Written by Wendy Tsai
Translated by H.B. Qin
The Tzu Chi Greater Washington D.C. Regional Office celebrated the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s 60th anniversary by welcoming community partners, nonprofit organizations, volunteers, donors, and friends to commemorate six decades of humanitarian service. Through presentations, sign language performances, and ten themed exhibitions, the event highlighted Tzu Chi’s legacy of compassion while inspiring greater collaboration to expand community service efforts.
Dedicated to the Community
Volunteer Sunny Yao served as the event emcee, opening the celebration by reflecting on Tzu Chi’s humble beginnings with just 50 Taiwanese cents. She noted that while the organization has grown into a global humanitarian force, its mission and values have remained unchanged.
Over the past six decades, Tzu Chi has expanded its work worldwide through its Four Missions and Eight Footprints, providing relief and compassionate care to people experiencing hardship.
Over the past few decades, Tzu Chi has been able to inspire the public's compassion to help those in need and accomplish so much for humanity. All of this has been made possible through one sincere aspiration—to serve others with genuine, selfless love. As people experience that compassion, more and more naturally join in doing good.
Volunteer Susan Chen introduces the exhibition, sharing Tzu Chi’s enduring spirit of Loving-kindness, Compassion, Joy, and Equanimity. The calligraphy reading “Dual Practice of Compassion and Wisdom” reflects the organization’s unwavering commitment to compassionate action. Photo/Benny Cheng
Hank Chi, Executive Director of the Tzu Chi Greater Washington D.C. Region, shared the organization’s journey from its founding in Taiwan to its worldwide humanitarian mission. He also highlighted the regional office’s accomplishments in charity, education, humanitarian relief, and community service throughout the greater Washington, D.C., area before introducing the event’s distinguished guests.
Today, the Greater Washington D.C. Regional Office is honored to celebrate Tzu Chi's 60th anniversary at our regional office. We are deeply grateful to local government officials, American Red Cross leaders, representatives from partner organizations, our volunteers, supporters, and generous donors whose continued encouragement has allowed Tzu Chi to grow and serve the Washington, D.C., community.
Looking toward the future, Chi expressed his hope that Tzu Chi will continue advancing its mission with gratitude and humility while strengthening partnerships with local governments and community organizations.
I hope Tzu Chi can continue to light up Washington, D.C.
Warmth Through Sign Language Interaction
During the celebration, Tzu Chi’s sign language team performed One Family, inviting guests to join in using simple, easy-to-learn hand gestures. The interactive performance created a warm, joyful atmosphere that brought participants together across cultures and generations.
As the music played, attendees of all ages, ethnicities, and language backgrounds signed together in harmony. Through the shared experience, many guests encountered Tzu Chi’s spirit of “One Family” for the first time, leaving a lasting impression of warmth, inclusion, and human connection.
Exploring Tzu Chi's Missions Through Ten Themed Exhibitions
Another highlight of the celebration was a series of ten curated exhibitions showcasing Tzu Chi’s diverse humanitarian missions and six decades of service.
The exhibitions featured:
- Tzu Chi Through the Decades
- The Bamboo Bank Story
- Food Distribution and Extended Care
- School Supplies Distribution
- Emergency Relief
- Vegetarianism Promotion
- Tzu Chi Academies
- Character Education
- Jing Si Products
- Mindfulness and Positive Thinking
Through interactive displays, personal stories, and volunteer-guided tours, guests learned how Tzu Chi transforms compassion into meaningful action throughout local communities and around the world. Together, the exhibitions illustrated how small acts of kindness have grown into a global humanitarian movement over the past 60 years.
At the Tzu Chi Academy exhibition, student Ethan Tsai introduced visitors to the school’s educational philosophy. In addition to Chinese language instruction, the academy emphasizes character development, Jing Si Aphorisms, and Tzu Chi’s humanitarian values.
I am very grateful to Tzu Chi for giving me so many opportunities to express my ideas and learn different ways to serve the community. Being able to represent the Tzu Chi Academy and share our experiences with everyone today is something I deeply appreciate.
Working Together with the Community to Promote Health and Well-Being
Several long-standing community partners also shared how their collaborations with Tzu Chi have strengthened community service efforts over the years.
Among the featured speakers were:
- Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu, Director of the Fairfax County Health Department
- Juan Garcia, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Northern Virginia Chapter
- Vladimir Tamashiro-Loma, Virginia State Leader for Team Rubicon and President of the Virginia Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
- Jake Karaisz, representative of the Capital Area Food Bank
Each speaker reflected on their experiences working alongside Tzu Chi, praising the organization’s longstanding commitment to serving vulnerable communities through disaster relief, food assistance, and compassionate care.
Representing Fairfax County, Dr. Gloria Addo-Ayensu congratulated Tzu Chi on its milestone anniversary while reflecting on more than a decade of collaboration with the organization.
This is probably my tenth or twelfth time visiting Tzu Chi. I first became involved through Health Department outreach many years ago, and we've been working closely together ever since.
She emphasized that public health extends far beyond medical care.
When people think about public health, they often think about the Health Department. But public health is what we accomplish together as a society to create the conditions that allow everyone to be healthy. Health is not simply the absence of disease. It includes physical, spiritual, social, and financial well-being. All of these aspects must come together.
Dr. Addo-Ayensu also noted that Fairfax County’s Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP 3.0) closely aligns with Tzu Chi’s priorities.
Our communities are incredibly diverse, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. We engage directly with community organizations to understand their strengths so we can work alongside them—not simply for them. That's what true partnership looks like.
She concluded by congratulating Tzu Chi on its achievements.
Congratulations on the incredible work Tzu Chi has accomplished over the past 60 years. Every time I visit, I am inspired by the compassion and dedication demonstrated here, and I look forward to seeing even more today.
As the celebration concluded, guests, volunteers, and community partners reflected not only on Tzu Chi’s achievements over the past six decades, but the shared responsibility of building a more compassionate tomorrow. From its humble origin to a global network of humanitarian service, Tzu Chi’s journey continues to demonstrate how small acts of kindness, sustained through sincerity and perseverance, can create lasting change. Looking ahead, the Greater Washington, D.C. region remains committed to strengthening community partnerships and carrying its guiding spirit of compassion ever onward.
