Chinese Americans Seek Heritage Center

A group of Chinese Americans is poised to launch an aggressive fund-raising campaign to build a Chinese heritage center in the Valley to serve as a cultural home.

The Chinese Heritage Foundation hopes to raise $500,000 in the first phase of its campaign but may need up to $1.5 million to bring the heritage center project to fruition, said foundation member Tung Po Lin.

“Depending on how fast we can raise the money, we hope we can have the building finished within 10 years,” Lin said.

For more than 25 years, the San Fernando Valley Chinese Cultural Assn. has rented locations throughout the Valley to conduct its activities and cultural events, leaving the group feeling fragmented and disjointed, said SFVCCA member Shirley Foung.

“A cultural heritage center would help bring together the 20,000 Chinese Americans who live in the Valley, but it’s not just for Chinese Americans,” Foung said. “We hope the center will be used by anyone interested in Chinese traditions and culture.”

The Chinese Heritage Center would house classrooms, a library, an activity center and an auditorium. It also would serve as a central location for Chinese language classes, senior activities and cultural events hosted by the SFVCCA.

The Chinese Heritage Foundation, the fund-raising arm of the SFVCCA, will begin the fund-raising effort with a benefit community awards banquet Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m. at the Universal City Hilton. Other fund-raisers are two October performances of “Mulan, the Woman Warrior” featuring Shurui Yang, one of China’s most acclaimed opera performers.

For more information about attending the banquet or opera performances, call Lin at (818) 886-8821.