National Education Center
Monument Anniversary
GO FOR BROKE MONUMENT 26TH ANNIVERSARY VIRTUAL TRIBUTE
Saturday, June 7, 2025, 2:00 P.M. PDT
PRE-SHOW 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 Sponsor
Patricia Honda
Ray Kunita
Tina Mashiko
In honor of Andrea “Andie” Kimura
-Richard & Masako Murakami
Michael & Margie Odanaka
Nancy Sagawa & Family
Robert & Ellen Sasamoto
Ken & June Shimabukuro
Tokuji “Toke” Yoshihashi
In memory of Lawson Sakai
-Joanne Sakai
Silver Circle Sponsor
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 Sponsor
In honor of Col. Young Oak Kim
-Dyanne McMath
Jon & Ellen Mochizuki
Shiz Nakawatase
In honor of Kayo J. Otaguro
-Eric Otaguro
Retirement Planning Advisors, Inc.
Giichi & Nancy Sakurai
In memory of Fred Shigeo Sugimoto, MIS
-Phyllis Sugimoto
Michael Sundborg
Donna Takahashi
Floral Tribute Sponsor
In memory of Ichiro Yoshihashi
-San Gabriel Nursery & Florist
*As of 6/6/2025
Watch on GFBNEC's YouTube Channel.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Sela Masaki, Grandchild of Tomoki Masaki, 100th Infantry Battalion/442nd Regimental Combat Team
HOSTED BY:
David Ono, ABC 7 News Anchor & GFBNEC Board of Director
Mitch Maki, GFBNEC President & CEO