Outgoing JICUF Board Chair Dr. David Janes has been bestowed with the inaugural Ruth Miller Global Citizenship Award. The announcement came at a special dinner held to mark JICUF’s 75th anniversary in Los Angeles on March 8, 2025. The Ruth Miller Award honors individuals who embody the values of global citizenship while making significant contributions to JICUF. This prestigious award celebrates Ruth Miller’s legacy of dedication to international understanding, peace, and reconciliation through education.

About Ruth Miller

Ruth Louise Miller dedicated her entire professional life to the Japan ICU Foundation (JICUF), serving from 1947 until her retirement in 1982. As the Executive Director of JICUF, she played a pivotal role in establishing and growing the organization through innovative fundraising campaigns and programs that connected people across cultures.

Born and raised in Akron, Ohio, Miller was the first in her family to attend college. Her involvement in ecumenical movements led her to JICUF, where she helped to establish vital initiatives including the Women’s Planning Committee and the Fund for the Future. Her work helped to raise awareness about ICU across the United States and the world while securing critical financial support for the university.

About David Janes

David Janes has committed his life to serving others. He began his career working in service-learning at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the University of South Carolina and Westminster University. A year spent as a Rotary Ambassadorial Scholar at Doshisha University in Kyoto led him to a lifelong commitment to US-Japan relations. He worked at the United States-Japan Foundation for 18 years, culminating in his position as Director of Foundation Grants and Assistant to the President. After this, he worked at senior leadership roles at the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and the Global Citizen Initiative, before his current role as the Vice President, North America for International House of Japan.

David joined the JICUF board in 2002 and has served two full terms. For the past three years he has served as the chair of the board. His dedication to JICUF has helped to transform the Foundation, and we cannot think of a better person to receive this award.