’s Dinner theme, Vision, Values, Voices, will highlight how the National Museum’s work has successfully shared the first-person voices and evolving perspectives from the Japanese American experience. Throughout the evening, the Dinner program will illustrate the far-reaching impact of the Museum’s onsite and traveling exhibitions, public programs, national conferences, media productions, collections, and online resources. Additionally, the program will acknowledge the National Museum’s early supporters—George Aratani, Jim Hirabayashi, Manabi Hirasaki, and Senator Daniel K. Inouye—all of whom were pivotal in the creation of the mission and vision of the Museum.

Since its incorporation in 1985, the National Museum has remained dedicated to the fulfillment of its mission to “promote understanding and appreciation of America’s ethnic and cultural diversity by sharing the Japanese American experience.” Its vision is to ensure that the Japanese American experience remains relevant within the context of the larger American story and that the Museum provides a forum for all to explore their own cultural heritage and identity. Each year the Museum’s Gala Dinners have presented the remarkable stories from the Japanese American community, all of which have not only become an integral part of the Museum’s core work, but also continues to inspire and transform lives each day.

At the 2013 Gala Dinner, the National Museum will give special tribute to an extraordinary leader and friend—U.S. Senator Daniel K. Inouye—whose commitment to the principles and values of democracy influenced the formation of the National Museum’s vision and educational programs, such as the National Center for the Preservation of Democracy and the Bid for Education program which provides vital funds for bus transportation, admission, curriculum development, and educator training to tens of thousands of students annually. The Museum’s Board of Trustees has made a lead gift in honor of Senator Inouye for his Bid for Education program. Additional gifts can be directed toward the Museum by contacting the Development Department at 213.625.0414.

As the Museum’s largest single annual fundraiser, all proceeds from the Dinner provide much-needed funds for the Museum’s on-going educational programming, outreach, and operational needs. Major sponsors for the Dinner are: Signature Sponsors Dr. Paul I. and Hisako Terasaki and Union Bank/Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi UFJ, Ltd.; Presenting Sponsors Aratani Foundation, Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc., and Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.; Diamond Sponsors American Airlines and Guy & Audrey Watanabe; Emerald Sponsors American Fish & Seafood Co. and Wells Fargo; Bid for Education Leader Southern California Edison.

The Dinner Committee is led by Co-Chairs: Ernest Y. Doizaki, National Museum Board of Trustee and President, American Fish & Seafood Co.; Gene S. Kanamori, National Museum Governor and Director of Human Resources, Keiro Retirement Services; and Tammie Kanda, Director of Special Events & Programs, Corporate Communications Department, Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A., Inc.

The Gala Dinner includes a Silent Auction and a seafood buffet reception, hosted by American Fish & Seafood Co., which begins at 5:00 p.m. The Dinner program begins at 7:00 p.m. and includes the Lexus Opportunity Drawing for the 2013 Lexus 460 F Sport, donated by Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc., and the live Bid for Education. This year also marks the return after two years to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel which has recently undergone major renovations and upgrades.

For more information on the 2013 Annual Gala Dinner including sponsorships, individual tickets, Lexus Opportunity Drawing tickets, Silent Auction donations, and special hotel and airfare rates, visit janm.org/dinner2013, or contact via e-mail at galadinner@janm.org, or by phone at 213.830.5669.