Glitz and Giving

The Club’s inaugural Charity Gala promises to be a blowout for the ages—all for a good cause.

In these turbulent times, when nothing seems certain, it takes an extra measure of courage and compassion to help those in need.

That’s why Members of both the Azabudai and Nihonbashi clubhouses are gathering in April for a black-tie extravaganza to benefit five local charities working on youth and education issues. It’s a chance to make a real difference in the lives of community members while enjoying an unforgettable evening of tapas, Champagne, raffles, gaming and jazz.

Building on last year’s gala celebrating the 75th anniversary of Connections, the group has teamed up with the Culture, Community & Entertainment Committee (CCEC) to organize the Club’s inaugural Charity Gala. All proceeds will go to the five charities, which will continue to receive support from the Club throughout the fiscal year.

For those unfamiliar with Connections, it is a community within the Club that brings Members together through social events and charitable initiatives to make an impact in Tokyo and beyond.

“For whatever we organize—tours, enrichment classes or bigger events—all proceeds go to the charitable organizations,” explains Blanka Kobayashi, the group’s director of communications. “My hope is that through this gala and collaboration with the CCEC, everybody will see how Connections is working for the Members, the Club, the community and the people of Japan.”

The charities that will benefit from this month’s gala help people with special needs and those in difficult situations.

Do-It Japan is a project affiliated with the University of Tokyo’s Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology that is aimed at fostering leaders among children and young people with disabilities and illnesses. Established in 2007, Do-It Japan offers opportunities such as experiencing campus life and independent living after entering university, internships and overseas training. Through these, participants can interact and exchange information with adults with diverse values as well as peers of the same generation.

Bridge for Smile is a nonprofit founded in 2004 that supports foster children who cannot count on parental support due to abuse, neglect, incapacity, incarceration or other reasons. Through seminars, internships and other activities, the group teaches kids the skills they will need to live independently once they turn 18 and leave their foster homes.

For children of divorced parents, maintaining a relationship with the non-custodial parent is often impossible—only last year did the Diet amend the Civil Code to allow joint custody for divorced couples. Set up in 2017, the Tokyo Visitation Support Center is an NPO dedicated to facilitating visitation between children and parents who are separated or divorced. It provides a space where parents and kids can come together while striving to reduce financial burdens.

Art de Vivre is a creative space for people with disabilities in Odawara, Kanagawa Prefecture, whose aim is to provide “an environment where each and every one of us can feel at ease and connect our work to society.” It traces its history to 1990 with Hiyoko no Kai, a group of parents of children with Down syndrome. Opened in 2022, the current facility serves as an art studio, gallery and café.

Finally, Comhbo is an organization that helps people with mental health issues. Its goal is to create a society where people with mental illness and their families can regain their confidence and achieve self-fulfillment. It promotes evidence-based, high-quality mental health services and awareness activities including mental health literacy in schools.

Members attending the Charity Gala on April 19 will make a difference for these organizations and the people they help while also enjoying an unforgettable evening.

Tapas and smoked Hiroshima oysters will serve as a prelude to a lavish multicourse dinner featuring Kamaishi sea scallops, Snow Country pâté de campagne, paccheri pomodoro and filet of beef with Creole barbecued lobster tail. A decadent dessert buffet will delight the sweet tooth while a whiskey and rum bar serves up smooth sips.

The entertainment, emceed by the effervescent Mai Shoji of J-Wave and NHK, will include a sizzling jazz performance led by Member vocalist Andrea L Hopkins-Borroni and an exciting auction guided by the always engaging Stuart O. Prizes include a two-night stay at the Hard Rock Café Miami and an intimate Chef’s Table experience at 51 East, the Club’s third-floor Italian-American eatery. A silent auction and a raffle will offer even more rewards.

Those who fancy themselves high rollers can try their hand at games of chance for a good cause. Get lucky at roulette, craps or blackjack and trade in your winnings for vouchers to enter a prize drawing for everything from bottles of fine wine to hotel stays. Players must first exchange gaming money they receive at reception for chips. Apart from betting, chips can be traded for prize vouchers.

“For me, this is really important because it helps us give back to the community,” says Kobayashi, who is also cofounder of Nagareyama L.E.A.D., an NPO focused on entrepreneurial education for children in Japan. “We are all blessed to be able to do this and to help.”