NEW YORK, December 30, 2024 (Ecnetnews.com)
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TABLE FOR TWO (TFT) USA, a non-profit organization that aims to tackle obesity and worldwide hunger, organized its 10th annual social action campaign called ONIGIRI ACTION to commemorate World Food Day. This year we were able to provide 1,464,180 school meals to children with 292,836 photos. Every photo of Onigiri posted to the campaign website or social media with #OnigiriAction helped provide five school meals to children in need. For TFT USA, a 25-cent donation is used to upgrade meals by adding nutritious elements such as fruits and vegetables in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods in the U.S. TFT funds one school meal to a child in East Africa and Southeast Asia with the same 25-cent donation. This year we saw many creative onigiri photos posted from 52 countries around the world and celebrated a major milestone: 10 Years of Onigiri Action! Nine “Best Onigiri Awards 2024” were selected to commemorate this success and announced on the campaign website.
The campaign is generously supported by our partner organizations in the U.S. below and global partners:
J.C.C. Fund/Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of New York, JFC International/Nishiki, JCAW, Zojirushi America, San-J, ITOCHU International & ITOCHU Europe, SMBC Global Foundation, Misuzu Corporation, MUFG Bank, Mishima Foods U.S.A., Q&B Foods,Inc., Juroku Cha, Onigiri partners: BentOn, Onigilly,Sunny Blue, Omusubee, The Onigiri Stand
In celebration of 10 years of Onigiri Action, we held several special events. There was a voting event called The Onigiri Cup where people selected their favorite onigiri fillings out of 10 options. Salmon was chosen as the top option, followed by Tuna Mayo and then Ume Plum. Onigiri with the winning fillings will be donated by our partner BentOn to a school in New York City. We additionally held two events that featured KimonoMom, a former Geisha cooking influencer. The first was part of our Ouchigohan! – Japanese Home Cooking series where participants made delicious onigiri with her. The second was a lecture with the Japan Foundation Los Angeles where she discussed her journey. Our final 10th anniversary event was a Nationwide Celebration that connected 10 cities. It was a hybrid event with 200 people that included fun icebreaker activities and a cook along where participants made tuna mayo as well as creative onigiri.
We additionally continued the “US & Japan College Relay Baton Touch!” where two teams comprised of clubs and associations from Japanese and American colleges competed to finish the race first and submit creative photos. The White Team with students from the following schools won the race: University of Pennsylvania, Miami of Ohio, California State Long Beach, Ohio State University, Colorado College, University of Montana, Hitsotusbashi University, Nihon University, Toyo University, Ochanomizu University.
TFT USA is grateful for the partnership of donor organizations and all the schools, organizations, and individuals who came together with Onigiri to make a significant impact in providing school meals for children in need.
Source: TABLE FOR TWO USA
