Japanese Sister City Donates $12K To Support Local Flood Relief Efforts

July 3, 2014

Pensacola’s sister city, Gero, Japan, has donated $12,888 to support flood relief efforts. After the devastating flood impacting our community at the end of April into early May, representatives from Gero contacted the City of Pensacola seeking ways to lend a hand, according to the United Way of Escambia County.

“We are incredibly grateful to our Sister City in Japan for their generosity,” said Mayor Ashton Hayward. “Residents throughout our community experienced significant losses as a result of the flood. Though they are half a world away, our friends in Gero saw our need and stepped up in a big way. Their donation will be used to help those who need it most.”

Their generous donation will be added to the nearly $180,000 United Way has already disbursed to local non-profit partners experiencing loss from the flood.  Dollars were raised online, at a May telethon/radio-thon at Cordova and Santa Rosa malls, local contributors to flood relief and United Way’s reserve funds.

In 1998, The City of Pensacola and Gero, Japan partnered through Sister Cities International to promote exchanges of culture, education, information and trade. The cities partnered to create a lifelong friendship that would provide prosperity and peace through person-to-person “citizen diplomacy.”

Pictured top: Pensacola Mayor Ashton Hayward, Gov. Rick Scott and Senate President Don Gaetz tour Pensacola flood damage in early May along with other local leaders. Pictured inset: Scott discusses recovery efforts with FEMA representative Cheria Brown. NorthEscambia.com file photo, click to enlarge.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News