AREAA Education Foundation
The AREAA Education Foundation, a 501 c (3) organization, is dedicated to developing future leaders who will transform the way the real estate industry serves Asian American and immigrant homebuyers. Our mission is threefold: To foster the leadership potential of real estate professionals serving the Asian American and immigrant communities To build stronger neighborhoods by renovating homes in hard hit cities and providing affordable housing to first-time homebuyers and their families To help communities in need by raising money to rebuild and rehabilitate homes impacted by natural disasters	Learn more about the impact of foreclosure on families and communities by watching this documentary produced by the AREAA Education Foundation.

Message from Foundation Chair Allen Okamoto

In March 2011, Japan was struck by a 9.0 magnitude earthquake followed by a tsunami of historic proportions. The number of lives lost is still unknown but is estimated to be 20,000 and the cost of recovery will be billions of dollars.

Soon after this tragedy, the AREAA Education Foundation made a commitment to help rebuild the lives of the thousands who had lost their homes, and launched a campaign to solicit donations to help build permanent housing. Through the generosity of AREAA members, and our sponsors and friends, we were successful in raising more than $400,000.

After considerable research, we decided to offer the donation to a project that we felt was a good fit. The Kagakuin University of Tokyo, in celebration of their 125th anniversary, built 11 structures in Ishinomaki City, high on a hill which is safe from future tsunamis. Ten of the buildings are permanent individual residences, and the other is a wooden building that will be used as a community center. The building of additional permanent homes is in the planning stages.

In October 2012, my wife and I traveled to Ishinomaki City to deliver the AREAA Foundation's donation. It was a very emotional ceremony, as many of the residents told of losing their homes, businesses and loved ones. The Foundation's donation helped pay for the completion of new homes, and we hope to contribute towards the construction of additional homes in the near future.

With sincere appreciation,


Allen Okamoto
AREAA Education Foundation Chair