2011 Ashikaga Disaster Relief Fund

1. 2011 Ashikaga Disaster Relief Fund

2. Use of the Donation from SCAS and the Situation of the 3.11 Earthquake Disaster Damage Mayor’s Office City of Ashikaga

3. Use of the SCAS Donations • The donation from SCAS was saved to the 3.11 Disaster Relief Fund of Ashikaga City. The funds were used to assist refugees evacuated from those areas hardest hit by the 3.11 disasters. • Food for refugees at refugee center – a total of 3119 refugees • Health Support – medical examinations for 74 refugees • Expectant Mother Examinations – for 3 pregnant women

4. Number of Refugees in Ashikaga Ashikaga City established two (2) refugee centers

5. Refugees in Ashikaga (as of January 27, 2012) 57 families 142 persons From Miyagi prefecture 4 families 4 persons From Fukushima prefecture 53 families 138 persons

6. Remainder of Funds Any funds remaining in the 3.11 Disaster Relief Fund of Ashikaga City will be used to support the remaining refugees and to assist Ashikaga residents in need of assistance to repair damage resulting from the earthquake and its aftermath, as needed.

7. These photos are typical of exterior property damage suffered in Ashikaga from the 3.11 earthquakes.

8. These photos show the structural damage done by the shaking during the 3.11 earthquake. Note the piles of roofing tiles on the ground and the very familiar tarps on the roof to prevent water damage.

9. Thesepictures show us some of the typical damage experienced immediately after the extended shaking of the first earthquake was felt in Ashikaga on 3.11photos

10. Ashikaga City government buildings were not spared damage from the earthquake. The quake destroyed the chandelier in the Ashikaga City Assembly Hall.

11. This photo was taken recently of some of the refugees still in Ashikaga as they ate their lunch in the refugee center lunch room.

13. On March 17, 2011 Springfield Mayor Frank Edwards and SCAS Ashikaga Committee Chair Carol Zerkle announced the creation of the Ashikaga Disaster Relief Fund. The Fund would provide assistance to victims of the March 11, 2011 earthquake and tsunami and their aftermaths who had been given refuge in the Springfield Sister City of Ashikaga and to Ashikaga residents needing assistance with earthquake damage. The Fund raised $31,945.34.

14. Williamsville State Bank and Trust (WSB&T) became the banking partner of the Fund. The bank donated all fees and service charges. THANK YOU, WSB&T!

15. In the slides that follow, we have captured some of the many events that were held to raise funds to donate to the Ashikaga Disaster Relief Fund. We regret that we were unable to capture each of the events staged to help the people of Japan. THANK YOU, Springfield!

16. Iles Senbazuru Arrives Ashikaga Mayor Ohmamiuda stands beside the Senbazuru (1,000 cranes) made by the students at Iles Elementary School.

17. Laketown Elementary School Classes Write Letters to Ashikaga Ms. Hummert's First Grade Class (back row, left to right: Principal Renee Roy, Volunteer Connie Magee, Student Teacher Amanda Libotte, and Teacher Julie Hummert)

18. Laketown Elementary School Classes Write Letters to Ashikaga Ms. Buxton's Kindergarten Class (back row, left to right: Teacher Mary Kunshek, Volunteer Connie Magee, Principal Renee Roy, and Teacher Melissa Buxton)

19. Laketown Elementary School Classes Write Letters to Ashikaga Ms. Madonia's Kindergarten Class (back row, left to right: Principal Renee Roy, Teacher Mindy Madonia, Volunteer Connie Magee, and Teacher Kathleen McGrath)

20. Springfield Southeast High School German Club officers present check to SCAS President Jennie Claflin for Ashikaga Disaster Relief Fund SSHS German Club

21. SSHS National Honor Society Bake Sale

22. Jane Hartman & The LLCC Big Band LLCC Music Professor Jane Hartman had visited Ashikaga as a member of an SCAS Jazz Delegation. Students from the two LLCC jazz bands donated all proceeds from their Spring Concert to the SCAS Ashikaga Disaster Relief Fund.

23. LLCC’s Stolen Moments Band LLCC Music Professor Jane Hartman had visited Ashikaga as a member of an SCAS Jazz Delegation. Students from the two LLCC jazz bands donated all proceeds from their Spring Concert to the SCAS Ashikaga Disaster Relief Fund.

24. Park District and SCAS form Partnership to Honor Victims of Japanese Disasters Park District President Leslie Sgro accepts check from SCAS President Beth McQuade for purchase of daffodil bulbs to be planted at Centennial Park in memory of the victims of the 3.11 Japanese disasters.

25. RAIN forces Garden Dedication Indoors Springfield Park District Trustees Tina Jannazzo and Sara Wojcicki, and the SCAS 2011 Ashikaga Student Delegation and Host Families dedicated the Centennial Park Japanese Memorial Gardens indoors after rain soaked the Springfield area. The group gathered around the architect’s drawings to pose for this photo.

26. Delegation Chaperones with Garden Plans The three chaperones of the SCAS 2011 Ashikaga Student Delegation have a memorial photo taken with the plans for the Centennial Park Japanese Memorial Gardens.

27. Bulb Planting Day has Arrived! Springfield Park District maintenance crews have prepared the daffodil planting beds at Centennial Park. The ground is finally cool enough to plant the cold-loving bulbs.

28. Pros assist Vols Chad Scaiffe and his crew from the Springfield Park District Washington Park Botanical Garden are the professionals. Sister Cities members David Cation and Janice Perino and others braved the cold, windy conditions to plant the second bed of daffodils.

29. The Job is Done Chad Scaiffe and the Botanical Gardens crew pose with SCAS Ashikaga Committee Chair Carol Zerkle after the bulbs are planted.

30. Ashikaga Visitors to Memorial Garden 2011 Ashikaga Gettysburg Delegation Leaders Masuda Shinji and Kashiwase Minako visit the site of the newly planted Memorial Garden on November 18, 2011.

34. In memory of the victims of the Great Eastern Japan Earthquake PEACE

35. The Sister Cities Association of Springfield thanks you for your generosity in support of the victims of the 3.11 Earthquake. Ashikaga City was able to provide needed assistance to disaster victims seeking refuge in their city with the donations made to SCAS.