Meet Sabine Kast | Executive Director, Miyamoto Relief

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sabine Kast and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sabine, how does your business help the community?
Miyamoto Relief provides engineering expertise to save lives and lessen the suffering of people affected by disasters and conflicts worldwide. We work with the most at-risk and often overlooked communities to assist families with rebuilding their homes, schools, and neighborhoods, and to recover from the devastating impacts of disaster and war.

A specific focus of our work is assisting with the rebuilding of schools. Around the world, from disaster zone to disaster zone, we see that schools are incredibly vulnerable. School buildings frequently collapse during earthquakes, claiming the lives of tens of thousands of children.

In wars, including in Ukraine, schools can also become targets. In one such school in Kyiv, 400 students still attend class everyday despite ongoing missile attacks, one of which heavily damaged the building. During attacks, the 400 students and their teachers cram into a bomb shelter with no toilets, putting their lives on the line if they need to exit the shelter for the school restroom. We are currently raising funds to carry out needed repairs, as well as installing bathroom facilities in the shelter. To learn more, please visit: https://www.miyamotorelief.org/night-of-1000-drawings/

What should our readers know about your business?
What sets Miyamoto Relief apart is our partnership with Miyamoto International, a purpose-driven engineering business, where we ensure that every dollar raised for our projects go directly to those in need without the burden of covering management or overhead costs.

Many nonprofit organizations do not have the capacity to cover a host of management expenses. These can range from payroll taxes to salaries of finance and administration personnel, to insurance expenses, which are important when sending our teams into the environments in which we operate: disaster and war zones.

Our corporate partner, Miyamoto International, takes care of these costs, and the funds that we raise with your help, through events such as the Night of 1000 Drawings and other efforts, go directly towards the families or schools we work with.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Los Angeles is the most unique city in the world. On our doorstep, we have beaches, floral abundance including springtime wildflower bombastic blooms, and not-to-be missed, the most spectacular canyons!

Topanga
I live in the Topanga canyon and those visiting from abroad or out-of-state could not have imagined that one can find such peace and tranquility in a mega city like Los Angeles.

Shopping – Pine circle, which Tapangans call the village has several very cute stores to visit. It’s also a small vintage clothing mecca.

Food – Endless Color is our local (hipster) pizza joint that makes only delicious food including unique white and red pizzas, cheeseburgers and fries, as well as healthier options such as branzino and a classic chicken dish. Mimosa café is a great brunch spot, and at Topanga Gourmet fresh produce from local farms can be acquired for a lovely picnic or home-prepared meals.

Beach
I don’t have a favorite beach, per say, in Los Angeles. I love them all from Malibu down to Manhattan, a beach day (or two) is a must.

Malibu Pier
The food is amazing! The mock and cocktails are also good, and there’s ice cream. A long beach walk after lunch helps with digestion.

Venice
My bestie, or anyone visiting LA for the first time, would be curious to visit Venice Beach. We would drop by my friend Vavara’s house right on the boardwalk for a chat and then wander around. If in the mood, biking or taking scooters towards Santa Monica or the Venice canals is a fun thing to do with friends from out of town.

Food – there are so many restaurants in Venice that I really enjoy like Dudley Market, a seafood joint– the owner goes fishing and only serves the freshest seafood. Gjelina is another of my go-to places; you can put your name down on the waiting list, and then go grab a drink on Abbott Kinney (they’ll text when your table is ready). Wallflower’s cocktails are worth it.

Hollywood Bowl
If it’s summer, a concert at the Hollywood Bowl is a dream, followed-up with late night food in Little Thailand.

Downtown Los Angeles
Attend the Night of 1,000 Drawings at the Cooper Design Space!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To ALL OF YOU who will join us on Saturday, October 21 for the Night of 1000 Drawings, an extraordinary night of art and inspiration in downtown LA at the Cooper Design Space. Tickets are $45-55, and attendees will have the chance to take home a truly one-of-a-kind piece of art, immerse themselves in the vibrant atmosphere, music, and embrace the spirit of giving. Your participation and attendance will support urgent repairs for this school in Kyiv, Ukraine.

We would also like to give a special shoutout to Cooper Design Space, 860 South Los Angeles Street Los Angeles, CA 90014, for co-hosting the Night of 1000 Drawings. The Cooper Design Space is where many iconic creative events in LA have taken place with a space that inspires. Come check it out!
To purchase your ticket and join us at the Night of 1000 drawings at the Cooper Design Space on Saturday October 21, please visit: https://www.miyamotorelief.org/night-of-1000-drawings/

And another massive shoutout to our sponsors: Zweig Group, EPIC Metals, Iron Mechanical, Swinerton, PENTA, Taylor Devices, Inc., Kimley Horn, ENGEO, Circle of Service Foundation, CBRE and Kulbaba.

Website: https://www.miyamotorelief.org/night-of-1000-drawings/

Instagram: @1000drawingsdtla

Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/sabine-kast

Facebook: @1000drawingsdtla

Youtube: https://youtu.be/FkElSXZWaxs?si=HIF7SiBUyNTVIKwS

Image Credits
Miyamoto Relief reserves all image credits.