GO FOR BROKE MONUMENT 26TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL TRIBUTE

Saturday, June 7, 2025, 2:00 P.M. PDT

PRE-SHOW 1:45 P.M. FEATURING “HONOR A VETERAN” PHOTO GALLERY TRIBUTES

About

On June 5, 1999, the Go For Broke Monument, a striking dedication honoring the more than 16,000 Japanese American men and women who bravely served overseas during WWII, was presented to the City of Los Angeles. Since then, every year on the first weekend in June, GFBNEC has held a community gathering in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, to commemorate and remember their legacy.

In February of 2024, the groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new mixed-use, multi-story Go For Broke Plaza, featuring the First Street Residences, legacy businesses and the highly anticipated permanent home for Go For Broke National Education Center. Completion of the project is slated for late 2026. Due to the Plaza construction, and for the safety of our visitors, the Monument Anniversary Tribute will be held virtually.

Join us as we honor the remarkable story of the Nisei veterans’ courage, patriotism and sacrifice. It is a great American story that will be forever remembered within the Go For Broke Monument. 

 

Ways to Support

Now more than ever, your support is needed.

Help us continue our vital educational programming and outreach. Become a supporter of the Go For Broke 24th Anniversary Virtual Tribute. 

To mail in your contribution, download the sponsorship form. For questions, contact the Development at (310) 328 – 0907 or [email protected].

 

Sponsorship Opportunities

*All sponsors at the Bronze level and above will receive recognition as a Monument 26th Anniversary Tribute Sponsor in the virtual program and on the GFBNEC website.

Presenting $10,000
All of the above, plus:

  • 30-second welcome message in the virtual program 
  • Full page digital ad
  • Prominent recognition in event Sponsor Honor Roll
  • Acknowledgement in promotional materials & media releases
  • eTorch Profile

Legacy $5,000
All of the above, plus:

  • 30-second welcome message in the virtual program
  • Full page digital ad
  • Prominent recognition in event Sponsor Honor Roll
  • Acknowledgement in promotional materials & media releases

Patriot $2,500
All of the above, plus:

  • 1/2 page digital ad
  • Recognition in event Sponsor Honor Roll

Gold Circle* $1,000

Silver Circle* $500

Bronze* $250

Patron $100

Friend $50

Veteran Floral Tributes

Last day to order – Monday, June 2

Honor your loved one with a potted plant bearing the name of a veteran and the donor. Plants will be placed on the grave markers of the Nisei WWII soldiers interred at Evergreen Cemetery in East Los Angeles in conjunction with the Los Angeles Torchbearers summer community service clean-up day tentatively scheduled in July.

Each tribute is $50.

Honor A Veteran Digital Tributes

Extended Deadline – Monday, June 30 by 5:00 p.m. PDT

While the deadline to submit digital tributes for the Go For Broke Monument Anniversary virtual program has passed, we will accept digital tributes for the “Honor a Veteran” Photo Gallery to air on Veterans Day through the end of June. Photo tributes will include the honoree’s name and military unit. Each tribute is $200. 

Submission of honoree’s photo, name and military unit must be submitted electronically to [email protected] by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, June 30

General Donations

To make a one-time gift, you can donate online, or you can print mail your donation form along with your check made payable to: “GFBNEC” and mail to: Go For Broke National Education Center, 355 E. 1st St.,Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90012.

Thank You to Our 2025 Monument Anniversary Sponsors

Legacy Circle

Mariko E. Kumamoto

Patriot Sponsor

Scott & Susan Takahashi

Gold Circle

Patricia Honda

Ray Kunita

Tina Mashiko

Michael & Margie Odanaka

Nancy Sagawa & Family

Robert & Ellen Sasamoto

Ken & June Shimabukuro

Tokuji Yoshihashi

Silver Circle

Mark & Marie Hisaka

Noriaki & Janet Ito

Dennis & Lorraine Kimura

John G. Masaki & Jeanne S. Wada

Amy Matsumoto

San Gabriel Nursery & Florist

James & Barbara Sato

In honor of George Sugimoto

-Lisa Sugimoto & Don Nose

In memory of David Y. Tanji

-Irene H. Tanji

-Victor & Janis Wong

Bronze Circle

Jon & Ellen Mochizuki

Shiz Nakawatase

Michael Sundborg

In honor of Kayo J. Otaguro

-Eric Otaguro

Retirement Planning Advisors, Inc.

Giichi & Nancy Sakurai

In memory of Fred Shigeo Sugimoto, MIS

-Phyllis Sugimoto

Floral Tribute Sponsor

In memory of Ichiro Yoshihashi

-San Gabriel Nursery & Florist

*As of 6/2/2025

Watch on GFBNEC's YouTube Channel.

Stay tuned for this year’s Virtual Tribute at youtube.com/@gfbnec

 

KEYNOTE SPEAKER:

Sela Masaki

Sela Masaki, Grandchild of Tomoki Masaki, 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team

HOSTED BY:

David Ono

David Ono, ABC 7 News Anchor & GFBNEC Board of Director

Mitch Maki

Mitch Maki, GFBNEC President & CEO

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