Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs award commendation ceremony.
Arlington-based JB Line Inc. (Japanese Bostonians Support Line) has been chosen to receive $45,000 over the next three years from the Cummings Foundation, a news release said.
JB Line aims to provide specialized support for Japanese-American and other Asian-American communities who experience unique challenges shaped by their culture.
It is among 150 local nonprofits that will share a total of $30 million through the nearby foundation’s major annual grants program.
JB Line was selected from a total of 630 applicants during a competitive review process.
Asian population to grow fastest
The Asian population is expected to be the fastest-growing in the U.S. because of immigration. Despite this increased demand, Asians new to the U.S. often must contend with a small number of social-service agencies, little access to welfare and/or the language barrier.
Moreover, the available support for them has not always been specific to their experiences or tailored to the difficulties they face in the U.S. For example, JB Line is the only agency specializing in the Japanese community in New England. JB Line has long hoped to collaborate more with other Asian community agencies but until now has struggled to expand in this way because of budget restrictions, which will now be alleviated via the Cummings grant.
JB Line representatives now say they will be able to increase its presence in the community, to reach a more diverse population and to strengthen the support for people in need. Particularly, with the grant funds from Cummings, JB Line now aims to focus on:
- Welfare resources for Asian community;
- International marriage disputes; and
- Senior visits.
For more information about JB Line and ways to get involved, contact Lisa Watanabe, president, at
JB Line Inc. is a 501(c)3 organization established in 2010 to help residents, immigrants and Japanese Americans in New England. JB Line provides a bilingual support line, case management, advocacy, senior visits, support groups and outreach.
Woburn-based Cummings Foundation was established in 1986 by Joyce and Bill Cummings of Winchester and has grown to become one of the largest private foundations in New England. The foundation directly operates its own charitable subsidiaries, including New Horizons retirement communities, in Marlborough and Woburn, and Cummings Health Sciences, LLC. Additional information is available at www.CummingsFoundation.org.
June 18, 2022: Visiting Nurse & Community Care awarded $500k Cummings grant
This news announcement was published Thursday, May 25, 2023, based on information from a news release by Aya Amo, development coordinator, JB Line.
