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.

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