Keiro has announced the recipients of its 2025 Grants Program cycle, awarding $300,000 in funds to support 39 nonprofit organizations.
This year, emphasis was placed on program development, capacity building, and core operation support focused on enhancing at least one of the following quality-of-life elements, as defined by Keiro — health and wellness, purpose, connectedness, security, and autonomy.
“Connectedness was the most common element addressed by the grant recipients,” said Beverly Ito, Keiro president and CEO. “Bringing older adults and caregivers together on a regular basis, whether through lunch programs, choir practices, field trips, or other engaging activities, improves their physical and mental health, sense of purpose, and feelings of security and autonomy. We remain incredibly grateful for the ongoing work of these community organizations to enhance the quality of senior life across our community.”
Since its inception in 2016, the Keiro Grants Program has provided over $3 million in grant funding to more than 80 qualified nonprofit, community-based organizations that serve the Japanese American and Japanese older adult and caregiver populations in Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties.
An independent review committee, composed of community members with diverse backgrounds, careers, and community involvement, evaluated the proposals and recommended funding for the organizations. This year, the committee members were Sarah Fukui, Alan Kita, Nancy Okubo, Susan Uchiyama, Wade Utsunomiya, and Stacey Yoshinaga.
“It was an honor to review the Keiro Grants Program applications, each illuminating the changing needs of our aging Japanese American community,” said Kita. “I am grateful for the wonderful discussions shared among the dedicated committee members as we came to our recommendations. These grant applications and projects provide Keiro with further insight on the evolving priorities of serving our elders. Keiro is a living treasure and the perfect means to respect and appreciate the seniors in the community.”
For more information on the grants program, visit: https://www.keiro.org/what-we-do/grants-program
For this year’s grant recipients, visit: https://www.keiro.org/features/2025-grant-recipients
2025 Keiro Grants Program Recipients:
Asian American Community Media Project (AACoMP)
Cerritos Baptist Church
CharanPoran USA, Inc.
Continuing Education for the Nikkei Widowed
Crossroads Community Church of South Orange County
East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center
Faith United Methodist Church
First Presbyterian Church, Altadena
Gardena Valley Japanese Cultural Institute
Japanese Christian Church Federation of Southern California
Kansai Club
Kansha History Project
Leisure Club at East San Gabriel Valley Japanese Community Center
Little Tokyo Community Council
Little Tokyo Nutrition Services
Long Beach Buddhist Church
Long Beach Japanese Cultural Center
Los Angeles Hompa Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Los Angeles Men’s Glee Club
Makoto Taiko
Mission Valley Free Methodist Church, Nichigo
Nikkei Active Life Club (NALC) USA
Nikkei Choral Federation of Southern California
Orange County Buddhist Church
Orange County Friendship Choir
Orange County Japanese American Association
Oxnard Buddhist Temple
Pasadena Buddhist Temple
Pasadena Nikkei Seniors
Sakura Chorus
San Fernando Valley Meiji Senior Citizens Club
Union Church of Los Angeles
Venice Hongwanji Buddhist Temple
Venice Japanese Community Center
Ventura County Japanese American Citizens League
Visual Communications
West Los Angeles Buddhist Temple
West Los Angeles United Methodist Church
Zenshuji Soto Mission
About Keiro
Founded in 1961, Keiro improves the quality of life for older adults and their caregivers in the Japanese American community of Los Angeles, Orange, and Ventura counties. Keiro provides a range of culturally sensitive programs and resources, in both English and Japanese, to meet the evolving needs of our aging community. It advances its mission through a person-centered, innovative, and collaborative approach. To learn more, visit keiro.org.