Monthly Newsletter
September Mid-Autumn Festival
The Chinese American Golden Age Association (CAGAA) held a warm Mid-Autumn Festival party at the Golden Age Village in Monterey Park on the evening of May 16th, bringing a joyful time for the elderly residents to appreciate the moon, taste mooncakes and watch performances. The warm atmosphere of the community bonded all the residents together to share the joy of the festive season.
Iris Chi, President of CAGAA, said in her speech that it was a great honor to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival with all of you and thanked the guests for their long-time support, which has inspired Golden Age New Village to keep moving forward. She also thanked the performers, volunteers and staff for their hard work and dedication, which made the evening so vibrant.
Congresswoman Judy Chu praised Golden Age Village for serving low-income Chinese seniors for more than 40 years as a model for the community, with a wide variety of activities that enrich the lives of seniors, including educational classes, computer skills training, and tai chi, as well as monthly birthday parties and biannual trips, in addition to regular traditional festivals. The program has greatly enriched the lives of the elderly.
Tim Li, Director of Golden Age Village, introduced that the average age of Golden Age Village residents is 83 years old, which is the highest life expectancy among the neighboring senior apartments. He also mentioned that the average waiting time for admission is 10 years, and called for support to add more rooms in the future, so that more elderly people can “have a sense of security and a sense of belonging”.
Vinh T. Ngo, Vice Mayor of the City of Monterey Park, recalled the construction of the Golden Age Village when he was a child and said that when his grandparents were alive, the average waiting time for occupancy was about 15 years, which demonstrates the success of the Golden Age Village and its long-term impact on the community. Attorney David Liu, a candidate for California's 49th Congressional District, visited Golden Age Village for the first time. He admired the beautiful environment and the convenience of living here, and humorously said that he would definitely apply to live here as soon as possible.
Dance, pipa solo and tai chi sword performances won applause at the party, which was filled with laughter and love of life. The residents not only lit up the night with their performances, but also shared the joy of reunion with each other at this special moment.