Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation, USA

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Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation is a non-profit organization founded in 1966 by Venerable Master Cheng Yen in the east coast of Taiwan. The Foundation has been contributing to social and community services, medical care, education and humanism in Taiwan for nearly 40 years. Master Cheng Yen firmly believes that suffering in this world is caused by material deprivation and spiritual poverty. Since its founding, the Foundation has worked in the field of charity, medicine, education, environmental protection, and the promotion of humanistic values and community volunteerism.

Tzu Chi volunteers living abroad began setting up overseas chapters in 1985. They use money that they have earned in their country of residence to help the poor and needy in their local communities. Today, Tzu Chi is an international organization with over 5 million supporters and over 30,000 certified commissioners around the globe.

Emergency aid to typhoon-stricken Bangladesh in 1991 marked the beginning of the foundation's international relief efforts. As of August 2005, over fifty-seven countries in five continents have received Tzu Chi’s aid.