Anime Expo is excited to announce that this past year’s Charity Auction raised $16,040 for Japan Society’s Earthquake Relief Fund.

Charity Auction items provided by AX Guests of Honor and industry partners included an original Kill la Kill sketch by character designer SUSHIO, a street pole banner from Anime Expo 2013, a signed Space Dandy poster, an original Sword Art Online sketch by character designer abec, an Anime Expo 2014 poster signed by all the Guests of Honor, a Sailor Moon transformation brooch pillow signed by the classic series’ voice cast, an original Mighty No. 9 sketch by Keiji Inafune, and much, much more.

Japan Society is one of the largest U.S. nonprofit organizations that is focused on building a mutual understanding and appreciation between the Unites States and Japan. Since its inception in 1907, Japan Society has continued to serve global audiences through innovative programs in public policy, business, culture, language, and education.

After Japan was hit by the Tōhoku earthquake on March 11, 2011, Japan Society immediately created the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund (JERF) the following day. Its purpose serves as a disaster relief fund to aid victims who’ve suffered from the earthquake. Japan’s recovery is expected to take a minimum of five years; with this in mind, Japan Society continues to support organizations that will contribute to the recovery and reconstruction of the area. One hundred percent of all contributions to the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund go straight to the organizations that directly help victims of the disaster.

Japan Society has a growing number of fund recipients who are involved in the relief and recovery of Japan, including World in Asia, Mirai Kikin, and Japan Civil Network for Disaster Relief in East Japan. As of March 2014, JERF has earmarked $13.6 million to 43 organization in support of 64 projects that focus on the reconstruction and recovery in Tōhoku.

For more information, please visit http://www.japansociety.org/earthquake