
About
Go For Broke National Education Center’s Evening of Aloha is our largest fundraising activity of the year and provides vital direct support of our historic preservation efforts, engaging programming and enhanced outreach to younger, more diverse audiences. Last year’s event recognized 63 Nisei veterans living across the nation and highlighted our work sharing the Go For Broke spirit and legacy of the Japanese American soldiers of WWII.
The 22nd Annual Evening of Aloha Gala Dinner will be held on Saturday, September 23, 2023, at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in downtown Los Angeles.
Help us educate and inspire all Americans to embrace the spirit, valor and character of our Nisei soldiers by becoming an Evening of Aloha sponsor, placing a Digital Tribute ad and/or contributing to our “Fund the Future” initiative.
Together, we can honor their courage, patriotism and sacrifice at this celebratory hallmark annual event.
See below for more detailed information. For questions, email development@goforbroke.org.
Ways to Support
- Sponsorships – Evening of Aloha offers an array of unique benefits and promotional opportunities at every level. Sponsorship contributions help subsidize ticket costs for our Nisei veterans, other veterans and students. Note: Sponsor commitments and payments received by Friday, July 14 will be acknowledged in the Gala dinner invitation.
- Digital Ad Sponsor – Place a customized ad in honor/in memory of a veteran or other tribute messages. Note: All digital ads received by Friday, September 8, will be featured in the Gala pre-show and during the event.
- “Fund the Future” – Make a gift to our annual year-end fundraising campaign initiative to ensure that the story of the Nisei soldiers of WWII remains an important American story.
- Individual Tickets – Join us in-person at Evening of Aloha and be a part of the live celebration to honor our Nisei WWII veterans.
For more information about Table Sponsorships, Digital Ads and “Fund the Future” opportunities, please see our downloadable PDF form by clicking HERE. To make a payment online, click HERE, or complete the PDF form download and return by mail to: Go For Broke National Education Center, 355 E. 1st St., Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90012.
Fund the Future
Help us meet our 2023 fundraising goals with a gift that will benefit generations to come!
Make a contribution to our annual year-end fundraising initiative to ensure that our vital work continues to preserve and evolve the story of the Nisei soldiers as an important American story. With your support, Go For Broke National Education Center will be able to inspire new audiences through the character and valor of the Nisei soldiers who fought for the freedoms and liberties for all Americans.
Their Legacy. Our Future.
Thank You to Our 2023 Gala Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
Aratani Foundation
Ruby Sponsor
Rick and Patee Shinto & Family
Emerald Sponsors
MUFG Bank, Ltd.
Yoshio C. Nakamura Family
Bill & Christy Seki and Dennis & Lorraine Kimura
The Sugimoto Family – George, Lisa & Nathan
Platinum Sponsors
Bill & Christy Seki and Dennis & Lorraine Kimura
Nikki Kodama and Family
Gold Sponsors
Haruo Hayashi Family
Fukui Mortuary, Inc.
Pacific Global Investment Management Co.
Seki, Nishimura & Watase, PLC
Silver Sponsors
In Honor of Tets Asato – Dorothy Asato & Becky Asato
Terry & Gayle Hara
Frank & Betty Hiji
Gilbert & Penny Nishimura wish to thank the Vets and
their families for their contributions and sacrifices.
Your achievements will be honored and revered forever.
Nancy Sagawa & Family
Terasaki Nibei Foundation
Justin & Staci Toji
Watase, Derr & Nakatani
In memory of Kazuo & Mary Yamane – Joyce Yamane & Stephen Waite
Tokuji Yoshihashi Family
Bronze Sponsors
The Izumo Family
JA Community Foundation
Mitchell Maki & Cayleen Nakamura
Jeff & Akiko Maloney
Richard & Masako Murakami
James & Yuri Ogawa Family Trust
Sakai Suzuki Family
David & Barbara Sato
The Mas Takahashi Family
Victor & Janis Wong and David & Irene Tanji
Steel Sponsors
Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Japanese American National Museum
Japanese Cultural Center of Hawai’i
Keiro
Kinecta Federal Credit Union
Centerpiece Sponsors
Rosa Solis/Classics Flowers and Confections
Southern California Flower Market
As of 9.27.23
Thank You to Our 2023 Auction Donors
Bunkado
Eric Chan of the LA Clippers
Cherrystone’s Restaurant & Catering Co./Leonard Kim
Classics Flowers and Confections
The Contemporary Jewish Museum
Dana & Lori Chong Eurich
GFBNEC Staff
GFBNEC Torchbearers
John & Leslie Hayashi
George Henning
Hollywood Wax Museum Entertainment Center
The Huntington Library, Art Museum and Botanical Gardens
Terry Imagawa, DDS
Japanese American Cultural & Community Center
Japanese American National Museum
Bruce & Janis Kato
King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant
Nikki Kodama & Arnold Yniguez
Judi Masuda
Mitchell T. Maki & Cayleen Nakamura
Mr. Ramen
Dan & Chloe Nishikawa
Pacific Battleship Center – Battleship IOWA Museum
Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier
Paramount Pictures Corporation
Don Tahara
Scott & Susan Takahashi
Tierra Murra by Ecommshipments
USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.
Ron Wakabayashi
Wheel of Fortune | Sony Pictures Television
Yancha by Shuko Akune
Pat Yee
As of 9.27.23
Thank You to Our 2023 Fund the Future Donors
Robyn Achilles & Todd Achilles
Dean & Lynda Akiyama
Anonymous
In memory of Kiyoto Nakai – Anonymous
In memory of Richard Kingo Suenaka – Anonymous
Susan M. Arii
Nancy Brimhall
Matthew & Sheri Chan
In honor of Mitsuo Yamane – Francois & Marlene Chau
Alice Chen
Angela Chen & Sammy Hsu
In memory of Col. Young Oak Kim – Marcia Choo
James De Santis
Virgene K. Doyle
Edward Escarcega
Richard Ferraro & Kimiko Iguchi-Ferraro
In memory of Catherine Tanaka – Gerald Fukui
In memory of Catherine Tanaka, Soji Fukui & Hitoshi Fukui – Sarah Fukui & Cary Fukui
John & Denise Girardi
Nahan H. Gluck
Bill & Christine Gomez
In memory of Satoshi Goto – Viki Goto
D’Jon-Dion Griffie
In honor of Yoshio Nakamura – Rudy & Susana Guerrero
In honor of Tokuji Yoshihashi – Tom & Doreen Hall
Linda Hara & Victor Kato
Jennie, Art & Kylie Hasegawa
Leiton S. Hashimoto
In memory of Haruo Hayashi – Allyson Hayashi
In memory of Henry Kondo, E Co. – Kristen Hayashi
James E. Herr
Jay Hiji
In honor of Ralph Kaneshiro – Scott Hiji
Jason Hiroshima
In honor of Mitch Maki – Richard Hirschhaut
Joe Huang
Bryce Ikemura
Beverly Inaba
Meiko Inaba
In memory of James Ogawa – Priscilla Inana
In memory of James Ogawa – Stacie & David Inana
Keith M. Inatomi
In memory of Kaoru Inouye, MIS – Marvin & Dona Inouye
In memory of Kay Kawabe Ishii – George & Lory Ishii
Misako N. Ishizu
In honor of Yosh Nakamura – Robert Itatani
In honor of Roy Iwanaga – George & Jane Iwanaga
In memory of Masami Sammy Iwataki – Craig Iwataki
In memory of Tad Izutsu, 442nd RCT, K Co. – Lisa Izutsu
Annette Kabasawa & Clyde Sugimoto
In memory of Masato (Mas) Yamaoka, MIS – Miyako Kadogawa
Yuko & Masaki Kaifu
Judy & Franklin Kam
Edwards Kamiya/Kamiya Insurance Agency
Hal & Barbara Keimi
In memory of Lloyd Seki & Tatsushi Kimura – Andie Kimura
In memory of Lloyd Seki & Tommy Kimura – Dennis & Lorraine Kimura
Edward Kita & Evelyn Tuey
In honor of Allan Kobata – Kristen Kobata
In memory of Buddy Mamiya – Nicole Kodama & Arnold Yniguez
Christine Kohler
In memory of Catherine Tanaka – Kevin Kohler
Emiko Kranz
Kary Kuwahara-Willis & Jay Willis
Thomas Leatherman
In honor of Toke Yoshihashi – Teri Lim
In memory of Hitoshi Sameshima – Chad, Melissa & Ryson Maekawa
Jeffrey & Akiko Maloney
John G. Masaki & Jeanne S. Wada
In memory of Gail Tominaga – Lynn Mikami
Stella & Wally Miyamura
In memory of Fred Toshimasa Miyata – Laraine Miyata
In memory of Kenzo Morishita – June Morishita
Leroy M. Morishita & Barbara Hedani-Morishita
Ray & Mariko Motoyama
Richard & Masako Murakami
In memory of Iseo Machigashira – Henry & Sanaye Nagami
Stephanie Nagami
In memory of William Teruo Yokoyama – Dennis & Karen Nakaba
Mark T. Nakagawa
George & Helen Nakano
Helen Nakatsu
In memory of James Ogawa – Stephanie Nakayama
In memory of Robert Masao Baba, DDS, Medic, 442nd RCT – Ann Baba Newman & Steve Newman
Dan & Chloe Nishikawa
Mitchell & Lisa Nishimoto
Robert & Gail Nishinaka
In honor of Allan Kobata – Nikki Nomura
In honor of Allan Kobata & Dick Shinto – Patti & Michael Nomura
In memory of Takeo Murata, MIS – Hideki Obayashi
In honor of Fred & Fuki Odanaka and Susumu & Miye Ioki – Michael & Margie Odanaka
Norman Ogawa & Tamie Yusa-Ogawa
In memory of James Makoto Ogawa – Yuri Ogawa
Nancy Okubo
Dave Omori & Diane Lam
Tom & Katie Parks
Janice & Daniel Polizzotto
Susan Rhoades
Mary Sadahiro
In memory of David Saika – Sandra Saika
In memory of William Sato – David & Barbara Sato
In memory of Mitsuru Miyoko & Noboru Miyoko – James & Barbara Sato
Bill, Christy & Kiana Seki
Susan N. Sekino
Sempra – Corporate Matching Gift
In memory of Chikara Masai & Shiro Sera – Kelly Sera
Raymond & Sharon Shibata
Kenneth & June Shimabukuro
Lori Shiotani & Kenneth Nakayama
Randy Shiozaki & Family
In honor of the Kodama Family – Christopher Singh
Joan Koyama Stonehouse
In memory of Mas Takahashi – Linda Sturm
In honor of George & Ruri Sugimoto – Lisa A. Sugimoto & Donald R. Nose
In memory of Yoneto Nakata, WWII Veteran, MIS – John & Mary Sunada
Curtis & Naomi Taira
In memory of Robert R. Taira – Laurene Taira
In memory of Robert R. Taira – Tsuneko Taira
Vaughn Taira
In memory of Mas Takahashi – Anna Takada
Gail A. Tanaka
George & Shirley Tanaka
Janice Tanaka
Milton & Cheryl Tanaka
Karen Tanji & Jack Huang
In honor of Hughes Tatara, 442nd RCT, 3rd Battalion, K Co. – Taryn N. Tatara
Christina Tatsugawa & Clement Hanami
Tea Master of Little Tokyo
In memory of Samiru “Sam” Ikari – Mike Tohinaka
Staci & Justin Toji
In memory of James Makoto Ogawa – Sharie Lynn E. Tom
In memory of James H. Urata – Douglas Urata & Alice Roe
Midori & James Uyeda
Dorothy Wakamatsu
Richard M. Watanabe
In memory of Richard Kingo Suenaka – Kenneth & Candace Watase
Ethan Wong
Janis Tanji Wong & Victor Wong
Dakin Wun
Yabumoto Ohana
In memory of Noe Yamabe – Mary Yamabe
Takeshi Yamada
Ellen & David Yamakawa
In memory of William “Bill” Nobukazu Kuwada – Carole Yamakoshi
In memory of Helen & Frank Yamakoshi – Lois Yamakoshi
Gefferie Yee-Madera
In honor of Yoshio C. Nakamura – Norman & Patricia Yoshihara
In honor of Yosh Nakamura – Marilyn & Ray Yutani
As of 10.31.23.
Watch the 2023 22nd Annual Evening of Aloha Virtual Gala
Living Nisei WWII Veteran Photo Tribute

One of the Evening of Aloha’s most treasured features is the in-person living veteran recognition on stage. The 2021 Evening of Aloha Virtual Gala of this special tribute featured 88 living Nisei WWII veterans from 90 to 104 years of age from 10 states.
Email us at takeaction@goforbroke.org to confirm participation in this year’s tribute.
Watch the video and view the full list below of 2021 participants.
Thank You to Our Digital Tribute Ad Donors
Al, Pat, Gary, Paul Arakawa & Family
Friends and Family of Nisei Veterans
Neil Horikoshi
Ann Kabasawa
Randy Lowell
Chip & Lisa Mamiya
Ralph & Amy Matsumoto
Peggy Mizumoto
Ann Baba Newman
Quatrefoil Associates
Rascals Teriyaki Grill
Rising Stars Youth Leadership Program
Sakai/Ito Family
San Gabriel Nursery & Florist
David Sato
James and Barbara Sato
Mike & Ann Shima
Chad Shimozaki/North Torrance Optometry
Bev Shiroma
John & Mary Sunada
Scott & Susan Takahashi
Sandy Toshiyuki
Michael Yaguchi
Milo Yoshino
As of 12.02.22.
Thank You to Our General Donation Donors
Gary & Cynthia Arakawa
Susan Arii
David and Nora Bramlett
Danny & Doreen Haramoto
Honda-Ya Inc., Kappo Honda Inc.
Paul Ikemoto
Craig Ishii
Ike Kawahara
Karl & Nancy Kim
In memory of Col. Oak Young Kim – Dyanne McMath
Rich & Ann Mikami
Lynne Miyake
Kinya Minami
Galen & Phyllis Murakawa
Henry Y. Murata
Ken Nakagawa
LTC Mark T. Nakagawa (Ret)
Retirement Planning Advisors, Inc.
David Sato
James & Barbara Sato
Janis and Stuart Simon
Sandra Toshiyuki
Richard Watanabe
Marcella Yano
As of 11.15.22.