Kokoro

The Little Tokyo Community Council (LTCC), a nonprofit community coalition of neighborhood stakeholders, will hold their annual benefit dance on Saturday, June 28, from 6 to 11 p.m. at the Nishi Hongwanji Buddhist Temple Kaikan, 815 E. First St. in Little Tokyo.

LTCC, founded in 1999, helps to preserve, promote and protect Little Tokyo, the second-oldest ethnic neighborhood in Los Angeles. LTCC provides a public forum for key community issues to be explained and discussed, while also organizing community stakeholders, including over 400 small businesses, 5,000 residents, 50 nonprofit organizations and seven faith-based institutions, to work together to create a unified voice to promote Little Tokyo’s best interests.

LTCC also works closely with small businesses, and supports the businesses and broader community through efforts and programming from its community-driven marketing initiative, Go Little Tokyo. As the challenges facing Little Tokyo continue to grow, support for LTCC’s work to fight for Little Tokyo’s future is critical. Funds raised from the dance will support LTCC’s efforts.

Doors open at 6 p.m.; music and dancing start at 7:30 p.m. The event will include live music by the band Kokoro, line dancing lessons, door prizes and an opportunity drawing.

VIP sponsor tables (for 10 people) for $1,000 will include dinner, snacks, treats and a special gift. Tables are also available at $750 for Shōtōkyō sponsor tables (10 guests) for dinner, snacks, and treats, as well as at $500 for Tomodachi tables (10 guests), which will include dinner and snacks. Individual tickets are $50 (open seating), and walk-up tickets will be available at the door after 8 p.m. for $35 (no seating, no dinner). Deadline for tickets is June 15.

There are many opportunities to support this event and LTCC. Sponsorships to help offset costs of the event are available; sponsor opportunities can be found on LTCC’s website. For those who are unable to attend but wish to support this project, donations are welcome and greatly appreciated. LTCC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations are tax-deductible.

Kristin Fukushima, LTCC’s executive director, said, “Community dances are a wonderful way to gather together to have fun, see friends, and support a great cause. LTCC’s dance enables dance lovers of all ages to also support our organization to help preserve and protect Little Tokyo.”

For more information on sponsorships, donations, ticket and table sales, contact Fukushima at [email protected]; Carol Tanita at [email protected]; or go to www.littletokyola.org/dance.