On the evening of January 18th, more than 600 leaders from the Southern California Chinese community and elites from various fields gathered at The Westin Bonaventure in downtown Los Angeles for the Lunar New Year Charity Gala and the Installation Ceremony of the new president of the Taiwanese-American Chamber of Commerce of Los Angeles (TACCLA). The event aimed to celebrate the new year and raise funds for charity under the theme of “Together in Disaster Relief and Home Reconstruction,” showcasing the deep concern of Taiwanese-Americans for the community.
In her inaugural speech, the new president, Mrs. Chen Linghua, outlined four key areas of focus for her tenure, including deepening member services, expanding communication platforms, supporting youth development, and giving back to society. She promised to continue promoting economic, trade, and cultural exchanges between Taiwan and the U.S., as well as actively participating in charitable activities to bring more positive energy to society.
Outgoing president, Ms. Ye Yilan, reflected on the past year’s work in her speech, thanking members for their support and assistance. She expressed her blessings for Chen Linghua to lead the Chamber to new achievements and showcase the vitality of the TACCLA.
Dignitaries including Ambassador Chi Chinyao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Los Angeles, Congresswoman Judy Chu, and Taiwan Policy Advisors Yang Xin and Tian Yihong attended the event to offer their congratulations. They praised the outstanding contributions of the TACCLA in promoting Taiwan-U.S. exchanges and community welfare.
Ambassador Chi Chinyao noted that over the past year, the TACCLA had organized more than ten events, harnessing the goodwill of the Taiwanese people, uniting Taiwanese businessmen, and demonstrating a sense of love for their homeland and country. He believed that members of the TACCLA had embodied the concept of “everyone is a diplomat,” and he sincerely hoped that the spirit of Taiwanese entrepreneurs, unafraid of challenges and innovative, would be passed on to the younger generation of Taiwanese-Americans.
Congresswoman Judy Chu shared the good news of the passage of the United States-Taiwan Expedited Double-Tax Relief Act in the House of Representatives with a vote of 423 to 1. The bill will now proceed to the Senate for a vote and requires the signature of the U.S. President to come into effect. Once implemented, the bill will further enhance economic and trade exchanges between Taiwan and the United States.
During the fundraising segment, a moment of silence was observed for the victims of wildfires, and attendees generously donated. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of China also announced a donation of $500,000 to the Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, showcasing the deep connection between Taiwan and the Los Angeles community.
Both China Airlines and EVA Air donated round-trip business class tickets from Taipei to Los Angeles. The tickets were auctioned off with bids escalating to first class, and all proceeds were directed to the disaster relief fund to assist victims in rebuilding their homes. The atmosphere at the event was enthusiastic, with many guests and community leaders generously contributing varying amounts, totaling $100,000 in donations. Additionally, Yang Xin added $100,000 to the contribution, raising the total fundraising amount to $200,000, demonstrating the spirit of solidarity among Taiwanese-Americans.
During the gala, chamber members sang the association’s anthem “You Are My Brother,” spreading warmth and unity, and urging kind-hearted individuals from all walks of life to actively join the donation campaign to contribute to the rebuilding of homes for disaster victims.