Himeji, Japan

Mayor Phil Gordon, Councilman Bill Gates, and Jon Osterkamp, Chair of the Phoenix Sister Cities Himeji Committee, announced that the City of Phoenix has partnered with the Phoenix Sister Cities Himeji Committee for the establishment of the Japan Aid Fund that will benefit ongoing relief efforts for the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

According to the SHIZUGAWA, Japan (AP) - The official count of the dead in Japan's earthquake and tsunami is nearing 3,700, but that could be just a fraction of the actual number. Officials raised the death toll today to 3,676. Nearly 8,000 are missing and some 434,000 people were made homeless and are living in shelters. The missing include more than half the population of one town of 17,000 people, which was obliterated by the tsunami that followed Friday's massive earthquake.

To see a recent ABC News interview with Jon Osterkamp and family, click here

On Friday, March 18, 2011, a news conference was held to announce the establishment of the Japan Aid Fund.


Councilman Bill Gates, District 3 , City Council Liason for the Phoenix-Himeji Sister City affiliation, presents the first contribution to the Japan Aid Fund by the City of Phoenix	The first check contributed to the fund by the City of Phoenix

The City of Phoenix received a $1,000 stimulus check from Readers Digest We Hear You America campaign. Mayor Gordon has selected to use that $1,000 as the first donation for the Sister Cities Himeji Committee Japan Aid Fund.