Westmont, Illinois -- Date Issued: May 7, 2021
On May 6, 2021, representatives from the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in Chicago and the Greater Chicago Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association (GCTEAA) made a donation of 200 COVID Relief Bags consisting of masks, sanitizers, and other items to the Village of Westmont. The presentation was made to Mayor Ron Gunter and Village Staff.
“We are so appreciative of our Taiwanese friends and this thoughtful gift,” said Mayor Ron Gunter. “We thank TECO Chicago Director General Mr. Johnson Chiang and GCTEAA President James Chen for their generous donation. We will definitely put these items to good use.” Gunter added, “As our national response to COVID-19 continues to improve, we look forward to returning to our on-going relationship of cultural exchange and positive support.”
“We would also like to take this opportunity to thank the Greater Chicago Taiwanese Emergency Assistance Association for helping arrange today’s donation ceremony, and Village of Westmont for the long-standing friendship,” said TECO Director General Chiang. “And we are looking forward to further helping promote the sister city relationship between the Village of Westmont and Hsinchu County, Taiwan in the future.”
“As a member in the community, our culture center has enjoyed a very cordial relationship with the Village of Westmont,” said Kerry Liou, Director of the TECO Culture Center in Westmont. “Through today’s donation of the care kits provided by the Taiwan government, we would like to help the community to fight against the COVID-19 pandemic as well as to demonstrate the spirit of the ‘Taiwan can help’ initiative.”
Participating in the donation event were Westmont Mayor Ron Gunter, TECO Chicago Director General Johnson Chiang, and GCTEAA President James Chen. Also participating from GCTEAA were Previous President and Advisory Board Chair Bonnie Chin, Vice President Luke Lin, Board Member Dr. Ming Lun Tang and William Lin. Representing TECO were Cultural Center in Chicago Director Kerry Liou and Deputy Director Morris Huang, Director Justin Lee. On behalf of the Village of Westmont were Village Manager Steve May, Assistant Village Manager Spencer Parker, Economic Development Director Larry Forssberg, Sister City Committee Member Tom Mulhearn, Fire Chief Steve Riley, Police Chief Jim Gunther, Public Works Director Mike Ramsey, and Communications Specialist Jennifer Babyar.
The Village of Westmont established a Sister City relationship with Taiwan in August of 2017. Over the years, the program has created numerous opportunities for cultural exchange as well as a very successful student exchange program.
Photos from the donation event can be found in the photo gallery on the village website.
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Contact: Larry McIntyre
Village of Westmont
Communications Director/Public Information Officer
630-417-0280
lmcintyre@westmont.il.gov
