Konnichi-wa! Are you a frequent shopper at the Kadena Gift Corner or any of the other gift shops on Okinawa? Do you ever wonder how the money that you spend in the gift stores is distributed to local charities? Are you curious as to what the funds are used for?

The American Women’s Welfare Association is a non-profit organization comprised of spouse representatives from all services who are charged with the immense privilege of dispensing and distributing the vast sums of money that are donated from all the gift stores through-out our Okinawan military communities.

AWWA representatives from KOSC, MOSC, NOSCO, ACGO and OESC are charged with the distribution of funds to numerous local agencies and facilities that are in desperate need of assistance.

Sheri Fletcher and I, along with six other AWWA representatives, recently returned from two local islands, Miyako and Ishigaki Island, which have facilities that benefit from the generosity of AWWA.

We witnessed firsthand the effects of your contributions. The AWWA has helped fund everything from vans equipped with electronic chair lifts, to cars, to beds, to an enormous mortar and pestle used by a local day care facility for moshi making. The items purchased through funding from AWWA have made a tremendous impact in the lives of the residents (permanent) and clients (day-users) that utilize these facilities.

For the elderly, this could mean the difference between spending the day in a bright yellow, sun-filled room laughing and singing with friends or being home alone, wheelchair bound, in isolation, with no socialization. One look into these client’s eyes told us how happy they were to be sharing their day with their peers.

Especially heartwarming was witnessing the interaction between these residents and the staff as well as their enthusiasm, care, concern, and general fondness for each client’s well-being. This was evident upon entering every facility.

There was a genuine pride and excitement from all during our tours; we were treated to wonderful songs and dances and given small gifts to cherish forever. Some of these incredible people wait all year for our visits, practicing for months in preparation, despite physical and mental handicaps.

They are so thankful for our assistance and that we take to time to reconnect with them each year that the tears and gratitude are visible on each wrinkled face. Sheri and I will truly treasure our experience meeting so many wonderful characters while representing the KOSC and AWWA on this off-island trip.

Your continued patronage to our Kadena Gift Corner and the other gift stores will ensure that these well-deserving facilities are able to provide for the needs of their clients and residents while truly making a positive impact in their quality of life.

Thank you for this incredible opportunity and remember…the more you spend, the more we give!

Annette Schaefer

KOSC’s Helping Service Members’ Children in
DoDEA Okinawa Schools

The KOSC has a great tradition for giving aid to service member’s children on Okinawa. Since 2005, the KOSC has helped give close to $144,000 to DoDEA Okinawa schools. This was 41% of the money granted through AWWA, the American Women’s Welfare Association, American Welfare grants. Those American Welfare grants totaled nearly $350,000 since 2005.

AWWA, to which the KOSC belongs, along with the Army Community Group of Okinawa (ACGO), the Marine Officers’ Spouses’ Club (MOSC), the Naval Officers’ Spouses’ Club on Okinawa (NOSCO), and the Okinawa Enlisted Spouses’ Club (OESC) pools the clubs’ charitable funds for greater impact.

AWWA has a dual mission: One is to improve community relations within Okinawa through donations to Japanese welfare organizations, and the second mission is to provide opportunities and support to military families and base organizations through American Welfare grants.

Our school-age children benefited from almost 1/2 of the total charitable contribution to American military families and organizations. The requests coming from elementary schools and the three middle schools have been for assistance with sheet music, visiting artists, literacy programs, art supplies, and agendas.

However, the majority of requests are from our two high schools on the island. The KOSC has helped the music departments with marching band uniforms, music, and equipment for sets. Our athletic teams benefited with grants for travel and lodging expenses, and also equipment and uniforms.

Every year we aid our seniors with their Project Graduation celebrations. The cheerleaders, art departments, Model UN, JRROTC and MCJRROTC, and others received contributions from KOSC and AWWA.

Every year the KOSC enriches the lives of children of military service members stationed on Okinawa. The students are showered with thousands of dollars to give them the fullest experiences possible. The KOSC is always looking for ways to contribute to our community.