Hashi.org In The Newspapers

Local Businessman Funds Cultural Exchange Scholarship

By JENNA BROGAN
Posted: 08/16/2009 01:30:27 AM PDT


SANTA CRUZ -- When local businessman-musician Michael Downey visited Asia for the first time, he was inspired to bridge the cultural gap that separates America from South Korea and Japan.
Today, Downey hopes to accomplish that goal by funding travel opportunities to Asia for individuals like himself who want to learn first-hand from another culture.
Downey is CEO of Hashi.org, a nonprofit organization founded in 2006 and based in Santa Cruz that promotes cultural exchange opportunities between East Asia and America. He has been accepting scholarship applications for travel and study in either South Korea or Japan.
On Sept. 1, the organization, will announce who gets $1,000 to participate in an overseas program like those offered on Hashi.org -- including, but not limited to, home-stay, work, travel, student exchange or volunteering.
"We are reaching out one person to another, one country to another," said Downey, who funds the program with the help of his local business, Cypress Construction Services Inc.
Since the organization was formed, Hashi.org has awarded 10 scholarships to Americans, Koreans and Japanese, for the purpose of creating a cultural "hashi" -- "bridge" in Japanese -- between the countries.
Inspired to build that bridge in 2005 while touring in Korea and Japan with his band Michael J Downey and the World, Downey created
the organization in the hope of breaking down cultural stigma.
"We hope that this small experience will plant a seed in each participant, so that he or she will be able to understand another culture better and strip through the negative images presented by the media," said Downey.
Previous scholarship recipients include a Japanese graduate student who wanted to study the similarities and differences between Japanese and South Korean architecture and culture, and an American anthropology graduate working on her Ph.D. dissertation in Korea.
The scholarship will be awarded based on the applicant's need and on how well the intended use of the scholarship coincides with the mission of Hashi.org.
And according to Downey, there is no better time than the present "to extend the hand of friendship out there in the world."

http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/localnews/ci_13133509

2009 hashi.org American Scholarships are HERE

hashi.org 2009 Scholarships are here! Each year, hashi.org awards three $1000 scholarships - one to a Japanese, one to a Korean, and one to an American. The application period for Americans starts today - 07/01/09! The schedule is as follows:July 1st - August 15th - Application period for American scholarship.

September 1st - American scholarship winner announced.

Travel scholarships are offered on a competitive basis. They are awarded on the basis of need and overall intent for usage as expressed in the application essay. The scholarships could be used for a variety of overseas programs, including but not limited to: home stays, student exchange, volunteering, work, etc.

To be eligible to apply, applicants must:

Be 16 years of age or older.

Be interested in participating in the type of international programs that hashi.org promotes between South Korea, Japan, and America.

Be able to cope with the challenges of adjusting to different cultures.

Be able to fund the remainder of travel costs not covered by thescholarship.

Complete the application form.

Be able to use the scholarship within one year of receiving it.

Agree to allow hashi.org to use your photograph and selected portions of your bio to encourage others to participate in our scholarship program.

For information and application: http://www.hashi.org/scholarshiphp.html

hashi.orgの旅行奨学金実施のお知らせ!

２００９年７月１日 - Hashi.orgは、厳正な審査の結果、第３回の奨学金日本人受賞者の方を決定したことをご報告致します。今年の受賞者の方は、社会人経験のがおありで、アメリカの大学院で公共政策を専門とする修士号を取得することを目的としていらっしゃいます。　学位取得後は日本に戻り、現職である知的財産部でアメリカ、韓国、台湾などとの海外企業との交渉などに携わる仕事に戻ることを計画しておられます。私たちは、彼女の国際社会について学び、それに対して貢献しようとする姿勢に感銘いたしました。　Hashi.orgは、大瀧　清菜さんに１０万円の奨学金を御贈りすることを光栄に思います。　おめでとうございました！ July 1st, 2009– Hashi.org is proud to announce the winner of the 3rd annual Travel Scholarship to a Japanese person. This year, our winner comes from a background in business, and is coming to the United States to get her Master’s Degree in Public Policy. With her degree, she plans to return to similar work in Japan – in a company's Department of Intellectual Property – working in international negotiations with companies in the US, Korea, Taiwan, etc. We are proud of her efforts to learn more about the international community and become an active participant in it. Hashi.org is proud to award a $1,000 travel scholarship to Seina Otaki! Congratulations!

Now, hashi.org Tax-deductible Donations

05/09 - We're very happy to announce that due to our being awarded 501c3/tax-exempt status, we are able to offer the opportunity to donate to hashi.org with your tax-deductible donations. Having self-funded our organization these first 3 years, I look forward to being able to expand our outreach with the additional resources your donations will contribute.
Read more about donations to hashi.org here:
http://www.hashi.org/donation.html
or go directly to the payment page here:

hashi.orgの旅行奨学金実施のお知らせ

Hashi.orgは、毎年、日本、韓国、アメリカ国籍の方各1名を対象に、旅行奨学金（各1000ドル）を実施しています。日本国籍を所有する方で、韓国またはアメリカ合衆国との文化交流に興味を持つ方が対象です。今年度の後ほどには、韓国国籍とアメリカ国籍の方を対象とした奨学金が発表される予定です。 奨学金受給者は選考によって決められます。奨学金の必要性と使用目的が考慮に入れられます。奨学金は、ホームステイや留学、ボランティアなどの様々な目的に支給されます。 http://www.hashi.org/scholarshipjp.html
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支給対象者は以下の条件を満たしていなければなりません。 日本国籍を所有。 16歳以上。未成年の方は保護者の了解を得てください。 Hashi.orgが推奨する韓国またはアメリカ合衆国の国際プログラムに参加する意思のあること。 異文化に対応、調和するチャレンジ精神があり、またその能力があること。 費用が奨学金支給額を超えた場合、自身でその超えた分の費用を負担すること。 募集用紙の必要事項を全て記入すること。 募集期間：2009年5月１日から2009年６月15日まで。 支給対象者は2009年7月１日に発表。 HP:http://www.hashi.org/indexjp.html

Hashi.org Awarded 501c3 Tax-exempt Status

April, 2009 - Last month, hashi.org was awarded 501c3 tax-exempt status by the IRS. The long, complicated process took 2 years but the advantages make it well worth the effort.
By comparison, filing to create a "non-profit organization" is relatively easy, and there is little oversight by the government. But the true advantages of creating an NPO only come with the 501c3 status. For example:
1. Can accept tax-deductible donations
2. Pays no income tax
My great hope is that not only will it relieve me of being the sole contributor to the scholarships and expenses we incur, but that the donations we receive will enable us to offer more scholarships each year. It breaks my heart to receive so many worthy applications, and have to choose just one during each application period.
Soon, we will put up a donation webpage on our site, and encourage all to give to the cause of reaching out with the hand of friendship in this world.
CLICK HERE to see copy of the award letter.

Hashi.org Announces Korean Scholarship 2008 Winner

11/01/08 - Hashi.org is proud to announce the winner of the 2nd annual Travel Scholarship to a Korean citizen! The number of applications received far exceeded previous application periods, and we received many, fine applications, with essays describing a variety of backgrounds – International Studies, Translation, Engineering, Mathematics, etc. – and cultural exchange interests – Student exchange, Language studies, Grad studies and research, etc. But our winner is a Korean Grad Student who is presently studying Japanese art and architecture at USC in California. As part of her dissertation, she will be traveling to Japan later this year to do research. After graduation, she plans on teaching in both South Korea and the US, in an effort to bring about greater cultural understanding between the three countries.
Our judges of the applications found this scholarship decision the hardest one yet. With so many worthy applicants, with admirable accomplishments and aspirations, it was extremely difficult to choose just one. But the winner’s application proved to be the finest example of the ideals and goals of hashi.org. While there were many worthy submissions, Hashi.org is proud to award a $1,000 travel scholarship to Hyunjung Cho! Congratulations!

매년 Hashi.org에서 주최하는 여행장학생모집에서, 올해 2차 여행장학생으로 한국인에게 수여됨을 알립니다.
신청서접수기간동안 수많은 신청서와 함께 다양한전공과 배경(국제학, 통역,공학, 수학, 문화교류에 대한 관심, 교환학생, 언어전공, 대학원등)을 서술한 에세이가 접수되어졌습니다.
이 중, 선발된 장학생은 현재 캘리포니아, USC(University of Southern California: 남가주대학교)에서 일본예술/건축을 전공하는 대학원생입니다.올해 논문차 일본을 여행할 계획이라고 하며, 졸업후 세국가간의 문화적이해에 대한 노력을 위해, 한국과 미국에서학생들을 가르칠 계획을 가지고 있다고 합니다.

이번 장학생선발심사가 가장 어려웠습니다. 뛰어난 재능과 포부를 가진 지원자들이 많았기 때문에, 한명의 장학생을 선발하는다는 것이 무척 어려웠지만, Hashi.org의 이상과 목표에 가장 근접한 에세이를 서술한 지원자를 장학생으로 선발했습니다.
수많은 뛰어난 지원자들중, Hashi.org에서 조현정양에게 1000불의 여행장학금을 지불하게 된것을 영광으로 생각합니다. 축하합니다!

Hashi.org 第2回旅行奨学金の韓国人受賞者を発表します。今回、たくさんの素晴らしい願書を頂きました。申込者のエッセイも、国際関係、翻訳、エンジニアリング、数学、文化交流（交換留学、語学留学、大学院、リサーチ）などバラエティに富んでいました。今回の受賞者は、韓国人大学院生、USC大学院で日本美術と建築学を学ぶ学生に決まりました。彼女は論文研究の為、今年日本を訪問する予定です。卒業後は韓国とアメリカで教える予定です。韓国、アメリカ、そして日本、三国間の文化の相互理解に貢献されるでしょう。たくさんの素晴らしい実績や業績を前に、たった一人の受賞者を選考するのは大変困難ですが、今回は特に困難を極めました。多くの素晴らしい願書の中から、Hashi.orgの理想と目的を最も体現するものとして、今回選ばれたのは、Hyunjung Cho　さんです。おめでとうございます。