Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters Region

Written by Tzu Chi USA’s Chinese Writers Team and Ida Eva Zielinska

Published #75 | Winter 2024 Issue

➊ National Headquarters Region Office, San Dimas

Officials and civil society recognize and express gratitude for Tzu Chi USA’s 9/11 disaster relief response at a joint press conference organized by the City of Monrovia municipal government and police department on September 25, 2001. Since Tzu Chi USA CEO Austin Tsao had rushed to New York after the attacks on 9/11, Deputy CEO Chuoyen Ke (at the podium), former head of the Long Island Service Center, took charge at the relatively new Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters and delivered a speech on behalf of Tzu Chi at the press conference. Photo/Debra Boudreaux

Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters is officially established in Southern California in 2001, with Austin Tsao, the former Executive Director of the Tzu Chi USA Northwest Region, as the first CEO. With the 9/11 attacks occurring in the same year, providing timely disaster relief becomes Tzu Chi USA's first test. In this photo, Tsao (second right), who had rushed to New York immediately, and fellow Tzu Chi volunteers offer ice water and hot soup to relief workers at the disaster site. *Photo/Courtesy of Shuchen Wang*

➋ Cerritos Service Center

➌ Northwest Los Angeles Service Center

➍ Orange County Service Center

➎ San Diego Service Center

Stephen Huang (front) travels to San Diego Children’s Hospital and leads volunteers Shuchen Wang (left), Chunling Kuo (second left), Lusha Chen (middle), Taina He (second right), and Hsiumei Hung (right) as they chant by the bedside of a child who had passed away minutes ago. This is the first time that Chunling Kuo, who planted the first Tzu Chi seed in San Diego, chants for the deceased. The young cancer patient had traveled to San Diego from Taiwan seeking treatment at the San Diego Children’s Hospital in 1994. Unfortunately, the treatment proved unsuccessful. *Photo/Hsiumei Hung*

➏ San Gabriel Valley Service Center

➐ Torrance Service Center

In May 1995, veteran volunteer Hsiuhsia Lien hosted a tea party in Torrance, California at her home. Two and a half years later, the South Bay Service Center (later renamed Torrance Service Center) was officially established, with Lien as the first person in charge. The photo shows Master Cheng Yen speaking to Tzu Chi members, including Lien (second right), at the Hualien Jing Si Abode on August 1, 1988. *Photo/Courtesy of Hsiuhsia Lien*

➑ West Los Angeles Service Center

Volunteers from the Santa Monica Service Center (established in 1996 and renamed the West Los Angeles Service Center in 2007) pose for a photo on December 18, 1998. In the front row are Shuchen Wang (left), Flora Yeh (second left), Yuehli Liu (third left), Hsiuhsiu Tsai (third right), Yungli Tseng (second right), and Liju Chang (right). In the back row are Senjung Hsu (left), Chunming Liu (second left), Tingying Chou (third left), Shuyuan Liao (fourth left), Hsiuyun Yang (middle), Chiahsi Mu (fourth right), Luhsiu Chen (third right), Chungyu Yeh (second right), and Chiuju Chou (right). *Photo/Courtesy of Flora Yeh*

➒ Phoenix Service Center

In 1996, the Phoenix Service Center rents its first office in a shopping mall on Baseline Road. The photos show the interior and exterior of the premises. Photos/Tzu Chi USA Phoenix Service Center