establishment of the “Redwood Tribe”. (Photo by Zhang Hong)
On the 11th, the Franklin Foundation held a Mother’s Day poetry recitation event in
Temple City, where over a hundred mothers and children from autism families gathered
to celebrate Mother’s Day through reciting poems and performing. The foundation also
announced the establishment of the “Redwood Tribe” to provide a solid foundation for
autism families and to focus on the future of these autistic children after their parents
are gone.
Founder Jane He stated that the foundation has been holding celebration events for
Mother’s Day for three to four consecutive years. Mothers are the backbone of the
family, especially in autism families, where mothers dedicate all their efforts. Through
celebrating Mother’s Day activities, the aim is to allow mothers to relax and to recognize
their contributions to the family. At the event, T-shirts printed with paintings created by
autistic children were also given to the mothers.
She mentioned that at the event, a mother of a severely autistic child named Alice Fu
recited the poem “To the Oak Tree” by Shu Ting. This mother had won a competition in
her youth for reciting this poem and had also been a senior engineer at IBM but had to
give up her career to take care of her child.
Director Zhong Shan Cai of the foundation expressed that the Franklin Foundation
raises awareness of autism children and their families through various activities. The
concern for autism among Chinese philanthropists is increasing, leading to
improvements in the families, learning, and social environments of these children.
Gratitude was extended to everyone for their contributions.
(right), presents dolls donated by the Women’s Association to Jane He, founder of the
Franklin Foundation (center). (Photo by Zhang Hong)
event in Temple City, where Alice, the mother of a severely autistic child, recited Xu
Zhimo’s poem “To the Oak Tree”. (Photo by Zhang Hong)