As the Spokane-Nishinomiya Sister City Society moves toward its 50th anniversary year, we celebrate our many educational, cultural and business exchanges. Perhaps no long-time program has been more successful than our annual high school student exchanges. This time we need a little help from our friends.

We are seeking support for our students' travel expenses to Japan this summer. And we want to build for future exchanges.

Typically, the society's education committee, after a rigorous selection process, picks three exchange students from Spokane schools and underwrites their air fares to Japan. During their summer exchange, the students live with Japanese host families and cover their own expenses. The Spokane students and their families then host their counterparts from Nishinomiya. This process has built dozens of long-lasting family friendships through the years.

To ensure that this key part of the Sister City program continues, we need your help. Please consider donating to the student exchange program to ensure that the program continues.

We are offering some special benefits to all donors:

• All who donate will be invited to a special reception at the Japanese Cultural Center to meet the scholarship students, Spokane-Nishinomiya Sister City Society board members and JCC officials.
• All those who donate $100 or more will be given a free one-year membership to the Sister City Society or one free ticket to the Society's next annual dinner. In addition all who donate $100 or more will be entered in a raffle for various special prizes (1 ticket/each $100 donation)

Those special contributors who donate $500 or more will be offered a catered authentic Japanese dinner in their home, cooked and served by members of the Sister City Society. Maximum of 8 people.

To support the summer high school exchange, please click on the Donate button below and follow the online instructions. Thank you for your support.