Inland Chinese Association (ICA) was officially established in 1989 and has been 30 years. Chang Shanli initiated and in collaborating with Mr. Chen Dingguo and others also established Inland Riverside Chinese School. The primary purpose of the inland Chinese Association is to education, culture, charity as well as working together to the inland Chinese community to promote ethnic harmony, enhance the image of Chinese contribution to society. It is non-profit, non-political and non-religious group.

Inland Chinese Association is a mutual support platform to the Inland Chinese community. The following is the basic philosophy of this Association

1. Give thanks to our Homeland – For years, we have left our homeland to come to America to establish ourselves. It is because of the nurturing and the longing of our homeland, we are successful today
2. Give back to the Community – With our years of dedication at businesses and education, we have to appreciate the Community for giving us a stable environment, allowing us to accelerate in our businesses, raise our next generations. We must give back to the Community in any way we can.
3. Mutual understandings – America is a cauldron of different people from places all over the World. There are bound to have some misunderstandings. We must learn mutual understandings.
4. Support one and another – Help one and another by creating opportunities for our next generations to integrate more into the main stream society.
5. Carry on the Tradition - We must preserve our Chinese tradition, and teach it to our next generation, so that it may never be forgotten.

 

Marie Hung

 

In Memory of the Founder of ICA

Mr. Frank Ting-Kuo Chen (1941 - 2005)

Mr. Frank Ting-Kuo Chen, our good friend, family and community anchor, passed away on June 10, 2005 after sustaining an automobile-related injury.  At age 64, Frank ended his untiring years of devotion and left behind a legacy of compassion and humanity that will be forever treasured.  Frank was born on January 1, 1941 in Taipei, Taiwan and ranked seventh in a family of five sons and three daughters.  In 1965, Frank married Cha Cheng Yen, whose love and support enabled him to carry out his career, personal, and philanthropic ideals.  They celebrated their fortieth anniversary on March 29, 2005.

In 1970, Mr. Chen started his own company in manufacturing & trading in Taiwan, distributing his products across the United States.  Frank’s company flourished as he became well-known for his righteousness, love for people, and optimistic outlook.  Frank was elected the District Representative for the Chung Shan district in Taipei (1976-1977) and was highly respected.  Despite his successes, Frank immigrated to the United States in 1977 to provide a better education and broader horizons for his children.  His family lived in Moreno Valley, California, where he expanded his trading company and fulfilled his lifelong goal of supporting his children through university education.  Frank held close ties with his family and is survived by his wife Cha Cheng Chen, daughters Suzanne and Ping, and son Lee. 

Mr. Chen’s most important contribution to the community lies in his facilitation of cultural exchange in greater Los Angeles.  In his early years in the United States, he was involved with establishing the Chinese Students Association at the University of California, Riverside.  He was later appointed as an official delegate of Taiwan’s Overseas Chinese Affairs Commission, to assist new immigrants/residents in the area.  In 1988, he founded the Inland Chinese Association, congregating local Chinese Americans for the first time and forever changing their lives.  Today, the organization’s membership has grown to more than one thousand with events regularly participated by public officials, accomplishments few other local organizations can match.  In 1989, he established the Inland Riverside Chinese School, the first local Chinese school to provide children an opportunity to discover their cultural roots.  Frank also was the main catalyst for the construction of the landmark Chinese Pavilion in Downtown Riverside in 1984 to commemorate the early Chinese immigrants who resided here in the late nineteenth century.  On June 15, 2005, the United States Congress recognized Frank Chen in the Congressional Record, the official record of the proceedings of Congress.  In an exceptionally rare and special honor, Frank’s lifetime achievements and what he represented to the community and our country will be archived as part of the permanent historical records of the United States. 

Sometimes sacrifices are made to make us appreciate life and everything that we have.  Great leaders like Mr. Frank Chen led a life of contribution and left us with the responsibility to carry on the good work.  He has influenced so many and his legacy will live on long after his physical life; we will always remember him as our “Big Boss” and “Village Chief”.

Please let us know how we can serve you better. Inland Chinese Association.