SWFCA March 2026 Newsletter
Dear Southwest Florida Chinese Association Members and Friends,
January 31, 2026, was truly a festive and memorable day at Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School. Nearly 300 people from communities stretching from Marco Island to Sarasota came together to celebrate the Chinese New Year in Southwest Florida. It was wonderful to see people of many cultural backgrounds gathering to enjoy this vibrant cultural tradition.
Before the main program began, guests had the opportunity to experience several traditional Chinese arts. We were honored to showcase the delicate paper-cutting artwork of Ms. Jingjing Wu. From elegant traditional vases and intricate blue-and-white floral medallions to a lively red horse, each piece demonstrated remarkable skill and patience. Ms. Wu, who grew up in Northeast China, learned the art of paper cutting from experienced artisans. With a calm dedication and deep respect for this 2,000-year-old cultural tradition, she continues to preserve and share this beautiful heritage.
We were also delighted to welcome Mr. Benzeng Wang, who demonstrated the art of Chinese calligraphy. His mastery of brush and ink captivated the audience and inspired many to appreciate the elegance of Chinese written language. In addition, Ms. Tish Roland, a senior 4-H instructor, demonstrated how to create traditional Chinese knots. Remarkably, she had only begun learning the craft a few months earlier. Through her enthusiasm and commitment to volunteering with the Southwest Florida Chinese Association, she was able to guide participants in a fun and engaging activity.
Throughout the event, guests enjoyed a variety of hands-on cultural activities while also exploring more than thirty silent auction items generously donated by local individuals and businesses. The support of our community made this portion of the celebration especially exciting.
We were honored to welcome the Mayor of Fort Myers, Mr. Anderson, who joined us for the entire event. Over the next three hours, audiences were treated to an impressive lineup of performances, including traditional dances, martial arts, and musical presentations featuring instruments such as the drum, zither, harmonica, and violin, along with beautiful vocal performances. The excitement continued with multiple raffle drawings and more than $1,500 in gift card prizes donated by local businesses.
One of the most popular moments was the red envelope presentation, where participants of all ages received symbolic blessings of good fortune for the new year. The highlight of the celebration was undoubtedly the spectacular lion dance performed by Lee Koon Hung Kung Fu from Sunrise, FL. Accompanied by powerful drumbeats and impressive Kung Fu movements, the three lions entertained the crowd with playful interactions and exciting stage performances.
The celebration concluded with a wonderful selection of popular Chinese finger foods prepared by Jingdu Japanese Buffet and Poke Hawaii, allowing guests to continue enjoying the festive atmosphere while sharing food and conversation.
We are deeply grateful to our sponsors, whose generous support made this large-scale celebration possible. Their contributions allowed the Association to focus on thoughtful planning and delivering a meaningful cultural experience for our community.
Our sincere appreciation also goes to the many volunteers who generously gave their time and energy. Many of them helped with preparations the evening before the event, and their dedication ensured that every detail came together smoothly.
The Board of Directors of the Southwest Florida Chinese Association worked tirelessly to bring this celebration to life. Their teamwork, commitment, and passion for serving the community were essential to the success of this event.
In addition to our New Year celebration, we were honored this year to be invited to participate in several community events, including celebrations at Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU), the Lee County PACE Center for Girls, and a fundraising event hosted by Renee Gaddis in support of Golisano Children’s Hospital.
Through these opportunities, we proudly carried forward the mission of the Southwest Florida Chinese Association — to preserve, share, and promote Chinese cultural traditions throughout Southwest Florida, to provide meaningful cultural programs that enrich both our members and the broader community, and to encourage cultural exchange and understanding among people of all backgrounds. Events like these remind us that culture has the power to bring communities together, build friendships, and create lasting connections.
Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to sharing many more meaningful cultural experiences with you in the future.
Warm regards,
Liwen Williams
President
Southwest Florida Chinese Association
亲爱的西南佛州华人协会会员及朋友们：
2026年1月31日，在 Paul Laurence Dunbar Middle School 举办的中国新年庆典为大家带来了一个喜庆而难忘的日子。来自 Marco Island 到 Sarasota 的近300位朋友齐聚一堂，共同庆祝中国新年的到来。能够看到来自不同文化背景的人们相聚在一起，共同体验和分享中华传统文化，让我们倍感欣喜与感动。
在正式节目开始前，来宾们首先欣赏到了多项中国传统文化艺术展示。我们非常荣幸能够展出吴晶晶女士精美细腻的剪纸作品。从典雅的中国传统花瓶图案，到精致复杂的青花纹样，再到活泼喜庆的红色骏马，每一件作品都展现出令人赞叹的技艺与耐心。吴女士来自中国东北，自幼向民间艺人与专业老师学习剪纸艺术。凭借着沉稳细致的性格和对这一两千多年文化传统的热爱，她一直致力于传承和分享这门独特的民间艺术。
我们同样非常荣幸邀请到王本增先生为大家现场展示中国书法艺术。他娴熟的笔法和深厚的功底让观众赞叹不已，也让大家更加欣赏中国文字的优雅与美感。此外，我们还特别感谢 Lee County 4-H 的资深导师Tish Roland 女士，为大家示范如何制作传统中国结。令人惊讶的是，她几个月前才刚刚开始学习这项技艺。凭借她热心学习的态度以及对西南佛州华人协会志愿服务的热情，她成功地以生动有趣、简单易懂的方式带领参与者体验这一传统手工艺。
在整个活动过程中，来宾们不仅参与了丰富多彩的文化体验活动，还兴致勃勃地浏览了三十多件慈善无声拍卖物品。这些拍卖物品均由本地个人和企业慷慨捐赠，为活动增添了许多惊喜与热闹气氛。
我们也非常荣幸邀请到 Fort Myers 市长 Anderson 先生 全程参加此次庆典。在接下来的三个小时里，观众们欣赏到了精彩纷呈的舞台表演，包括优美的舞蹈、武术表演，以及多种传统与现代乐器演奏，如鼓、古筝、口琴、小提琴等，还有动听的歌曲演唱。活动现场气氛热烈，多轮抽奖活动让观众充满期待，而由本地企业慷慨赞助超过1500美元礼品卡大奖更是将现场气氛推向高潮。
其中最受欢迎的环节之一是派发红包。这一象征新年好运与祝福的传统不仅受到小朋友的喜爱，也吸引了许多成年观众参与。整场活动的高潮无疑是来自 Sunrise 的李坤鸿武术馆（Lee Koon Hung Kung Fu） 带来的精彩舞狮表演。在震撼的鼓声与精湛的武术动作配合下，三只狮子时而与观众互动，时而在舞台上展示精彩技巧，赢得阵阵掌声与喝彩。
庆典最后在美食与欢笑中圆满落幕。来宾们享用了由 Jingdu Japanese Buffet 和 Poke Hawaii 精心准备的多款受欢迎的中式小吃，一边品尝美食，一边继续分享节日的喜悦与交流。
我们衷心感谢所有赞助商的慷慨支持。举办如此规模的活动需要大量资源，正是因为他们的支持，协会才能够专注于精心策划和顺利执行，为社区呈现一场充满文化内涵与欢乐气氛的庆典。
我们也非常感谢所有志愿者的无私奉献。许多人在活动前一天晚上就来到现场协助布置场地，他们的辛勤付出使每一个细节都能够顺利完成。
西南佛州华人协会董事会全体成员更是倾注了大量时间与精力。正是凭借大家的团队合作、责任感与热情，才让这次庆典取得圆满成功。
除了本次新年庆典之外，今年我们也非常荣幸受邀参与了多项社区活动，包括 佛罗里达海湾大学（FGCU） 的新年庆祝活动、Lee County PACE Center for Girls 的文化交流活动，以及由 Renee Gaddis 举办、为 Golisano Children’s Hospital 筹款的慈善活动。
通过这些活动，我们也在不断实践西南佛州华人协会的使命：
致力于在西南佛州地区 保存、传承与推广中华文化传统；
通过举办多样化的文化活动与项目，丰富会员与社区居民的文化生活；
并促进华人社区与来自世界各地不同文化群体之间的 文化交流与相互理解。
这些活动再次证明，文化拥有连接人心的力量。它能够让不同背景的人们相聚一堂，建立友谊，并创造长久而美好的联系。
感谢大家一直以来对西南佛州华人协会的支持。我们期待在未来的活动中再次与大家相聚，共同分享更多精彩而有意义的文化体验。
衷心感谢！
Liwen Williams
西南佛州华人协会 会长
Event Highlights
活动精彩秒拍
We have compiled many wonderful photos from the 2026 Chinese New Year, generously captured by Jim Wolff, Shanfang Fu, Dale Waldo, and members of our community. https://www.swfchinese.org/gallery.html
Be sure to follow our Facebook page for updates and highlights:
https://www.facebook.com/chinese.florida
我们已整理了2026春節慶典活动的精彩照片，特别感谢 Jim Wolff、Shanfang Fu、Dale Waldo 以及社区成员的热心拍摄与分享。https://www.swfchinese.org/gallery.html
欢迎关注我们的 Facebook 页面，获取最新动态与精彩回顾：
https://www.facebook.com/chinese.florida
2026 Chinese New Year Celebration
2026 FGCU Chinese New Year
Lee County PACE Center for Girls
Fundraiser by Renee Gaddis for Golisano Children’s Hospital
New Term, Bright Future for SWFCA
Dear Southwest Florida Chinese Association Members and Friends,
Over the past five years, it has been my honor to serve on the Board of the Southwest Florida Chinese Association. The last two years, in particular, have given me a deep appreciation for the responsibilities and challenges of serving as President. I am sincerely grateful for the opportunity to learn, grow, and serve our community.
I am especially thankful for the guidance of our past presidents and for the privilege of working alongside Vice President Anne Meyer, Secretary Lily Tang, Treasurer Wendy Kuo, and board members Yi Liu (Luo-chen), Matthew Williams, Susie Kwok, John Yee, Very Yee, Jimmy Wolff, and Apple King. Their dedication and teamwork have meant so much.
As my presidential term concludes this month, I step down with confidence and optimism as I pass the leadership to Anne Meyer. With her strong leadership abilities, I am certain the association will continue to thrive and expand under her guidance. I am also delighted to share that Susie Kwok has graciously accepted the role of Vice President. Anne’s thoughtful and steady leadership, combined with Susie’s energy and nonprofit experience, will make them an outstanding team to guide SWFCA forward.
I would also like to express my heartfelt appreciation to all of our sponsors and community partners who have supported SWFCA throughout our term. Their generosity has made it possible for us to host meaningful events and programs for our members.
Please take a moment to visit our sponsor page:
https://www.swfchinese.org/sponsors.html
I warmly encourage each of you to become more involved — whether by serving on the board, volunteering, or actively participating as a member. Supporting the Chinese community in Southwest Florida requires all of us working together. United, we can create a lasting impact for both our present community and future generations.
Have you considered joining our board? Now is a wonderful time to step forward. Serving on the board offers opportunities to build community connections, develop leadership skills, collaborate with dedicated volunteers, and form lasting friendships. If you are interested, please email [email protected].
Finally, I would like to extend my heartfelt appreciation to all of our board members for their dedication, time, and hard work. Every member of our board serves the association on a voluntary basis without compensation, generously giving their energy and commitment to support our community. To express our gratitude to the board members and the families who stand beside them and often volunteer as well, we will be hosting a Board Appreciation Dinner at 11:00 AM on April 4, 2026, at Jingdu Japanese Buffet. Community members and friends are also warmly welcome to join us by covering their own meal expenses. Seating is limited, so please RSVP to [email protected] by April 2, 2026.
Thank you all for your continued support. I look forward to seeing you at future SWFCA events.
Liwen Williams
President, Southwest Florida Chinese Association
亲爱的西南佛州华人协会会员及朋友们：
在过去的五年里，我有幸在西南佛州华人协会董事会任职，为社区服务。尤其是在过去两年担任会长期间，我更加深刻地体会到这一职务所肩负的责任与挑战。我由衷感谢能够拥有这样的机会，在服务社区的同时不断学习与成长。
我特别感谢历任会长的指导，也很荣幸能够与副会长 Anne Meyer、秘书 Lily Tang、财务 Wendy Kuo，以及董事会成员 Yi Liu（Luo-chen）、Matthew Williams、Susie Kwok、John Yee、Very Yee、Jimmy Wolff 和 Apple King 一同合作。他们的奉献精神和团队合作对协会的发展意义重大。
随着本月我的会长期满结束，我怀着信心与期待将协会的领导工作交接给 Anne Meyer。我相信，凭借她卓越的领导能力，协会在她的带领下一定会持续发展、不断壮大。同时我也非常高兴地宣布，Susie Kwok 已欣然接受副会长一职。Anne 冷静周到的领导风格，加上 Susie 充满活力并拥有丰富的非营利组织服务经验，她们将组成一支非常出色的团队，引领西南佛州华人协会迈向新的发展阶段。
我还要衷心感谢所有在我们任期内支持西南佛州华人协会的赞助商和社区合作伙伴。正是因为他们的慷慨支持，我们才能为会员举办丰富而有意义的活动与项目。
欢迎大家访问我们的赞助商页面：
https://www.swfchinese.org/sponsors.html
我也诚挚地鼓励大家更加积极地参与协会活动——无论是加入董事会、担任志愿者，还是成为活跃会员。支持西南佛州的华人社区需要我们大家共同努力。只要齐心协力，我们就能为社区以及未来的世代创造长远而积极的影响。
您是否考虑过加入我们的董事会呢？现在正是一个很好的时机。参与董事会工作不仅能够帮助您与社区建立更紧密的联系，也能够培养领导能力，与热心的志愿者们一起合作，并结识许多志同道合的朋友。如果您有兴趣，请发送邮件至 [email protected]。
最后，我想再次向所有董事会成员致以最诚挚的感谢，感谢他们所付出的时间、精力与辛勤努力。我们的每一位董事会成员都是无偿志愿服务，为协会和社区投入了大量心力。为了表达我们对董事会成员以及一直支持他们、并常常一起参与志愿服务的家人的感谢，我们将于 2026年4月4日上午11点 在 Jingdu Japanese Buffet 举办董事会感谢午宴。同时也欢迎社区成员和朋友们一同参加，自行承担餐费。由于座位有限，请于 2026年4月2日之前 发送邮件至 [email protected] 回复确认参加。
感谢大家一直以来的支持。期待在未来的西南佛州华人协会活动中再次与大家相见。
Liwen Williams
西南佛州华人协会 会长
