April Dykes

“Children are our future.” This is a statement that I’m sure everyone has said or has heard said at least once. Children not only represent a hope for the future, they are the very building blocks that that future rests upon. It can be seen in the importance that every government places on education. Education isn’t limited to a classroom; it’s the lessons we’re taught by our families, communities, through after-school activities, and by life itself. Each lesson molds, shapes, and creates a

The Sawara Grand Festival is one of Kanto’s big three great float festivals. This breathtaking event is comprised of two festivals: the Sawara Grand Summer Festival, also known as the Yasaka Shrine Gion Festival (Sawara), and the Sawara Grand Autumn Festival, also known as the Suwa Shrine Autumn Festival. Together, these festivals have been designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property by the Japanese government since 2004. With a history spanning more than 300 years, w

Charity Santa is a nonprofit organization that was founded in 2008 with the motto "You too can be someone's Santa Claus." Since 2008, Charity Santa has made it its mission to bring joy to children around the holiday season with the hope of creating a treasured memory.