Anime USA Charity Auction Announces Record Earnings

Charity benefiting the Taylor Anderson '04 Memorial Gift Fund earns $3,621.25
Anime USA's annual charity auction raised over three thousand dollars this year, more than in any year before. This year's auction benefited the Taylor Anderson '04 Memorial Gift Fund.

As a part of the Japan Exchange and Teaching Program, Anderson spent two years teaching kindergarten, elementary and junior high school students in the coastal city of Ishinomaki. She was last seen on March 11 after the earthquake, but before the tsunami ravaged the coast. Today, the memorial fund in Anderson's name benefits relief efforts in Japan.

The money Anime USA's charity auction raised for the Anderson Fund will bring Christmas to a Japanese orphanage through the Christmas Wish program.

"One of things Taylor's fund is about to fund is the orphanage Christmas Wish program and this will go a long way towards paying for that,” said Andy Anderson, Taylor's father.

“There are 74 children in the orphanage that Taylor's fund has adopted and they'll each receive a present, a Christmas dinner, and most importantly, JETs [Japan Exchange and Teaching Program participants] will be attending to spend time with the kids.”

Taylor's family attended Anime USA on Sunday and sat in on part of the charity auction.

For more information about the Taylor Anderson '04 Memorial Gift Fund, please visit: www.st.catherines.org/tayloranderson

About Anime USA: In 1999 Anime USA began as a northern Virginia convention started by fans, and in 2004 become a non-profit educational organization. Our mission is to educate the public about and promote Japanese arts and popular culture. As in the beginning, we remain a convention of fans, by fans, and for fans. Anime USA is a 501 (c) 3 nonprofit.

Anime USA 2012 will be held at the Marriot Wardman Park in Washington, DC. For more information and to register for the convention, visit us at www.animeusa.org.