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

Thanks to the generous support of our Evening of Aloha sponsors and supporters, we are able to continue its work to share the story of the Nisei WWII veterans. We invite you to be a part of this year’s hallmark celebration, and join us as we pay tribute to the 33,000 Japanese American men and women who fought for the freedoms and liberties of all Americans and for future generations.
  • 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 SponsorshipsDigital 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

Aerides General Store

Anaheim Ducks

Aquarium of the Pacific

Benihana, Inc.

Bishop Museum

Black Bear Diner

Brent’s Deli, Inc.

The Broad

Bunkado

California Fish Grill

Eric Chan of the LA Clippers

Chance Theater

Cherrystone’s Restaurant & Catering Co./Leonard Kim

Classics Flowers and Confections

The Contemporary Jewish Museum

Dalla Valle Vineyards

Effie’s Homemade Biscuits

Emerald Isle Golf Course 

Escape Room LA

Etude Wines

Dana & Lori Chong Eurich

Fairplex

Far Bar

Fugetsu-Do  

GFBNEC Staff

GFBNEC Torchbearers

Golden Entertainment

Golf N’ Stuff

Green Street Restaurant

Hawaiian Airlines

John & Leslie Hayashi

George Henning

Hikari Pearl Company Inc.

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 

Japangeles

Bruce & Janis Kato 

Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs

King’s Hawaiian Bakery & Restaurant

Knott’s Berry Farms

Nikki Kodama & Arnold Yniguez 

Kouraku Japanese Ramen

La Mirada Theatre

Landry’s

Langer’s Delicatessen

Larsen’s Restaurants

Littlest & Co

Lorin Backe Photography 

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Conservancy

Judi Masuda

Mitchell T. Maki & Cayleen Nakamura

Maui Coast Hotel

Mingei International Museum

Miracle Springs Resort & Spa

MoPOP

Mr. Ramen

Museum of Tolerance

Dan & Chloe Nishikawa

Nitto Tire U.S.A. Inc.

Nothing Bundt Cakes 

Pacific Battleship Center – Battleship IOWA Museum

Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier

Pacific Science Center

Panera Bread

Paramount Pictures Corporation

Pasadena Ice Skating Center

Pink’s Famous Hot Dogs

Portillo’s

Raising Cane’s 

Red Jeep Tours

Richard Nixon Foundation

Roclord Studio

Rose Bowl Aquatic Center

Nancy Sagawa

Santa Barbara Zoo

Seattle Shakespeare Company

Seki, NIshimura & Watase, PLC

Bill & Christy Seki

Sender One Climbing 

SFMOMA

Skirball Cultural Center

Smoke House Restaurant Inc.

South Coast Botanic Garden

South Coast Repertory

Spirit Cruises

Sprouts

Don Tahara

Scott & Susan Takahashi

Tea Master of Little Tokyo

Theatre West 

Tierra Murra by Ecommshipments

Toji Law, APC

Touchstone Climbing 

Trattoria Farfalla

UCLA Athletics

Universal Studios Hollywood

USS Midway Museum

USS Missouri Memorial Association, Inc.

VI Resorts 

VJB Cellars

Wahoo’s

Ron Wakabayashi

Wellington Cellars

Wheel of Fortune | Sony Pictures Television

Yancha by Shuko Akune

Pat Yee

Yoga House

Media Sponsor
The Rafu Shimpo 

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 IwatakiCraig 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

Yoshio “Yosh” Nakamura, 442nd Regimental Combat Team in 1943 (left) and 2019 (right)

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.

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