Japanese Group Plans Fashion Fund-Raiser

The San Fernando Valley Japanese American Community Center will host a fashion show Saturday featuring contemporary kimono fashions to raise funds for a planned expansion.

In addition to the fashion show, the event will include a lavish, three-act cultural show. During the show, community center members will tell the story of how the the first settlers brought Japanese culture to America, the struggles of the second generation during World War II and end with the story of modern-day generations.

The community center, which was founded after World War II, serves 29 organizations and is a meeting place for small groups that focus on such activities as golf, dance, fishing, doll-making and Japanese calligraphy.

The center plans to use funds raised by the event to help with its expansion, which includes plans to add a 7,000-square-foot cafeteria, a larger auditorium, a lobby for the human services staff and a large conference room.

Admission to the fund-raiser is free. The hourlong fashion show starts at 1 p.m. at the Japanese American Community Center, 12953 Branford St., Pacoima. The event will also include music, raffle drawings, door prizes and refreshments.

For more information, call the center at (818) 899-1989.