Taiwanese and city officials to kick off Orlando's Taiwanese Heritage Festival

The Central Florida Taiwanese Association will be hosting this year's Taiwanese Heritage Festival on the plaza in front of City Hall in downtown Orlando. This is an event that is held in conjunction with Taiwanese-American Heritage Week, a nationally observed week declared to honor and recognize the contributions of Taiwanese-Americans to all communities in the United States.

Orlando, FL -- May 18, 2003 -- The Central Florida Taiwanese Association will be hosting this year's Taiwanese Heritage Festival on the plaza in front of City Hall in downtown Orlando. This is an event that is held in conjunction with Taiwanese-American Heritage Week, a nationally observed week declared to honor and recognize the contributions of Taiwanese-Americans to all communities in the United States.

It was on May 3, 1999, while proclaiming the last week of May as Taiwanese-American Heritage Week, President Clinton wrote to all Taiwanese-Americans: "As we seek to become a more united people, we must not forget our roots for they remind us of who we are and what we have to share with others. Americans of Taiwanese descent can be proud of their roots and of their vital role in the continued growth of our nation. From business to the arts, from government to academia, they have strengthened our nation and enriched our cultural heritage."

Orlando City Commissioner Patty Sheehan, who has been seen as a strong supporter of the local Asian-American community, will launch the event with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Joining the ceremony, representing the Taiwanese government, will be Director General Chung Chen, of the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Miami. Leaders of local Taiwanese-American organizations will also participate in the ribbon cutting.

The event will feature various facets of the Taiwanese culture, including entertainment and displays.

"It is an opportunity for the local community to gain a stronger understanding and appreciation of the Taiwanese culture and to meet the dynamic Taiwanese-Americans who live among them," states Central Florida Taiwanese Association member Tony Coolidge, "It is also an opportunity for the local Taiwanese-Americans to proudly share their heritage with the American community that has embraced them."

The event will begin at 10 am on Saturday May 24th, 2003. It will be held on the plaza in front of the Orlando City Hall building at 400 S. Orange Avenue.