Sister Cities Relief Fund and Proclamation

April 10th through 16th to be a Week of Compassion

During the City Council meeting of April 13th, 2011, Mayor Brad DeReamer proclaims April 10th through April 16th a "Week of Compassion" for Greenfield and Kakuda City.

Sister Cities of Greenfield Establishes Earthquake Relief Fund

In 1990, the City of Greenfield and the City of Kakuda, Japan entered into a formal Sister Cities partnership. This relationship allows our community to creatively learn, work, and solve problems through cultural, educational, municipal, business, professional, and technical exchanges and projects. Keihin-IPT Corporation has been a gracious partner in this successful program.

Since 1990, hundreds of residents from Greenfield and Kakuda have become lasting friends by staying in each other's homes, attending social gatherings, and touring the respective communities. Every year, Japanese students and chaperones visit the homes of Greenfield residents. A return trip by students from the Greenfield-Central Schools is made each June.

The tragic events unfolding in Kakuda, located just south of the epicenter of the earthquake, are deeply affecting our Japanese friends that have been made over the years through the Sister Cities Program. We recognize the immense struggle that many Kakuda families will be forced to face in the coming weeks and months and feel it imperative that we respond with a robust relief effort through the newly established Earthquake Relief Fund. Funds raised will go directly to Kakuda to address the city's needs.

To make a donation to the Earthquake Relief Fund, click here. Thank you in advance for your generosity!

Sister Cities of Greenfield is a member of Sister Cities International, a nonprofit citizen diplomacy network that creates and strengthens partnerships between U.S. and international communities. Sister Cities International is a leader for local community development and volunteer action. Sister Cities programs involve two-way communication and should mutually benefit partnering communities.

Goals are to:

• Develop municipal partnerships between U.S. cities, counties, and states and similar jurisdictions in other nations.
• Provide opportunities for city officials and citizens to experience and explore other cultures through long-term community partnerships.
• Create an atmosphere in which economic and community development can be implemented and strengthened.
• Stimulate environments through which communities will creatively learn, work, and solve problems together through reciprocal cultural, educational, municipal, business, professional and technical exchanges and projects.
• Collaborate with organizations in the United States and other countries which share similar goals.