2024 April / Japanese American National Museum Raised Over $1.1 Million and Announced New Comprehensive Campaign Goal at the 2024 Benefit

Japanese American National Museum (JANM) Photo by Cultural News.

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Japanese American National Museum (JANM) hosted its annual Benefit and Online Auction on Saturday, April 6, 2024. Set at the historic Vibiana in downtown Los Angeles with the theme Illuminating Paths, the Museum celebrated the vital paths of community leaders who wove courageous stories with poignant lessons to inspire and educate the next generation and raised over $1.1 million.

The Benefit honored Duncan Ryuken Williams and Sunyoung Lee, director and creative director of the Irei project, and David Ono, host of Defining Courage. Festivities also included an online auction that celebrated the community with artists’ works and goods and services from local businesses and corporate partners; the Bid for Education program that makes annual field trips possible for over 12,000 students and educators; and the Lexus Opportunity Drawing that supports the Museum’s educational programming and outreach.

Ann Burroughs, President and CEO of JANM, also announced that the Museum surpassed its initial goal of $65 million for the Our Promise comprehensive campaign and increased it to $85 million.

“Reaching our initial goal for the comprehensive campaign has been a team effort driven by every department; empowered by our staff, board, and volunteers; and made possible with your generosity. Now we can continue to light our path forward with this new goal that will help transform our physical and digital presence, secure our endowment and build for the future, and provide compelling programming that tells stories in bold new ways, create new experiences, and share our resources nationally,” said Burroughs.

The 2024 Benefit was sponsored in part by Lexus, MUFG Bank, Ltd., U.S. Bank, ABC Stores, Kari Nakama and Kristine Nishiyama in partnership with Capital Group, Sycamore Tree Capital Partners, and the Takeo and Miyoko Yuki Family. The exclusive local television media partner was KTLA.