Rohto Children's Dream Fund Selects 9 Organizations as 3rd Grant Recipients: Supporting Activities that Face Social Issues Surrounding Children and Encourage 'Children's Dreams'

Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd. (President: Hidetoshi Segi, Headquarters: Osaka City) and the non-profit organization Peace Winds Japan (Representative Director: Kensuke Onishi, Headquarters: Jinsekikogen-cho, Hiroshima Prefecture) have selected 9 organizations out of a total of 45 applications for the 3rd grant of the 'Rohto Children's Dream Fund', a grant program targeting organizations working towards the resolution and improvement of social issues surrounding children, after a strict screening process.

## [Rohto Children's Dream Fund 3rd Grant Recipients] (In Japanese alphabetical order)

◆ General Quota (Grant amount: 1-3 million yen)
- Home Education Research Institute (Fukuoka Prefecture, Representative: Hitoko Yoshino)
- Kobe Mirai Study Room (Hyogo Prefecture, Representative: Hiroaki Sasaki)
- Team Franponais (Kanagawa Prefecture, Representative: Manu Shimaoka)
- Nakayoshi Gakuen Project (Chiba Prefecture, Representative: Yuichi Nakamura)

◆ Expanded Quota (Grant amount: 3-8 million yen)
- NPO AYA (Kanagawa Prefecture, Representative: Yuki Nakagawa)
- Escorde Noda Sports Club (Osaka Prefecture, Representative: Yu Asahina)
- NPO JAM Network (Kanagawa Prefecture, Representative: Yoshimi Murakami)
- Japan Financial Education Support Organization (Tokyo, Representatives: Risa Hirai, Nana Abe)
- Certified NPO Free The Children Japan (Tokyo, Representative: Sanae Nakajima)

Poverty, educational disparity, abuse, bullying, isolation - the social issues surrounding children are diversifying and becoming more serious. We implement this grant program for organizations working to solve and improve these social issues so that environmental factors do not narrow a child's dreams or future options.

In the call for grant applications, we established two application quotas with different grant amounts and accepted applications from nationwide. The screening of grant recipients was conducted based on the following axes: 1) emphasizing projects that support children in pursuing their dreams, 2) analysis of current issues, 3) feasibility and sustainability of goals, 4) unique appeal of the project, and 5) appropriateness of budget design.

Through this grant program, we will eliminate all disparities among children and support a future where they can continue to pursue their dreams.

## ['Rohto Children's Dream Fund' Selection Committee Comments] (In Japanese alphabetical order)

- Ms. Aya Abe (Professor, Department of Human and Social Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University / Director, Child and Youth Poverty Research Center)
'Serving as a selection committee member for the 'Rohto Children's Dream Fund', I was able to see the results of many people thinking about what they can do to make children's dreams come true. There are many children in Japan facing various difficulties such as poverty, disabilities, and illness. I hope that the deep devotion of the people condensed in the 'Rohto Children's Dream Fund' will reach these children.'

- Mr. Daigo Sato (Professor, Faculty of Entrepreneurship, Musashino University)
'This year again, we received applications from many organizations, and I strongly felt the passion of the front lines seriously facing the future of children.
On the other hand, I once again realized the difficulty of having to choose within limited resources.
All the organizations selected this time have initiatives that combine practice and continuity to expand children's potential.
I expect that through this fund, their respective challenges will further expand, and opportunities and hope will reach more children. We will continue to support them.'

- Ms. Miki Takei (Chief Communication Officer, Rohto Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd.)
'I participated as an evaluation committee member for the first time. Once again, thank you for the many applications.'