Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago
Press Release on May 15, 2020
TECO in Chicago expresses great appreciation to the Friends of Taiwan Foundation, C K International Ltd., Johnson Health Tech Group & Johnson Health Tech Retail, Inc., American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd., Detroit Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association, and Greater Chicago Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association for their aggregated donations of more than 210K medical masks to US Midwest states in early May to jointly fight this pandemic with people in the region, enhancing the friendship between Taiwan and the US.
TECO in Chicago recently teamed up with Taiwanese immigrants and businesses to purchase more than 210K medical masks made by a Taiwanese manufacturer in the US to donate to the governments, medical and local public service agencies of the states of Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. We are so grateful to learn from the great responses that our donations have been well received and will be used to protect people in need. Director General Eric Huang of TECO in Chicago thanks these Taiwanese immigrants and entrepreneurs for their generosity as well as their feelings of attachment and corporate social responsibility to give back to the local communities in the Midwest. This kind act indeed enhances the friendship between Taiwan and the Midwest.
TECO in Chicago would like to express gratitude to the following organizations and individuals: (in alphabetical order of states)
1. For Illinois:
(1) Mr. Junior Hsu, Founder of the Friends of Taiwan and the foundation’s members, who donated a total of 125K masks, of which 10K masks went to the City of Chicago Police Department, and 115K masks to local hospitals, medical facilities, nursing homes, and other public service agencies.
(2) Ms. Bonnie Chin, President of the Greater Chicago Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association (GCTEAA) and GCTEAA’s members, who donated a total of 1K masks to the City of Westmont where the Cultural Center of TECO in Chicago is located. TECO in Chicago also donated 500 masks to the City of Westmont.
2. For Iowa:
Ms. May-May Ng, Director of the C.K International, who donated a total of 31K masks to the Government of Iowa.
3. For Michigan:
Mr. Steve Chang, President of the Detroit Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association (DTEAA) and the DTEAA’s members who donated a total of 25K masks to the Government of Michigan and local medical facilities.
4. For Ohio and Indiana:
Mr. Jimmy Yang, President of the American Kenda Rubber Industrial Co. Ltd., who donated a total of 10K masks to the Government of Ohio, local hospitals in the city of Columbus in Ohio, and the city of Elkhart in Indiana.
5. For Wisconsin and Minnesota:
Mr. Jason Lo, CEO, Johnson Health Tech Group, and Mr. Bob Zande, President, Johnson Fitness & Wellness, Johnson Health Tech Retail, Inc. who, together with TECO in Chicago, donated 10K masks respectively to the governments of Wisconsin and Minnesota.
In addition to the donations above, in April and May TECO in Chicago has already donated 500K masks on behalf of the government of Taiwan to the City of Chicago and the states of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Iowa and Wisconsin recently. Director General Eric Huang thanks all the Taiwanese immigrants and entrepreneurs who donated to help fight this pandemic in the Midwest. Donations from either the government or local communities exemplifies Taiwan’s sincere friendship and genuine care for the US Midwest. Taiwan has largely succeeded in containing the coronavirus threat in Taiwan and has won worldwide praise for its response to the global pandemic. Taiwan can help, and Taiwan is helping! We look forward to your continuous support for Taiwan’s meaningful participation in the World Health Organization (WHO).
