On the afternoon of Aug 21, Director-General Yvonne Yi-Fang Hsiao of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Houston presented OneStar Foundation CEO and President Chris Bugbee and Texas First Lady Cecilia Abbott with a $350,000 donation from the government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) to the Central Texas Flood Recovery Fund.
The donation from the Taiwanese government was joined by an additional $200,000 donation presented by President Eugenia Henry of the Taiwanese Chambers of Commerce of North America (TCCNA). Texas State Representatives Angie Chen Button, Keith Bell, John Lujan, and Trey Martinez Fischer attended as witnesses for the donation ceremony during which Mr. Bugbee, Director-General Hsiao, and President Henry signed donation certificates.
Director-General Hsiao’s remarks emphasized Taiwan’s empathy for those suffering from natural disasters and the important role community support plays for successful recovery. First Lady Abbott thanked Taiwan government, TCCNA, and the Taiwanese community in Texas for their generosity, saying that the people of Texas are grateful and cherish the Texas-Taiwan friendship during this difficult time.
Texas has close ties with Taiwan and is an important base for Taiwanese investment in the United States. Taipei, Taiwan’s capital city, and Houston became each other’s first sister city in 1961, and sister-state ties were established in 1988. Relations span trade, investment, education, tourism, and other aspects. It is the hope of the Taiwan government and the overseas Taiwanese community that these donations help the people and areas affected by the severe flooding of the Guadalupe River on July 4, 2025.
[TECO in Houston represents Taiwan in: TX, AR, LA, MS, and OK.]
