“Fremont Chinese Friends of Special Children” held a grand opening ceremony for their new headquarters, the Osgood Center, on August 23rd last week. The event attracted numerous elected officials and community leaders, with hundreds of people in attendance.
Before the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a band composed of over a dozen special needs students performed “The Stars and Stripes Forever.” Meanwhile, various spaces within the center, including meeting rooms, showcased artworks and creations by the special needs students.
Chairpersons Wang Yiyin and Joe Li, as well as Co-Presidents Li Zongkun and Huang Zhijian of the Fremont Chinese Friends of Special Children, took the stage to deliver speeches. Following them, Deputy Director Zhu Yongchang from the Taiwan Office in San Francisco commended the organization for attracting numerous volunteer professionals to provide help and support for those in need.
With over a thousand family and individual members, the organization has achieved significant milestones on a journey filled with hope, love, and respect. They have expanded their services to more nearby communities and aim to continue spreading hope, love, and respect to those in need.
Fundraising Chairman Hu Limin shared with Epoch Times that he successfully raised three million dollars as the fundraising chairman to establish the organization’s first center.
The Osgood Center is the organization’s third activity center, with a total cost of under nine million dollars for acquisition and renovation. Due to a high number of autistic patients, each activity center is often at capacity, and the new center’s establishment will help more children. Hu Limin emphasized providing the best opportunities for every child to reach their full potential, ensuring they do not become a burden on society, which he deems as a valuable investment.
One of Hu Limin’s greatest achievements is bringing sunshine to families with autistic children, striving to unite parents in joyfully caring for their children rather than lamenting social injustices or insufficient government funding. By doing better, they receive more support, leading to a virtuous cycle. They also train children in various skills and collaborate with companies like Walmart, Target, and Costco to ensure these children not only do not burden society but actively contribute.
Sylvia Yeh, the Executive Director of Fremont Chinese Friends of Special Children, stated that the organization currently operates three activity centers, serving around 150 individuals daily. She stressed their mission to provide support for special needs children to help them integrate into society and make positive contributions. Their goal is to empower these children to become independent and beneficial members of society.
Guests at the opening ceremony included group leader Guo Huizhen, California Assemblyman Alex Lee, Alameda County Supervisors David Haubert and Lena Tam, Fremont Mayor Lily Mei, Vice Mayor Shao Yang, Councilmembers Huang Jieyi and Raj Salwan, School District Chairperson Zhang Yajing, former San Jose Councilman Chu Gansheng, Alameda County Vietnamese Assessor Phong La, and Fremont Urban Planning Committee Member Charles Liu, among others.
Additionally, California Congressman Ro Khanna, Assemblyman Evan Low, and Senator Aisha Wahab had representatives attend the opening ceremony. Several elected officials presented commendations to the Fremont Chinese Friends of Special Children.
The non-profit organization “Friends of Children with Special Needs” (FCSN), founded in 1996 by ten American Chinese families, is dedicated to assisting children, adults, and families with special needs.
In 2006, they established their first center in Fremont and built a second center in San Jose in 2017. In 2021, the organization acquired a property on Osgood Road in Fremont, which now serves as their third center and new headquarters. Today, FCSN has over 1,200 family members, 160 employees, and serves over 500 individuals with special needs.
The new headquarters consists of a 6,000-square-foot single-story building and an adjacent two-story building spanning 12,000 square feet. They plan to introduce special adult programs, expand after-school tutoring for school-age children, enhance job support and family support services (CFS), and provide comprehensive support for special adults living with their parents. FCSN welcomes families in need to contact them. On August 24th last Saturday from 2 pm to 5 pm, the new center opened to the public, showcasing artworks and creations by special needs students, inviting everyone to visit.