Written by Sue-Sue Yang and Hsiulien Chu
Translated By H.B. Qin
Edited by Adriana DiBenedetto
Officially established in 1995 by several parents, attendees of the Tzu Chi USA Orlando Service Center’s 30th anniversary celebration reflected deeply on those early moments, knowing now how they would blossom into three decades of care in Florida.
Building a foundation locally was not easy. Florida, famous for tourism, but with a small Asian population, posed quite a few challenges for launching Tzu Chi’s charitable work. Yet, volunteers persevered, and the service center has now reached another milestone.
Over these past few decades, volunteers have upheld the spirit of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, overcoming language and cultural barriers to provide hot meals, care for seniors, and disaster relief, forging bonds across the community and earning widespread recognition. More recently, on September 15, 2024, the service center even relocated to a new facility in Orlando’s Chinatown to serve more residents.
Thirty Years of Unwavering Dedication
On July 20, 2025, the Orlando Service Center held its 30th anniversary celebration, themed “Hearts Connected, Lamps Passed On, United in Journey for 30 Years, Striving Together on the Bodhisattva Path.” From 9:30 to 11:30 AM, a half-day intensive workshop took place at the new office, followed by a celebration ceremony from 2:00 to 4:00 PM at a First Bank venue in Florida. More than 130 guests gathered to celebrate this lighthearted occasion.
“I am very happy here,” Robert P. Lynch, Director of the Orlando Service Center, expressed. “We have guests from as far as Houston, California, and Miami who have come to celebrate with us.” Though the space is small, the volunteers are determined, and have actively collaborated with local government and businesses while nurturing the next generation of volunteers. “Four volunteers recently completed their training and graduated today, and several youth volunteers also joined us,” he said. “I feel we can keep expanding, and I’m very happy about that. I’m delighted to see us beginning to grow.”
Volunteers Pass the Baton
Robert P. Lynch is the longest-serving director of the Orlando Service Center. Together with Lisa Lynch, who is from Taiwan, they form a multicultural Tzu Chi family. In 1984, while studying economics at Cornell University, Robert Lynch traveled to Taiwan, where he married Lisa. After moving to Orlando in 1991, he was introduced to Tzu Chi through his daughter’s enrollment in a Chinese language school, and since then, he has been deeply engaged in community service.
Robert Lynch has now passed on the responsibility to Acting Director Sue-Sue Yang, who, together with her husband, Weikuang Chang, bravely took on the role over three years ago after moving from New Jersey to Orlando, actively advancing the service center’s work.
“This field of merit belongs to everyone, so all of us must join hands to cultivate it together,” said Yang. “We do not seek to lessen our responsibilities; we seek to increase our strength, for that is where hope lies.” She also expressed gratitude to all volunteers for their love and care for this community over the past 30 years, sharing, “We welcome all members and thank everyone for supporting Tzu Chi. In the future, we will continue to follow the teachings of the Buddha and Dharma Master Cheng Yen, emphasizing the integration of Buddhism into daily life, cultivating compassion and wisdom, and bringing a positive influence to society that can extend to the world.”
Witnessing the Inheritance of Compassion
Tzu Chi volunteers from across the U.S. gathered to participate in the event. Former Mid-Atlantic Region Executive Director Debbie Lin and her husband, Jackson Chen, who is a former Tzu Chi USA CEO, traveled from California to offer congratulations and express their gratitude. Also at the celebration was Southern Region Executive Director Sean Lo, who shared his disaster assessment experience and encouraged volunteers to take on responsibilities as they walk the Bodhisattva path, saying, “This journey has filled me with deep gratitude. Finally, we had the opportunity to have a heart-to-heart conversation with our volunteers in Florida and get to know each other better. I also wish blessings upon the volunteers in Miami and Orlando, and hope that everyone can practice together diligently, cultivating both merit and wisdom.”
Robert Lynch and Sue-Sue Yang then read a letter from Tzu Chi’s founder, Dharma Master Cheng Yen, in Chinese and English. In the letter, Master Cheng Yen affirmed the Orlando Service Center’s hard work over the past 30 years and encouraged everyone to maintain the determination of their initial resolve.
Recognizing Tzu Chi’s Contributions
Several distinguished guests attended the celebration as well, including Kuo-Yung Hsu, former Minister of the Interior of the Republic of China and current Secretary-General of the Democratic Progressive Party, and his wife Hsiyueh Chang; Charles Chou, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami; Chengchang Wang, Consultant for the Overseas Community Affairs Council, and his wife Lili Tsai; Mengchen Yu, President of the Buddha’s Light International Association of Florida; Lincoln Z. Zhao, Esq., President of the Florida College of Integrative Medicine, and his wife; Liling Li, President of the Taiwanese Chamber of Commerce of Greater Orlando, and her family; and Pauline Ho, President of the Chinese American Association of Central Florida.
Hsu, an honorary director of Tzu Chi, happened to be in Florida, too, and was delighted to participate in the celebration. “Florida is quite similar to Taiwan in that it faces many typhoons and disasters. But Tzu Chi is always on the front lines, just as in Taiwan during typhoons and earthquakes,” said Hsu. “Tzu Chi is always the first to respond. I want to thank the Tzu Chi volunteers here for serving everyone, without borders.”
Charles Chou, Director General of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami, said, “We thank Tzu Chi for its long-term commitment to the Central Florida community, sowing seeds of love and kindness. The volunteers have consistently put into practice the compassionate philosophy of Master Cheng Yen, offering timely assistance during pandemics and natural disasters. They are an indispensable force in the community. It is a great honor to work alongside our volunteers to serve this community and Taiwan together. Especially when Tzu Chi is needed, its volunteers never lag behind but fully commit to assisting, leaving many Florida officials and friends deeply grateful for Tzu Chi’s contributions.” Chou also extended his blessings and encouragement to Orlando, expressing, “I encourage Tzu Chi Orlando to continue to uphold the spirit of kindness, compassion, joy, and equanimity, attracting more positive connections and injecting more positive energy into society, to create another remarkable 30 years.”
Tzu Chi stands not only for charity but also represents Taiwan’s soft power diplomacy, allowing the world to see and feel the kindness and beauty of Taiwan. It is one of Taiwan’s most beautiful cultural calling cards.
A Continuous Cultural Heritage
In addition to the intensive workshop, the day also marked the graduation ceremony for several community volunteers. Southern Region Executive Director Sean Lo and Acting Director Sue-Sue Yang, with the assistance of Tzu Chi volunteer Tsuihsia Hsu, presented graduation certificates and gifts.
The ceremony reflected on Tzu Chi Orlando’s journey since its founding in 1995, when a small group of parents from a Chinese language school planted seeds of love. For three decades, volunteers have moved onward step by step, their spirit never wavering. They have crossed language and cultural barriers, staying true to their original intentions through every challenge, and passing on the torch of compassion.
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The day’s activities were rich and varied, including a young volunteer’s performance of Vivaldi’s Violin Concerto in A Minor, Op. 3, No. 6, 2nd Movement, and the Buddhist Ode to the Treasure Vase. There were also sign language performances and a cake-cutting ceremony. By the end of the event, a warm and joyful air had filled the space to the brim as attendees performed Love and Care for All in English sign language together — a symbol of the compassionate power of Tzu Chi across cultures. Weikuang Chang, who hosted the ceremony, also read a congratulatory letter from the Mayor of Florida’s Orange County, Jerry Demings, who thanked Tzu Chi for 30 years of selfless dedication.
Over the past 30 years, the Orlando Service Center has sown and nurtured seeds of kindness across the local community, and has witnessed the perseverance and succession of generations of volunteers. With the new center now in operation, it’s hoped that more young volunteers will join and continue to cultivate this field of merit, lifting up greater care and compassion in the world.
