All Proceeds from June 16th Fundraiser to be Donated to the Japan Society of New York
Astoria, NY - June 7, 2011 - While the March 11 earthquake and tsunami may be out of the headlines, their aftermath continues to impact the day-to-day lives of Japanese residents. The disaster left over 24,000 people dead or missing and over 100,000 children displaced from their homes. Basic necessities such as pure water, reliable electricity and uncontaminated food continue to be in high demand in some areas of the country. The projected cost of rebuilding Japan's infrastructure and businesses has been estimated as high as $300 Billion (US) and most experts agree that it will be many years before life returns to normal in the affected areas
A group of local musicians in Astoria, NY is banding together to hold a fundraising concert and raffle, with all proceeds being donated to the Japan Society of New York, a non-profit agency dedicated to cultivating a constructive and dynamic relationship between the people of the U.S. and Japan, and an active fundraiser for the Japan relief efforts.
The event is the brainchild of local Astoria resident, Mina Nakajima-Wu. Mina has previously worked with children in the public schools of Astoria on "the origami crane project" to raise funds for Japan and has been featured on television channel NY1 as "Queens Person of the Week." Her previous efforts have been featured in the New York Daily News, Queens Chronicle, Queens Gazette and Yomitime (a Japanese publication).
Along with the professional musical acts, representing a diverse mix of genres, from Classical to World Music to Opera to Jazz, Reggae and more, local children will be participating in the event playing instruments and singing. Mina feels it is essential to involve children in these efforts to raise awareness and much-needed relief funds for affected Japanese children and families -- it's a perfect opportunity to raise future philanthropists and show children the importance of helping those in need.
"When devastation such as the Tsunami/Earthquake in Japan occurred, children want to make a difference but don't know how. They are left feeling hopeless and helpless," said Mina. "This project will help them feel empowered to make a difference in the world, we as adults can support these children that are in our immediate area, and help the people in Japan."
One of the sponsors for the event, had these thoughts to share, "Many of the electronic manufacturers that we work with in reviewing HDTV and home theater gear, including Panasonic, Sharp and Sony, had their operations disrupted by the earthquake and tsunami," says Chris Boylan, Editor and Co-founder of Big Picture Big Sound, headquartered in Astoria. "These companies are still feeling the effects of this disaster and it may take years to fully recover. In the spirit of thinking globally, but acting locally we are proud to donate prizes for this important local charity event."
The concert will be held on Thursday, June 16th at 7:00 PM at the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Astoria, NY. Admission is $15 for adults and $5 (suggested) for children. More details on the event can be found at the web site: www.astoriamusiciansforjapan.com and on the Astoria Musicians for Japan event page on Facebook.
About the Japan Society of New York
Founded in 1907, Japan Society is a world-class, multidisciplinary hub for global leaders, artists, scholars, educators, and English and Japanese-speaking audiences. At the Society, more than 100 events each year feature sophisticated, topically relevant presentations of Japanese art and culture and open, critical dialogue on issues of vital importance to the U.S., Japan and East Asia. An American nonprofit, nonpolitical organization, the Society cultivates a constructive, resonant and dynamic relationship between the people of the U.S. and Japan. For further information call 212-832-1155 or visit www.japansociety.org.
About Big Picture Big Sound
Big Picture Big Sound is a specialty web site devoted to all things related to movies, HDTV and home theater. Founded in 2005, the site currently receives over 250,000 page views a month from over 150,000 unique visitors. With articles and reviews syndicated in eCoustics, Rotten Tomatoes, Internet Movie Database, Movie Review Query Engine, High Definition Database, Blu-rayStats.com, Cinema Squid and Google News, Big Picture Big Sound has become one of the most respected and popular sites for movie reviews and home electronics information. For more information, visit www.bigpicturebigsound.com.
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