On June 6, the Friends of Children with Special Needs (FCSN) celebrated its 30th-anniversary event at the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center, attracting over 500 participants including community leaders, students, parents, staff, and volunteers.
The stage was adorned with red, pink, and white balloons, creating a warm and festive atmosphere. The event kicked off with drum performances and lion dances.
Dignitaries in attendance included Wu Zhixiang, Director of the Taipei Representative Office in San Francisco, Zhuang Yashu, Director of the South Bay Overseas Chinese Education Center, California State Assemblymember Alex Lee, representatives from the office of State Senator Aisha Wahab, Otto Lee, Ph.D. Hu Zhengming, Vice Mayor of Fremont Zhang Yajing, Councilors Shao Yang and Rebecca “Becky” Nanyonjo from the East Bay Regional Center, and Mike Keeley, Customer Service Director of the San Andreas Regional Center.
Co-Presidents CK Lee and Jason Hwan highlighted in their annual report the focus on upgrading technology, strengthening financial foundations, expanding services for high-demand cases, and actively nurturing future leaders. Since 2018, FCSN has transitioned to systematic management from paper-based and manual operations, with financial stability and new projects to serve high-demand customers.
They pointed out the continuous growth of FCSN in recent years, with the number of served individuals increasing from 220 in 2018 to 450, the annual operating scale growing from less than $8 million to an estimated $16 million this year, and staff numbers rising from 110 to 220. While they are stepping down as Co-Presidents, they will continue to support FCSN’s development as parents and board members.
Regarding organizational succession, they mentioned that FCSN is cultivating successors from both volunteer and professional teams. Younger parents have joined the administrative team in recent years to learn leadership roles, and three younger senior directors have been promoted to prepare for the organization’s long-term development.
A video commemorating FCSN’s 30th anniversary was played, honoring two annual volunteers, 13 outstanding volunteers, and employees with 10 and 20 years of service. Sylvia Yeh, who has served FCSN for 20 years as Executive Director, expressed gratitude for the support and trust of the board, staff, and leadership team.
Board Chair Yee-Yeen Wang and Co-Chair James Chiao reviewed the organization’s founding history, from small family gatherings in living rooms to the current four major service centers. Founding families, current and past directors, and operational team leaders were invited on stage to receive applause from attendees.
During the event, new board members were introduced, and there was a handover of positions between the incoming and outgoing chairpersons and Co-Presidents. Incoming Co-President Anna Wang expressed surprise and gratitude for witnessing FCSN’s growth over the past 30 years.
Anna Wang shared that her son, who was once nonverbal and exhibited severe self-injurious behavior, has now grown into an adult with talents, all thanks to the miracles brought by FCSN. Her goal for this year is to bring back the “family spirit” of FCSN’s early years and unite families starting from participating in the July 4th Independence Day parade.
Co-President Tze Yeoh expressed excitement about joining the FCSN family and looks forward to collaborating with everyone to propel FCSN into the next 30 years.
The event was filled with activities, including annual reports, a 30th-anniversary video, parent sharing sessions, award ceremonies, and the presentation of the Twinkle Project showcasing FCSN’s efforts in nurturing and supporting students. Information about participating in the July 4th parade was announced to encourage more families to join and demonstrate FCSN’s unity. Additionally, there were dance performances by students, providing special needs learners with more opportunities to showcase their talents on stage.