Japan Earthquake and Tsunami Relief

The Venice Japanese Community Center offers its deepest sympathy to the people of Japan as well as their friends and relatives in the United States and elsewhere who have been affected by the tragic and devastating earthquake and tsunami. Many of us personally know people or have relatives in Japan. If you would like to donate to the relief effort in Japan, please send your monetary donations to an organization such as the Consulate General of Japan in Los Angeles, the Japan America Society (JAS), or the U.S.-Japan Council. The Consulate General’s office will donate directly to the Japanese Red Cross Society. Please note that the Internal Revenue Service does not consider donations to the Consulate General tax-deductible. We encourage you to research any fund to which you donate money.

The Japanese Consul General in Los Angeles, Junichi Ihara, has posted a message and some links where donations can be made at: http://www.la.us.emb-japan.go.jp/e_web/2011jishin_cgmsg.htm.  He specifically provides links to the JAS and the U.S.-Japan Council.

As a reminder, at times of crises sometimes scams arise, so please be wary of organizations that may claim to send funds for relief but are not reliable organizations. Make your donations to well-known organizations that have credibility, not to an organization you do not recognize.