On Thursday, May 2nd, the Southern California Chinese Alumni Association held a press conference at the Los Angeles Overseas Chinese Cultural and Educational Center, announcing the upcoming 37th Mother’s Day Celebration. The event will honor 14 outstanding mothers, including good mothers, good mothers-in-law, and good mothers-in-law, as well as host a “Gentlemen in the Kitchen” cooking competition and a children’s Mother’s Day card design and painting contest.
The event organizer, Chen Baiqi, stated that the upcoming Mother’s Day activities are one of the highlights of the annual alumni association events. In addition to recognizing exceptional mothers, there will be a cooking competition with participation from celebrities from various fields, encouraging children to express their love for their mothers through art.
The celebration will kick off next Saturday, the 11th, with a spectacular calligraphy, painting, and flower arrangement exhibition. Calligraphy masters will be demonstrating their skills on-site, showcasing the elegance of Chinese culture, while the flower arrangement exhibition led by instructors and dozens of students will adorn the venue, creating a warm and joyful festive atmosphere.
The commendation ceremony for outstanding mothers will honor 14 exceptional mothers, mothers-in-law, and mothers-in-law, including many who have taken care of special needs children such as those with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome, tirelessly providing the best care and education for their children. 89-year-old former Mayor Chen Li Wanru of Monterey Park – the first Chinese-American female mayor in the United States – will also be recognized at the event.
The “Gentlemen in the Kitchen” cooking competition, now in its 23rd year, invites celebrities to showcase their culinary skills by preparing delicious dishes with limited ingredients and time as a tribute to mothers. The children’s Mother’s Day card design and painting contest received a total of 91 entries, with children vividly interpreting the greatness and warmth of maternal love with their innocent strokes. The awards ceremony will take place on Mother’s Day, with the top 3 winners in each age group being recognized to encourage children to be creative and express love.
In his speech, President Wu Dianlong emphasized that the Mother’s Day event is a major annual event for the alumni association, and he shared his pleasant experience participating in the cooking competition two years ago. He called on the public to join the grand event and pay tribute to the great mothers together.
President Wu Dianlong, Chairman Li Jiande, Secretary-General He Peiyan, and Chen Qizhi urged the public to bring their family and friends to the Overseas Chinese Cultural and Educational Center to celebrate a heartwarming and touching Mother’s Day. Deputy Director Zheng Xinru of the Center praised the alumni association for making good use of the center’s resources, demonstrating the ability of the Chinese community to organize large-scale events, and hoping to attract more groups for future rentals.
In addition to offering free admission, the event will feature a raffle with prizes including round-trip tickets from Taipei to Los Angeles, among other valuable gifts, to attract more participants. The organizers of the event expressed their hope that through a rich program of activities and meticulous organization, participants would experience a Mother’s Day full of love and joy. ◇