Stamford Festival Will Aid Japan

When Stamford celebrates the rebirth of the South End on June 18 at the First Annual Stamford on the Sound event, it will also aid in the rebuilding of Japan, thanks to Bobby Valentine. At this stage in his life Valentine describes himself as “a connector” who knows how to make things happen.

“I am lucky to know a lot of people and have done a lot of things,” Stamford’s director of Public Safety and Public Health said Wednesday at a press conference announcing the winetasting event.

One of Valentine’s acquaintances is Gary Moriwaki, President of the Japanese American Association of New York, who has people on the ground in Japan looking for supplies and helping the country re-build. Valentine, who is also an ESPN baseball analyst, says money raised at Stamford on the Sound will go directly to help those in need in Japan.

“It’s not like the money is going into a black hole somewhere,” Valentine joked.

Moriwaki was in Tokyo on March 11 when the earthquake and tsunami hit. He gave a slide show that depicted the devastation he and other JAA members saw. One photo shows a sign that says “Ganbaru,” a Japanese word meaning “stick it out.” Moriwaki said that’s the attitude of the Japanese people.

“If you saw how people responded with so much dignity and courage, you would know the country will be rebuilt,” Moriwaki said during the press conference.

Stamford on the Sound will take place on June 18 from 6 to 9 p.m. at Commons Park, 101 Washington Blvd. Tickets and more information can be found on the event’s website.

Have you done anything to help Japan? Will you attend Stamford on the Sound?

 

Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.