Fundraising Activities

YMCA Charity Runs
Under the leadership of physical fitness exponent and tv personality Chuck Wilson, the YMCA/FCSC organized the first YMCA charity run in 1987 to benefit Tokyo YMCA programs for autistic children. The first run attracted 27 teams and raised over JPY 3 million for some two dozen programs throughout Tokyo. Today, there are charity runs organized by 13 city YMCAs, which in 2003 raised almost JPY 35 million and supported 110 local camps and programs for mentally and physically challenged children across the country through the Challenged Children Project.

The FCSC continues to work closely with all the local YMCA Associations to continue to improve these events to benefit an ever increasing number of children. Runs are usually a 10-km ekiden (relay race), with prizes awarded for fastest times and best costume. Teams, raffle prize donors, and sponsors are warmly welcomed. For more information contact the YMCA/FCSC Director.

Conditions for each run differs from city to city. Click here for a menu of dates, venues, fees, and rules for the runs, which are held by the following YMCAs: Yamanashi, Kobe, Yokohama, Chiba, Hokkaido, Hiroshima, Sendai, Osaka, Nagoya, Mie, Saitama, and Tokyo. Or contact your local YMCA.

2003 Tokyo YMCA Charity Run Report (Tokyo Weekender) 

Embassy Concerts & Balls
The diplomatic community has been invaluable to the success of YMCA/FCSC fundraising activities since the very beginning, as ambassadors serving as honorary chairmen have hosted semi-annual luncheon meetings at their embassy residences and contributed their support to activities such as the charity runs.

In 1994, Sir John Boyd, British Ambassador at the time and an honorary chairman, hosted a charity concert at Number One House, where he conducted Mozart's Coronation Mass in C Major and joined four other musicians in an impromptu concert. This was followed by a charity concert that fall at the Canadian Embassy Theater hosted by then Ambassador Donald Campbell, and the tradition of embassy charity events began.

In 2000, the annual Spring Charity Concert (Tokyo Weekender) was hosted at the New Zealand Embassy by Ambassador Phillip Gibson in May, and the Gala Charity Ball (Tokyo Weekender) was hosted at Marler House, the official Canadian embassy residence, by Ambassador and Mrs. Leonard and Margaret Edwards in October.

The 2003 Grand Gala Charity Ball (Tokyo Weekender) was graciously hosted by H.E. Sir Stephen Gomersall, Ambassador of the United Kingdom, and Lady Gomersall at their official Residence.

General Campaign
The General Campaign has been the keystone of the FCSC's fundraising efforts for decades. Each year, members compile a mailing list from their business and personal contacts and send letters inviting contributions in support of the Challenged Children Project and Youth Leadership Development Programs. Each year, the General Campaign raises between JPY 6.5 - JPY 9.5 million per year, and continues to be an invaluable means of communicating the YMCA's mission and activities.

Corporate Sponsorships and Grants
The FCSC has steadily built a reputation as an effective and efficient vehicle for international corporations based in Japan to support the local community. AIU Insurance Company became the first FCSC Corporate Sponsor and YMCA Corporate Partner which, in addition to local level link-ups, such as participation in charity runs across the country, the partnership enabled the AIU-YMCA Learning Disabilities Project, which from 2000 launched pilot and research projects designed to improve conditions in education and the workplace.

A grant from State Street greatly assisted the YMCA Care Taxi Project, led by the Fukuoka YMCA, which provided training for taxi drivers to assist disabled seniors in transportation and other special needs. Since then they have continued to support the efforts of YMCAs across Japan by supporting Free Schools for children unable to attend regular school institutions.

More recently Citigroup have become the Official National Sponsors of the YMCA Charity Run Series, and through their generous support greater levels of participation and publicity has enabled these runs to continue to grow.

Other Charity Events
Charitable organizations have also generously donated the proceeds of their charity events to the YMCA-FCSC. Audemars Piguet and its agent, DESCO (Japan) Ltd., sponsored a charity auction to celebrate the Japan premiere of "End of Days," and donated JPY 2.2 million. The Japan Taiko Foundation contributed the proceeds of its 4th Charity Taiko Concert in 2000.

YMCA/FCSC Reports
To obtain a copy of our annual report, simply send us your name and mailing address, and the report(s) will be sent by post. The report is listed in our annual pamphlet, and includes information about sources of income, disbursements, and programs supported.