National benefits

Pacific Citizen: A subscription to JACL’s national newspaper covering current activities and issues affecting the greater Asian American and Pacific Islander community.  It is published semi-monthly.

Discount Prescription and Dental Programs: Discount programs for JACL members that may provide a cost savings option for a discount prescription drug card and dental discount program. Click here for more information on the discount programs.

Scholarship Program: The National Scholarship and Awards Program was established in 1946 and offers over 30 awards, with an annual total of $60,000 in scholarships to qualified students nationwide. The National Scholarship and Awards Program offers scholarships to entering freshman, undergraduate, law, financial need and creative & performing arts students.  All scholarships are one-time awards.

JACL Credit Union: Membership, financial/banking services of a national credit union. Click here for more information about the JACL Credit Union.

Hertz Rental Car Discount: Upgrade or discount on weekly rentals.

JACL Health Benefits Trust: (Health insurance for California members only): Two comprehensive medical insurance programs through Blue Shield of California: Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) or Health Maintenance Organization (HMO). Also included are dental and vision care coverage.

Customized Major Medical: (Now available to non-California members).  Choosing the right medical plan can be quite challenging. That's why we offer you the flexibility to design a medical package which truly meets your needs. Visit JACL Health Insurance for the best comparison shopping online, making it easy for you to customize your coverage. Also, members who own their own company/firm can also apply for coverage for their employees at JACL Health Insurance. Or members may phone Marsh Affinity Group Services' Customer Services Department at 1-877-886-0110.

Long-Term Care Plan: Currently one in four Americans age 65 or older requires long term care. Nearly 1.5 million live in nursing homes and many others are in receipt of in-home care. This plan helps to provide coverage for the care you or a loved one may need. Underwritten by General Electric Capital Assurance Company and GE Capital Life Assurance Company of New York.

san fernando valley benefits

 Community-Based Programs for the Everyone in the Family

Our local, community-based chapter provides something for every member of the family.  In addition to policy advocacy and a scholarship program, we sponsor a host of social events.  In the past year alone, some of our events have included...

  • An installation/New Year's luncheon at the beautiful Odyssey Restaurant
  • Sponsoring Suzume no Gakkou, an educational and cultural program for local youth that included arts, crafts, history and language lessons, and a field trip to the Japanese American National Museum
  • Participation in cultural and historical events such as our San Fernando Valley Obon and and Day of Remembrance 
  • Outings to see performances including Wrinkles at East West Players
  • Civil rights programming such as the panel Honor Thy Children about LGBT rights in Asian American communities
  • Cultural programs highlighting our Japanese American and Asian American community such as Children's Day and the annual Clean Up Day at the Japanese American Community Center
  • Commitment to the elders who built our community through our annual Nikkei Village Tea
  • Bringing the community-based arts to the San Fernando Valley through a screening of The Harimaya Bridge with a discussion with the filmmaker as well as a performance of Manzanar: The Story of An American Family

A membership form is available for download here and at the bottom of this page.  Remember to write San Fernando Valley for your chapter.

If you are interested in joining us, please contact our Membership Coordinator Nancy Gohata at yaiko16 [at] verizon.net ASAP!