On behalf of Alaska Japanese Club Homer, we would like to express our heartfelt gratitude to the incredible community members and organizations who have supported our Student Ambassadors’ delegation project for this 40-year anniversary with our Sister City, Teshio, Hokkaido in Japan.

We extend most deep thanks to Homer United Women of Faith at Homer United Methodist Church and Episcopal Church, the Kachemak Bay Rotary Club and the City of Homer for hosting our student ambassadors’ team’s presentations and donations. Your kindness is the cornerstone of our community’s unity and strength.

Our sincere appreciation also goes out to the Homer Foundation, Petro Express Chevron, South Peninsula Hospital and 100 Women who care for their community-mindedness in supporting the development of Homer’s leaders and relationships of the future. Your commitment to service and fellowship has significantly enriched our efforts and bolstered our activities.

We are immensely grateful to the Homer Public Library, Homer Council on the Arts, our Sister City, Teshio, the Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage, Tomodachi Daiko in Anchorage for their many forms of support in our mission to cultivate greatness in our youth while tapping reservoirs of innovation and friendship for Homer.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our individual donors to support our student ambassadors’ program in Alaska Japanese Club Homer.

And another big thank you to Gary Lyon, a big supporter as well as a long-term resident in Homer and an amazing artist. Our appreciation to Emilie Springer from KBBI for their exceptional coverage and advocacy for our Alaska Japanese Club Homer. Their dedication to sharing our story with the broader community is truly invaluable.

To all our volunteers, we are most grateful for your time, dedication, and hard work. Your contributions have been instrumental in making this project a success. Your selfless efforts inspire and strengthen the bonds within our community.

You all have made this trip is made possible by successful fundraising efforts which are acknowledged with gratitude.

With this opportunity, we are hoping to foster a deep, genuine sister city relationship by supporting cultural and educational exchanges between young generations. These exchanges are aiming to strengthen ties between the two cities.

You have all played an integral role in fostering cultural understanding, unity, and celebration within our community and internationally as well. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for your unwavering support and partnership.

Megumi Beams is the Alaska Japanese Club Homer director, sister city liaison/interpreter and Japanese International Exchange coordinator/instructor.