Member of Centennial Host Committee Leadership Circle
The National
Cherry Blossom Festival today announced MetLife'ssupport of the 2012 Centennial Celebration. MetLife joins the
Festival as a Leadership Circle member of the Centennial Host Committee,
the exclusive insurance sponsor of the Festival and is also a presenting
sponsor of the Opening
Ceremony on March 25, 2012 at the Walter E. Washington
Convention Center.
The Festival's Centennial Celebration, March 20 – April 27, honors the
100 year anniversary of the gift of trees from Tokyo to Washington, D.C.
and the enduring friendship between the two countries. The Host
Committee is a small group of organizations that has provided
significant financial contributions and will provide high level guidance
to make the grand commemoration possible. The committee is comprised of
a Chair, Leadership Circle and Members.
The National Cherry Blossom Festival's commitment to cross-cultural
understanding with an emphasis on Japan is a facet important to MetLife
as the company's presence continues to grow globally. MetLife is a
leading provider of insurance, retirement plans and employee benefits
programs worldwide, with a strong presence in Japan, one of its most
important markets.
"We are honored to be a Leadership Circle Member of the Centennial Host
Committee and the exclusive insurance sponsor for the National Cherry
Blossom Festival during this historical year," said William J. Toppeta,
Vice Chair EMEA/Asia, MetLife. "The U.S. and Japan have had a
long-standing friendship and the National Cherry Blossom Festival has
fostered the continued goodwill and strong relations through its annual
event. MetLife is pleased to be part of the celebratory events in the
Washington, D.C. area as well as extending the sponsorship by creating
festival-inspired events in Japan," added Mr. Toppeta.
In addition to the events occurring in the U.S., MetLife will extend the
sponsorship by recreating some of the hallmark events of the festival in
Japan for the first time ever, all sanctioned by the National Cherry
Blossom Festival. MetLife Alico in Japan, will host a pink-tie party in
Tokyo, a limited opening of a Sakura Café to celebrate the Cherry
Blossom Festival and a special fundraising activity that will benefit
the purchase of cherry blossom trees to be planted in the Tohoku region
of Japan, which was affected by the earthquake and tsunami in March
2011.