Origin
The Angel Heart Family Social Welfare was established in the year 2006. The founders, Chao-Chen Lin and Ya-Wen Hsiao, were both music major graduates.
After the births of their developmentally delayed daughters (one very severely and the other severely), they changed the course of their music career into devoting their lives in the services of parents and healthy siblings living with disability.
Just like many families living with disability, Chao-Chen and Ya-Wen sought all medical and divination opportunities in order to better care for their children. Their family income quickly plummeted from highs of wealth to lows of financial debt. At the same time they faced many kinds of loss, frustration and hardships. After hitting rock bottom, they learned to rise up again through the power of their faith in God. Even though difficulties were still present and their children’s conditions didn’t get improve, Chao-Chen And Ya-Wen began to see their daughters in a differently, not as mentally handicapped but as angels sent by God. This change of sight had revived their hearts and restored their joy and hope.
From their personal experiences, Chao-Chen and Ya-Wen realized the significance in which “parents should come forward first, and then their children may have hope for their future”. They termed “Angel” as a representation of children with disabilities. All the while, they implied that the parents, who care for their angels without expecting anything in return, have an “Angel Heart”. Then on September 5th”, 2002, they invited many special needs families to jointly form a support group called the “Angel Heart Family”. At the beginning, Chao-Chen and Ya-Wen used their expertise in music to organize concerts to reach families alike. They also regularly held parental seminars, giving them a space to open up. Throughout the past few years, many spousal and parent-child relationships went through transformation and breakthroughs due to the growth of the parents.
On November 14th, 2006, the “Angel Heart Family Social Welfare Foundation” was formally established. It is the first social welfare organization in Taiwan caring for the parents and the healthy siblings of angels. Presently, it has five service locations in Taipei, Taoyuan, Taichung, Tainan and Kaohsiung. The foundation offers various resources for the well-being (body, mind and soul) of angel heart family members. Additionally, several outreach events such as Angel’s Day and Thanksgiving Concerts are organized to promote public awareness, for the public to be more understanding and accepting towards these angels and their families, thus creating a friendly community atmosphere.
The Angel Heart Family Foundation continues to strive for a better future. Expectant in being there for parents, who are in need of walking out of despair, who then support one another and finally become helpers themselves. As family influencing family, life impacting life, together living out a brighter and joyous future.
Vision
Parents should come forward first, and then their children may have hope for their future.