10,000 Origami Cranes Sent to New York from Japanese School Students.

The Tribute WTC Visitor Center Awards Japanese Kumon Instructor for Healing and Peace Efforts

TEANECK, N.J. -- Kumon Instructor Mrs. Keiko Wada of Shizuoka, Japan, is the only foreign recipient of the inaugural Tribute Center September 11th Teacher Award. Her efforts led to her school children hand making and sending thousands of origami cranes to the Tribute WTC Visitor Center in New York as a wish for healing and peace. She had discovered that many of her students did not know about the 9/11 attacks because they were too young; so Mrs. Wada led discussions about terrorism and stressed the importance of life and harmony among all people.

The first annual Tribute Center September 11th Teacher Award will be given today, Monday, September 10, 2007, at 10 a.m. at the Tribute WTC Visitor Center at 120 Liberty Street, New York, NY 10006. The award recognizes teachers who make an outstanding effort to discuss the events of 9/11 with their students and create projects that help the students understand their relationship to these events.

Mrs. Wada was inspired by her friend, Mrs. Mari Sumiyama of Tokyo, who lost her 34-year-old son, Yoichi Sumiyama Sugiyama, in the World Trade Center attack. A total of 10,000 paper cranes were sent to the Tribute WTC Visitor Center, including 4,000 from Mrs. Wada's students and 6,000 from the friends and family of the Sumiyama family. Mrs. Sumiyama will receive Mrs. Wada's award on her behalf. Mrs. Wada is one of six teachers being honored. Three teachers are from New York and one is from Florida.

Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers visitors to the World Trade Center site a place where they can connect with people from the September 11th community. Through walking tours, exhibits and programs, the Tribute WTC Visitor Center offers "Person to Person History," linking visitors who want to understand and appreciate these historic events with those who experienced them. Since opening in September of 2006 over 275,000 visitors have participated in its programs and exhibits.

About Kumon Math and Reading Centers

Kumon [koo-mon] is an after-school math and reading program. Celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2008, the learning method uses a systematic individualized approach that helps children develop a solid command of math and reading skills. Through daily practice and mastery of materials, students increase confidence, improve concentration and develop better study skills. Kumon has 26,000 centers in 44 countries and more than four million students studying worldwide. Kumon North America is headquartered in Teaneck, New Jersey. To learn more visit www.kumon.com or call 1-800-ABC-MATH.