Charitable Foundation Funds at Work in the Community

During 2005 the Foundation supported a wide variety of charities and sponsored a number of very successful fundraising events. The Foundation committed donations to 29 organizations during the year for a total of $250,000. The highlight for the year was the Sports for Charity Event in May, which raised $138,000 and provided $50,000 in support to OPTIC.

Organizations Supported

- The Wheelchair Foundation - $84,000
Keiretsu Forum donated a container load of wheelchairs (280 chairs) to the Wheelchair Foundation at the December Forum meeting and committed to donating an additional 3 containers to help meet the goal of 1,000,000 wheelchairs provided worldwide.

- OPTIC - $50,000
The Sports for Charity event, held at Castlewood Country Club honored OPTIC with a donation of $50,000 and the event raised $138,000. OPTIC helps low-income people to develop computer skills to move out of poverty and into self-sufficiency.

- Hurricane Katrina - $43,000
Keiretsu Forum offered an opportunity to its members to make a donation to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina and Rita. Members from the Eastbay/Silicon Valley Chapters, Westlake Village Chapter and Texas Chapter donated funds.

- Hanna Boys Center - $21,000
Dedicated to turning hurt into hope for at-risk boys. Jack Lance and Mary Joe Potter serve on the board of the Hanna Boys Center.

- Until There’s a Cure - $8,500
An organization dedicated to eradicating Aids/HIV by raising funds and awareness to combat this pandemic.

- Counterpart International - $6,200
Funds raised to help support the rescue and cleanup efforts in the Region hit by the Tsunami.

- Gift of Hope - $5,500
Gift of Hope focuses on helping communities and inner cities by Building orphanages, medical clinics, & training centers. Gift of Hope is heavily involved in the hurricane relief efforts in the Gulf Coast.

- Oakland School for the Arts - $5,000
The Oakland School for the Arts was founded in 2002 to give students intensive pre-professional training in the arts while maintaining a high academic standard. K4 member Jerry Brown serves as Chairman of the Board.

- Camp Wamp - $5,000
Camp Wamp was founded by Steve Wampler is dedicated to providing a summer camping experience for children with disabilities. Hal Marsh serves on the board of Camp Wamp and spent a week during the summer as a counselor at the camp.

- Camp Wonder - $5,000
Camp Wonder provides a summer camp experience to children with serious and fatal skin diseases. The Williams family donated their time as counselors at Camp Wonder this summer.

- Tony Larussa’s Animal Rescue Foundation – ARF - $5,000
The Animal Rescue Foundation was created in 1991 by Tony and Elaine La Russa to save dogs and cats who have run out of time at public shelters and brings animals and people together. Neal Mitchell, a Keiretsu Forum East Bay member is on the Board of ARF.

- San Jose Jazz Society - $5,000
The San Jose Jazz Society is dedicated to its mission of celebrating jazz through performance and education to enrich and improve the lives of the people in the Silicon Valley.

Other organizations supported include:
Alameda County Sheriff’s Air Squadron, The Girl Scouts, UC Berkeley Women’s Golf , Next Door Solutions for Domestic Violence, Innvision, the Bay Area Tumor Institute, Jr. Achievement, and Valley Oaks Ranch, and Toys for Tots – donated 40 gifts to children who would not otherwise have a Christmas in the area.