Taiwanese American Association of New York
TAANY is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to the Taiwanese Community in the Greater New York area. It is the Greater New York chapter of the national Taiwanese Association of America. Amongst the most significant events organized annually by TAANY is Passport 2 Taiwan (P2TW), the largest outdoor Taiwanese event in the entire United States, held in May as part of NYC's Taiwanese American Heritage Week.
TAA-NY has over 50 years of history to look back to. Its origins are found in the "East Coast Formosan Club" (later "East Coast Taiwanese Association" or ECTA), a student organization formed in the sixties by Taiwanese graduate students in New York. From its inception on, it was the center of all East Coast Taiwanese activities, hosting annual large-scale gatherings around Christmas time of Taiwanese across the entire East coast. In 1970, the "Taiwanese Association of America" - a joint effort of the ECTA, the Chicago Taiwanese Association, and the Los Angeles Taiwanese Association - was registered, its primary mission being the promotion of the best interests and welfare of the Taiwanese community, the enrichment of the culture and ethnic heritages as such apply to the way of life upon the American scene, and the promotion of fellowship, harmony and support between and among the citizenry of the community. Along with the establishment of TAA, the ECTA became the New York Chapter of the newly formed organization.
Now, 50-some years later, TAA-NY's mission remains as relevant as ever with New York boasting large numbers of not only first-generation immigrants and students but also American-born second generation Taiwanese professionals.