Join The Hitachi Foundation's 25th Anniversary Celebration
2010 is a major milestone for Hitachi, Ltd and The Hitachi Foundation. One-hundred years ago, Namihei Odaira, a young electrical engineer and entrepreneur, helped bring the industrial revolution to life in Japan with the birth of a new company, Hitachi. For a century — from its beginning as the manufacturer of Japan's first 5-horsepower electric motor to today, now one of the world's largest electronics company — Hitachi has been guided by Mr. Odaira's core values of harmony, sincerity, and the pioneering spirit.
Twenty-five years ago, Hitachi, Ltd. created The Hitachi Foundation, also with a bold vision. It was a time of great tension between the United States and Japan. Trade wars raged and economic anxiety fueled mistrust. This Foundation was to help build a bridge of understanding between our two countries and enable Hitachi to express its values as a good corporate citizen in the context of North American culture.
Since then, The Hitachi Foundation has evolved into one of this nation's philanthropic leaders in the field of corporate social responsibility with a special focus on expanding business practices that create tangible and enduring economic opportunities for low-wealth Americans, their families, and the communities in which they reside.
Join us as we mark this milestone anniversary year and help us set the tone for our next 25 years. Come back and visit this page on a regular basis — we will be updating it as the year goes by with reports and announcements.
The story of the Foundation:
25th Anniversary Reflections
For 25 years, The Hitachi Foundation has joined with many of America's foremost thinkers and leaders in a quest to address critical problems facing America. We have gained immensely from this collaboration. We also know that we have been able to make a real contribution to their work. Here, we share brief video interviews with some of these men and women, as they reflect on the Foundation and our work together. Please do visit this page regularly throughout this, our silver anniversary year. We will be steadily adding to the collection of 25th Anniversary Reflections.
B Lab co-founder Jay Coen Gilbert talks about his experience with The Hitachi Foundation’s Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs Program, and why he is so inspired by each of young women and men selected as the 2010 Yoshiyama Young Entrepreneurs.
Mr. Takashi Ohde, Corporate Officer and General Manager of the Hitachi Corporate Offices in Washington, DC and Los Angeles, discusses the 25-year relationship between Hitachi, Ltd. and The Hitachi Foundation.
Members of Hitachi company Community Action Committees discuss what the Hitachi Community Action Partnership means to them, and their communities.
Founding Board Member and Director Emeritus Joe Kasputys shares how The Hitachi Foundation determined that its contributions will come from a focus on business and society.
Steve Gunderson, President and CEO of the Council on Foundations, reflects on the fact that The Hitachi Foundation played a leading role in three of the Council's most prestigious awards.
Bruce MacLaury, Ph.D., Chairman of The Hitachi Foundation and President Emeritus of The Brookings Institution, discussing the Foundation's ever-evolving approach to corporate philanthropy.
Aron Cramer, President and CEO of BSR, discusses 25 years of leadership by The Hitachi Foundation in the field of corporate social responsibility.
