A brief history of Tzu Chi
On April 14, 1966, Venerable Master Cheng Yen founded the Tzu Chi Merits Society in Hualien, Taiwan. The fledgling Tzu Chi Merits Society, with the support of only thirty housewives who set aside NT fifty cents (US$0.013) of their grocery money each day, established a charity fund to provide relief and assistance for the poor.
Within its first 5 years, the Tzu Chi Merits Society helped fifteen families, serving a total of thirty-one elderly and ailing impoverished people. Support and participation for the program grew as word about compassion and relief spread beyond Hualien. The program gathered strength in numbers and drew support from other parts of Taiwan and its nearby islands to eventually form the Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation millions of volunteers partake in today.
Today our non-profit organization has over four million supporters worldwide. The global headquarters for Tzu Chi still remains in its origin of Hualien, Taiwan. In the United States, there are 6 Tzu Chi Chapters hosting a total of 49 offices and 12 weekend schools across the country.
A heart filled with kindness, compassion, joy and unselfish giving inspires the ideals of Tzu Chi. For over 30 years Tzu Chi has concentrated its four missions in Charity, Medicine, Education and Culture. Over the decades, Tzu Chi has expanded its volunteer activities to include environmental conservation, bone marrow donation, and international relief.
Our Objectives Purity in our minds, Peace in the society, and a disaster-free world
Our Principles Kindness, Compassion, Joy and Giving through helping the poor and educating the rich.