To commemorate the 40th anniversary of the enactment of the Taiwan Relations Act of the United States, the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago partnered with the award-winning homeless shelter A Safe Haven Foundation as well as Rotary One, Friends of Taiwan, and Chicago Taiwanese Cuisine and Culture Association to bring to around 350 residents of A Safe Haven a joyous “Taiwan Day” full of Taiwanese cuisine and cultural performances on Sunday April 7, 2019 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm.
Illinois State Senator Omar Aquino, Alderman Joseph Moore and Byron Sigcho-Lopez, District Governor Pedro Cevallos of Rotary International, President Khaled Akawi of Rotary One and Executive Director Lauran Ortega of Illinois Chamber of Commerce attended this meaningful event.
In his remarks, Director General Eric Huang stated that 40 years ago, in 1979, the United States Congress passed the Taiwan Relations Act, and it has been playing a critical role in building and maintaining a solid US-Taiwan relationship ever since. Taiwan has thrived and successfully transformed itself from a poor country to an advanced economy and a model democracy in Asia. Now Taiwan would like to give back to American society by holding this meaningful “Taiwan Day” event. We do this in appreciation of the assistance that the American people and government once provided to Taiwan when Taiwan was in need. Also Taiwan can help, and we can do so even more in partnership with international organizations. We thank the U.S. government for their support of Taiwan’s democracy and for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in international groups, including the World Health Assembly.
TECO in Chicago, Friends of Taiwan and Rotary donated US$1,000, US$5,000 and US$1,000 respectively to A Safe Haven. The donation from the Friends of Taiwan is used to purchase new IT equipment for job training in A Safe Haven.
For Taiwan Day, TECO in Chicago not only prepared Taiwanese cuisine for residents in a Safe Haven, but also invited FASCA students to perform aboriginal and techno dance, and Taiwanese Musician Kuo, Wei-Ting from Chicago Symphony Orchestra along with his students to perform Taiwanese folk songs. It was an event full of Taiwanese culture.
