Written by Jennifer Chien
Translated by H.B. Qin
Edited by Ariel Tsai
Nearly 200 trainees from across the United States gathered at the sunny Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters campus in San Dimas, California, from December 5 to 7, 2025, for the Tzu Chi USA 36th Anniversary Retreat. As the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation approaches its 60th anniversary, trainees collectively reflected on the Foundation’s 36-year journey in the U.S., uniting in the spirit of “preserving tradition while embracing innovation” to strengthen their commitment to action.
Keynote speakers included Dr. Po-Wen Yen, CEO of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation; Stephen Huang, Executive Director of Tzu Chi Global Volunteers; Andrew Cherng, Co-founder of Panda Restaurant Group; Anil Vadaparty, CEO of the McKinley Foundation; and David Goodwin, Community Partnerships Manager of the American Red Cross.
The topics they discussed included Dharma lineage and sustainability, disaster relief resilience, youth empowerment, AI interactive learning, integrated implementation strategies, and new volunteer recruiting and training. Trainees also learned about the Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters’ cost-reduction, capacity-building, and efficiency-enhancement initiatives. The enriching program was complemented by outdoor forest hiking, creating a warm, joyful, and spiritually uplifting three-day, two-night experience.
reparing to Welcome the Tzu Chi Family
To welcome fellow Dharma family members returning to the Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters campus for the retreat from December 5 to 7, nearly 50 volunteers from the Headquarters region arrived on Saturday, November 22, the day before the Thanksgiving long weekend. Armed with cleaning supplies like rags, mops, and brooms, they worked together thoroughly scrubbing every corner of Gratitude Hall and the dormitory rooms inside and out.
For this joyful reunion, the headquarters administration team procured 150 brand-new sets of cotton quilts, pillow inserts, quilt covers, and pillowcases. Working in pairs, volunteers carefully inserted the quilts and pillow inserts into their covers and meticulously cleaned the dormitory bedrooms, bathrooms, and kitchen. The busy cleaning work made the volunteers sweat profusely despite the cold weather. Yet, knowing that the families returning home for this rare reunion would enjoy soft, comfortable new bedding and gather in a clean, pleasant environment, everyone beamed with joy and vitality.
Volunteers Across the U.S. Reunite
On December 5, the 200 trainees arrived for the start of the retreat. After everyone had arrived and registered, they participated in a Treasure Hunt along the route to the Gratitude Hall where classes would take place. Each team drew specific questions, prompting them to carefully observe and deeply experience the Buddhist-infused spiritual energy permeating every corner of the campus.
Tzu Chi Global Volunteer Executive Director Stephen Huang conveyed blessings and aspirations from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, opening the retreat with a keynote speech titled “Four Crises and Opportunities for Tzu Chi USA”. He analyzed the challenges facing Tzu Chi USA with trainees, encouraging everyone to overcome adversity, stay true to their original aspirations, and practice the Bodhisattva path as the Foundation marks its 36th year in the United States.
“The four major crises we faced all became turning points. The most important thing is that we listen to the sutras, follow Master Cheng Yen, and cultivate ourselves,” Stephen Huang stated. “Others have nothing to do with us. As long as the Master has never failed you, you must walk the Bodhisattva path in this human world forever.”
Giving is a blessing. Asking for nothing in return is the highest wisdom. So if you can give without asking for anything in return, you cultivate blessings and wisdom. Gratitude, respect, and love are the union of compassion and wisdom; with a broad heart and pure thoughts comes ease and freedom.
The next day of this three-day, two-night retreat featured a full day of classes, with speeches and lectures delivered by the prominent guest speakers.
Cultivate Talent, Strengthen Resolve
During the intensive program on December 6, the trainees Ogained deeper insights into the current challenges Tzu Chi faces in the United States. Through incisive speeches and lectures by distinguished speakers, they learned how to collaborate effectively with existing partners, businesses, and other community organizations to advance shared good. This approach aimed to deepen the roots of Tzu Chi’s Four Major Missions and Eight Global Footprints within communities, ensuring the Dharma takes hold in America.
In the day’s first session, Debbie Lee, CEO of Tzu Chi USA, shared insights under the theme “Reflecting on Tzu Chi USA’s Current Status and Future Development.” She began by expressing gratitude for the past 36 years, acknowledging the pioneering efforts and steadfast dedication of past CEOs and all volunteers who have made great achievements. At this 36th-anniversary milestone, she encouraged everyone not to be confined by past achievements but to step out of their comfort zones. She emphasised finding stability in action and wisdom in movement, preserving tradition while embracing innovation, and upholding the old while embracing the new.
Innovation means finding new approaches while staying true to our original aspirations; sustainability means preserving our core values in the face of change. We must respond to the needs of each generation, engage with the community, address contemporary challenges, and implement community-based solutions. Transformation and adaptation are essential for Tzu Chi's enduring sustainability.
Five Tzu Chi USA Executive Vice Presidents– Stephen Denq, James Chen, Kevin Wong, Mike Tang, and Poh Joo Tan – presented work plans for cost reduction, capacity building, and efficiency enhancement across Tzu Chi USA’s medical services, spiritual care, finance, philanthropy, administrative effectiveness, information technology, media, and Dharma propagation, which helped cultivate a better understanding of the organization’s initiatives.
David Goodwin, Community Partnerships Manager at the American Red Cross, shared insights on how nonprofits can build strategic partnerships to maximize aid for disaster-affected populations. “We look forward to strengthening our collaboration across five key areas: volunteer engagement, blood donation drives, training programs, and opportunities to help each community prepare for the next disaster,” he stated.
Sharing Achievements, Expressing Gratitude
Andrew Cherng, founder of the Panda Cares Foundation, shared how his charitable foundation has embedded compassion into its culture. Through collaboration with TzChi, the organization’s resources are deployed more effectively, hence maximizing social impact. He said, “We came to America seeking a better life – a place where you can fully realize your potential because the environment provides the best conditions. I believe we at Panda Group are fortunate.”
Giving back means sharing your experiences, sharing your achievements, expressing your gratitude, and demonstrating that it can be done. As long as you believe something can come true, it will.
Anil Vadaparty, CEO of the 150-year-old McKinley Foundation in the San Dimas community, shared how the organization upholds its founding principle of people-centered service while continuously adapting to changing times. His experience resonates deeply with Tzu Chi’s humanitarian spirit of “preserving traditions while advancing with the times.”
Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation CEO Po-Wen Yen’s speech took the theme of “Sixty Years of Tzu Chi: Positioning and Sustainability in the U.S.” Referencing the Global Risks Report, which describes the world as “an increasingly polarized” one, he highlighted that amid three major risks of international conflict, extreme weather, and geo-economic confrontation, 90% of the global population lives in unequal environments. With hunger rates rising annually, donations declining, and development aid shrinking as the background, current U.S. government policies have severely affected humanitarian relief efforts. As a result, these macro trends pose significant challenges for NGOs.
He emphasized the need for wise philanthropy, citing Taiwan’s Corporate Governance 3.0 framework as a reference for organizational optimization, such as strengthening boards, enhancing transparency, improving communication, fulfilling philanthropic responsibilities, and prioritizing sustainability.
Joe Huang of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s Religious Affairs Department shared on “Preserving Tradition While Embracing Innovation,” stressing that compassion shouldn’t remain confined to individual cultivation but must return to social realities. Everyone must continually observe society, courageously try new approaches to inspire compassion, practice what we preach, and engage with people.
Entan Chen of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s Religious Affairs Department shared on “Youth Empowerment.” He highlighted Tzu Chi’s initiatives for guiding young people and interfaith peace journeys, as well as its involvement in UN and global tours, and encouraged everyone to support, guide, accompany, and nurture talent, thereby giving the younger generation opportunities to learn and grow.
The warm and joyful party at the end of the day freed everyone from weighty classes, with laughter and cheer drawing all trainees closer. Volunteer Tzuching Sun entered the venue with a longevity peach cake for everyone, bringing the evening to a perfect close and igniting everyone’s motivation for a fresh new beginning.
Walking Hand in Hand On the Bodhisattva Path
The Tzu Chi USA 36th Anniversary Retreat concluded with over 200 trainees sharing heartfelt farewells amidst a touching atmosphere of closure. Filled with profound spiritual resonance and unwavering resolve, they pledged to unite and stride forward together toward Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation’s 60th anniversary next year and many more milestones ahead.
“My heart is truly filled with inexpressible emotion and gratitude,” Tzu Chi USA CEO Debbie Lee expressed. “I hope we can all reflect together on how to guide Tzu Chi toward its 40th year with unwavering resolve. With steadfast compassion, may we walk the Bodhisattva path for Tzu Chi USA’s next 36 years and beyond!”
Tzu Chi Global Volunteer Executive Director Stephen Huang personally attended the closing ceremony to bid farewell to the trainees. He encouraged everyone, saying, “Thanks to Master Cheng Yen’s blessings, we have this sacred mountain, the USA National Headquarters, which is truly rare! May you all walk with favorable conditions, reap abundant rewards, and cultivate both blessings and wisdom.” He presented a blessing card to the Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters on behalf of the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, while the headquarters reciprocated with a card signed by all trainees and headquarters staff.
The program on the last day of the retreat featured hands-on practice of the “AI Reading Club,” introduced trainees to the four major missions of the Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters, and invited community members to join a nature walk around the headquarters campus.
The “AI Reading Club,” implemented for months across the Tzu Chi USA National Headquarters area, integrates technology with Tzu Chi’s media power. This innovative “Dharma tool” enables accessible spiritual cultivation for all, empowering people worldwide to effortlessly study Master Cheng Yen’s teachings and Tzu Chi’s historical legacy. Through the introduction and practice session at the retreat, the seeds of AI reading will be sown across the U.S.
The warm and heartfelt retreat united the spiritual strength of Dharma family members. As each trainee reflected on Tzu Chi USA’s 36-year journey, they reaffirmed their original vows, preserving tradition while embracing innovation, and joined hands to advance along the Bodhisattva path, welcoming a new milestone as Tzu Chi approaches its 60th anniversary.
