Pal System Saitama Donates "Civic Activity Support Grant" of 4 Million Yen to 16 Organizations [Saitama]

Pal System Saitama Consumers' Cooperative Union (Headquarters: Nishikicho, Warabi City, Saitama Prefecture; President: Yoshiko Nishiuchi) held a ceremony on Monday, March 23, at the member activity facility Pal★Terrace (Saitama City) to present the "Civic Activity Support Grant" to recipient organizations for fiscal year 2025, and also hosted a report meeting for organizations that received grants in fiscal year 2024. For fiscal year 2025, 16 organizations (totaling 4 million yen) engaged in activities such as creating community spaces and providing learning support for foreigners were selected for assistance.

Creating Connections through Participant Exchange

Pal System Saitama's "Civic Activity Support Grant" is a system established in 1998 to utilize surplus funds obtained from business activities within the prefecture for regional contribution. It financially supports civic activity groups working on familiar local issues such as welfare, town development, and the environment. Since fiscal year 2021, it has integrated the "Great East Japan Earthquake Reconstruction Support Grant," established in 2015, to also support organizations engaged in reconstruction efforts.

For fiscal year 2025, a total of 4 million yen was decided to be granted to 16 organizations, following deliberations by an operating committee composed of Pal System users, officers, and external experts, and a public selection meeting for users. At the presentation ceremony, Yoshiko Nishiuchi, President of Pal System Saitama, handed over the grant certificates to each recipient.

▲Scene from the presentation ceremony

After the presentation ceremony, a report meeting was held by 15 organizations that received grants in fiscal year 2024, detailing their activities using the support funds, followed by an exchange meeting among attendees, where they shared the local issues they are facing.

Various problems are becoming apparent in each region, such as widening economic disparities, isolation of child-rearing and elderly households, and refugees/immigrants. Pal System Saitama will continue to value connections with people who face various regional challenges and aim to create a symbiotic society.

Pal System Saitama "Civic Activity Support Grant"

Pal System Saitama Consumers' Cooperative Union

Location: 2-10-4 Nishikicho, Warabi City, Saitama Prefecture; President: Yoshiko Nishiuchi Capital Contribution: 9.44 billion yen; Number of Members: 228,000; Total Business Volume: 33.15 billion yen (as of end of March 2025) HP: https://www.palsystem-saitama.coop/

Pal System Consumers' Cooperative Federation Location: 2-2-6 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo; President: Atsushi Shibusawa 13 members・Total business volume of unified business system users: 260.42 billion yen / Total number of members: 1.762 million (as of end of March 2025) Member Cooperatives: Pal System Tokyo, Pal System Kanagawa, Pal System Chiba, Pal System Saitama, Pal System Ibaraki Tochigi, Pal System Yamanashi Nagano, Pal System Gunma, Pal System Fukushima, Pal System Shizuoka, Pal System Niigata Tokimeki, Pal System Kyosai Ren, Saitama Workers' Cooperative, Ai Coop Miyagi HP: https://www.pal-system.co.jp/