Anime Expo dedicates annual charity auction to Japanese disaster relief
LOS ANGELES, CA - (April 11, 2011) - Anime Expo (AX), North America's largest anime and manga celebration, today announced that the proceeds of its annual Charity Auction held July 4, 2011 will be donated to the Japanese Red Cross Society. The fundraiser will give the tens of thousands of anime fans who attend AX a special way to come together as a community and support the survivors of the devastating earthquake and tsunami that hit Japan in March.
"The Japanese Red Cross appreciates the efforts and donations from anime fans in North America," said Sayaka Matsumoto, a spokesperson for the organization. "The money raised will help people in the disaster-affected prefecture as they reconstruct their lives."
The AX Charity Auction will feature rare and valuable pieces of anime and manga art, autographed collectibles and other items donated by AX Guests of Honor, sponsors and other industry professionals. Since its inception in 2006, AX has raised more than $105,000 for charitable causes.
"While news of the disaster may start to recede from the headlines by July, we know it will still be top-of-mind for anime fans who have a heartfelt connection with the people of Japan," said Marc Perez, Chairman and CEO of the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation, the non-profit that produces Anime Expo. "The team is working extra hard to make this year's auction our most successful fundraising effort ever with a truly amazing assortment of anime, manga and other one-of-a-kind memorabilia."
Last month, AX Live dedicated a special 2-hour episode of its weekly webcast to an online fundraiser for Japanese disaster relief. Their efforts raised over $2,100 through the auction of a VIP travel package to AX and other special items.
About Anime Expo
Held annually in Los Angeles, Anime Expo is North America's largest anime and manga celebration. Anime Expo gives fans the rare opportunity to meet and hear from some of the most famous anime, manga and musical artists from Japan and get into the action through everything from costume play, karaoke and video competitions to exclusive screenings, non-stop video gaming competitions and the wildly popular Masquerade, in which fans transform themselves into their favorite characters through creative costuming, accessories and make-up and put on their own show before an audience of thousands. AX 2011 will be held July 1 - July 4, 2011 at the Los Angeles Convention Center. To register or for more information, please visit www.anime-expo.org or call 805-654-0171.
About the Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation
The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is a non-profit organization whose mission is to popularize and educate the American public about anime and manga, as well as provide a forum to facilitate communication between professionals and fans. This organization is more popularly known by its entertainment property, Anime Expo®. For more information, please visit www.spja.org.