Dallas coach raises funds for Japan relief
| University of Dallas assistant athletic trainer
Kaita 'Kai' Okitsu has joined forces with UD students to raise
awareness and collect donations for Operation Hope for
Japan. Dallas sports inforamtion |
IRVING, Texas - In wake of the devastating Mar. 11, 2011,
8.9-magnitude earthquake, which ravaged Japan with a 30-foot
tsunami, University of Dallas assistant athletic trainer Kaita
'Kai' Okitsu has joined forces with UD students to raise awareness
and collect donations for Operation Hope for Japan so that the
needs of victims will be better supported.
Born and raised in Japan, Kai decided to become involved with the
nonprofit organization (NPO) via his friend and fellow Japanese
native -- Tetsuya Hasegawa – the founder of Operation Hope
for Japan. Hasegawa resides in Rockwell, Texas.
Currently, Hasegawa, his partners and numerous volunteers are
working together selling wristbands, designing t-shirts to raise
awareness, and collecting water bottles. Hasegawa wants to create a
way to connect the people in his community that wish to help with
those who are on the ground in Japan meeting the needs.
Kai has helped Hasegawa's message resonate well within the
University of Dallas community. In spreading the word about
Operation Hope for Japan, Kai said he has received $656.28 in
donations, thus far, in part by selling $10 wristbands and t-shirts
at select UD athletic events and the Haggar University Center.
In his relief efforts, Kai is very appreciative of the UD Athletic
Department, the Martial Arts club, and of the students who have
helped him man the Operation Hope for Japan booth during the
aforementioned fundraising endeavors.
"I had help from Caroline Watanabe, Christina Gardner, Varea
Costello, Bethany Roessler, Kylie Yoshimura and Dylan Myers," Kai
said.
With numerous aftershocks wreaking even more havoc in Japan, and a
lengthy clean-up and rebuilding process in the undertaking, Kai
said he will continue collecting donations until things have
settled down abroad.
"We would like to use our donations to send supplies to victims,"
Kai said. "There are supplies being collected all over Japan to
provide the needs of victims, however, there is not enough money to
send those supplies. Unfortunately, these supplies are now sitting
at the collection centers and not actually getting out.”
In seeking to solve this problem, Kai said 100-percent of the
financial support they receive will be used for transportation
fees, allowing supplies to reach those in need.
"We will send money to an NPO in Japan called Yuimed," Kai said.
"Then, they will use the money we have collected, promptly."
Those wishing to make a donation should contact Kai at
kokitsu@udallas.edu or (972) 265-5772. Donations may also be made
directly on the organization's website by clicking here.
Of note, a banner has been affixed to the bottom right portion of
udallasathletics.com for persons wishing to donate at a later date.
Kai and Dallas Athletics thank you for your support.
About Operation Hope for Japan: This organization
relies on people donating both their time and/or money. Our goal is
to use 100-percent of the donations we collect to help the victims
of Japan.
We believe we can make a difference by providing comfort to the
victims of the tsunami and earthquake by understanding and meeting
their basic needs. (water, food, blankets, electricity, and
supplies such as baby diapers, flash lights, batteries, etc)
None of this would be possible without people like you coming
together for a great cause. We wish to show the people of Japan
that we care about what happened, and want to continue to support
them as they recover.
