- Sculpture made from 100,000 of the 2 million cranes folded 
                 during "Paper Cranes for Japan" campaign

    
    On Friday, January 13, a massive sculpture will be unveiled in Japan's 
Sendai Train Station created from 100,000 paper cranes folded by children 
worldwide after the devastating March 2011 earthquake and tsunami-a sampling of 
the over 2 million cranes mailed in during the Paper Cranes for Japan campaign. 
The sculpture is the centerpiece of a three-day public event Jan. 13 - 15 
called "Gift by Gift for a Better World," 
[http://studentsrebuild.org/blog/2050/gift-gift-better-world.html ] featuring
interactive workshops with several area schools.

    This is the latest chapter for DoSomething.org and Students Rebuild's Paper 
Cranes for Japan [http://studentsrebuild.org/about-paper-cranes-japan ] 
campaign, a worldwide movement that has mobilized thousands of young people in 
more than 38 countries and all 50 U.S. states, and raised $500,000 in matching 
funds for rebuilding projects in the Tohoku region. Last fall, acclaimed artist 
Vik Muniz donated his time and ingenuity to the effort through the creation of 
a massive visual piece using thousands of the cranes, which was chronicled in a 
4-minute film [http://www.youtube.com/studentsrebuild ] and featured in
the New York Times Magazine [ 
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2011/08/21/magazine/mag-21Look-paper-cranes.html?ref=magazine 
] . 

    "Gift by Gift for a Better World" is a three-day public event Jan. 13 - 15, 
which takes place at Sendai Train Station in S-Pal Square. The centerpiece of 
the event is the public unveiling of a magnificent Paper Crane Sculpture, 
designed by the students at the Tohoku University of Art & Design. Utilizing 
100,000 paper cranes, the sculpture will be representative of the outpouring of 
support from young children around the world, who folded over 2 million cranes 
that generated $500,000 in matching funds. The funding supports Architecture 
for Humanity's efforts to rebuild youth and community centers in the Tohoku 
region, in partnership with Japanese architects and builders. 

    "Architecture for Humanity's approach to reconstruction and recovery isn't 
just about building schools or community centers, but also about inspiring a 
renewed sense of community and belonging," says Hiromi Tabei, Program 
Coordinator for Architecture for Humanity's Tohoku Rebuilding Program. "By 
bringing young people together for this participatory workshop, we hope to 
celebrate the importance of children carrying forward the spirit of optimism 
imbued in the Paper Cranes for Japan challenge."

    After the installation is presented at Sendai Station, young people and 
their families will gather to make gift boxes filled with paper cranes for 
their peers throughout Japan as a symbol of hope and healing.

    EVENT DETAILS
    When: Opening Ceremony - Friday, January 13 at 10:00am
    Workshops - Friday, January 13, 11:00am - 4:00pm / Saturday, January 14,
     10:00am - 4:00pm / Sunday, January 15, 10:00am - 9:00pm 
    Where: S-pal Square in the S-pal Sendai near Sendai Train Station 
     S-Pal Sendai at 1-1-1 Chuo, Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi

    ABOUT PAPER CRANES FOR JAPAN

    In response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan on March 11th, Students 
Rebuild partnered with DoSomething.org's "Paper Cranes for Japan" campaign to 
inspire young people worldwide to support their Japanese peers. Together, we 
issued a simple challenge to kids online: Make and mail a paper crane, and 
trigger funding for recovery and reconstruction from the Bezos Family 
Foundation. The goal: 100,000 cranes, which would generate $200,000 to fund 
Architecture for Humanity's Tohoku reconstruction efforts. The response: An
astounding 2 million cranes from young people in 38+ countries and all 50 U.S. 
states, inspiring a total of $500,000 for recovery and rebuilding in Japan.

    ABOUT ARCHITECTURE FOR HUMANITY'S RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS IN JAPAN

    The Tohoku Rebuilding Program is a collaboration between local design and 
construction professionals that seeks to reenergize communities devastated by 
the 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The Tohoku Rebuilding Program helps local 
businesses and community partners recover, reopen, create jobs, and 
collectively provide a sustainable financial future for affected communities.

    FOR MORE INFORMATION

    Students Rebuild Paper Cranes for Japan website: 
http://studentsrebuild.org/japan 

    Architecture for Humanity's Tohoku Rebuilding Program: 
http://architectureforhumanity.org/programs/tohoku-earthquake-and-tsunami-rebuilding


    Paper Cranes for Japan Facebook page: 
http://www.facebook.com/papercranesforjapan
    
    Twitter: @studentsrebuild (Follow the event live: #pc4j)

    High resolution images and video are available.


    SOURCE:  Architecture for Humanity

    CONTACT: Welling Savo Justin
             Students Rebuild & the Bezos Family Foundation
             +1-206-275-2048 x113 or welling@bezosfamilyfoundation.org 

             or Diana Bianchini
             Di Moda Public Relations 
             (On Behalf of Architecture for Humanity)
             +1-310-288-0077 or diana@dimodapr.com