The Chinese American Association held a Lunar New Year celebration banquet in Millbrae on February 1st. The event brought together over 250 community leaders, including Director Lai Mingqi from the Taiwan Office in San Francisco and Director Zhuang Yashu from the San Francisco Bay Area Overseas Chinese Education Center, to welcome the arrival of the new year.
At the banquet, Chairman Mao Xiaoling first extended New Year’s greetings to the guests and announced that the Association would donate $2,000 each to the Chinese Alzheimer’s Association’s Chinese Outreach Department and the San Jose Chinese Cultural Park Restoration Project by the Chinese-American Traditional Foundation, demonstrating support for charitable causes within the Chinese community.
Looking back on the past year, Mao highlighted the Association’s achievements, such as publishing three newsletters, participating in various community activities, and co-hosting or supporting nine seminars. She emphasized that the gathering was not only for socializing but also featured exciting Chinese cultural performances to promote traditional culture while celebrating the Lunar New Year.
In her speech, Director Lai Mingqi stated that the purpose of establishing the Chinese American Association was to help promote Chinese culture. With the cultural heritage in mainland China having suffered severe impacts after the Cultural Revolution, Taiwan, Republic of China has become a bastion for preserving Chinese culture globally. Overseas organizations like the Chinese American Association bear the crucial mission of cultural inheritance, which Director Lai expressed gratitude for, acknowledging the Association’s efforts in promoting Chinese culture abroad.
Director Zhuang Yashu emphasized the significant role of the Chinese American Association in promoting and preserving Chinese culture overseas. She appreciated the Association’s long-standing cultural activities, which not only uphold tradition but also foster exchanges with mainstream society, increasing awareness of the Republic of China and Taiwan.
During the banquet, President Lin Darui of the Chinese-American Traditional Foundation detailed the restoration project of the San Jose Chinese Cultural Park and the Foundation’s significant activities over the past year. Manager Zhang Peining from the Alzheimer’s Association shared relevant information about the association’s work on Alzheimer’s disease.
The event featured diverse performances, including a Peking opera, poetry recitations, hulusi music, dance performances, and a lantern riddle activity, creating a festive atmosphere.
Founded in 1966 by Mr. Tao Pengfei, the Chinese American Association is one of the oldest organizations in the Bay Area, with over 500 members today. Its mission is to promote emotional connections, knowledge exchange, the advancement of Chinese culture, and the promotion of cultural exchanges between East and West. The seminars cover a wide range of topics, encompassing not only Chinese cultural knowledge but also introducing Western cultural insights.