October 4, 2017
For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Jody Sahota
415.391.1474
(Oakland, CA) As California Humanities celebrates National Arts & Humanities Month this October, they’re honoring the memory of longtime California Humanities’ Board Member and Chair Nancy Hatamiya, who passed away in 2012.
Former California Humanities Board Chair Nancy Kikuko Hatamiya displayed a
passion and enthusiasm for public service, an abiding devotion to her community, and boundless energy that touched and inspired everyone around her. In recognition of her extraordinary service to California Humanities, the Nancy Hatamiya Arts & Humanities Fund was created to honor her legacy in support of projects that promote the humanities though the visual and performing arts.
Nancy’s sons George and Jon reflect on the importance of the arts and humanities to their mother.
“My mom was not only one of the kindest, smartest, and genuine people you could ever meet, but was always perceptive and dedicated to finding the inherent positive connections between all of us that are drawn out through the creative process. She understood and taught me that through the arts and humanities people can tell and document their own stories while they connect and begin to understand those stories of everyone around them. It is exactly these positive human connections that my mom dedicated her life and her passion to everyday that made a lasting impact on everyone she knew,” according to George Hatamiya.
Jon Hatamiya, a jazz musician, adds: “My mom always believed in the arts and humanities as integral vehicles for interpersonal understanding and cultural dialogue. Her enthusiasm has inspired me as a musician to seek those points of intersection between the arts and humanities and pursue the same values in my own career. I am thrilled that the memorial fund will honor her legacy by helping to provide the means for others to tell their unique stories as well!”
The Arts & Humanities strand of California Humanities’ Humanities for All Grants will launch in 2018. We look forward to reaching a new pool of applicants and to supporting projects that highlight those important connections between the arts and humanities that were so central to Nancy’s life.
“We are so happy to work with the Hatamiya family to honor Nancy’s invaluable and heartfelt legacy of leadership at California Humanities.” states Julie Fry, President & CEO.
For more information on the Nancy Hatamiya Arts & Humanities Fund and to make a donation, please visit the website.
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California Humanities promotes the humanities – focused on ideas, conversation and learning – as relevant, meaningful ways to understand the human condition and connect us to each other in order to help strengthen California. California Humanities has provided grants and programs across the state since 1975.
