Welcoming the Lunar New Year: A Heartwarming Spring Festival Fair for Children with Special Needs

LAPost/Los Angeles (February 7, 2026) — To help children—especially those with special needs in Southern California—gain a deeper understanding of Chinese culture and experience the joy of the Lunar New Year, the Franklin Foundation of the United States, in collaboration with the San Gabriel Valley–based educational organization College Doctor (Principal Chen’s College Planning), hosted a special and deeply touching Spring Festival Temple Fair on February 7 in Temple City.

(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The event was designed to allow children of Chinese heritage, like many others connected by cultural roots, to experience the richness of traditional Chinese culture and the warmth of the holiday season. The Franklin Foundation has long been dedicated to serving children with special needs, particularly those on the autism spectrum, and their families.

More than 30 children with special needs from across Southern California participated in this year’s celebration. The fair featured a wide range of traditional Lunar New Year activities, including writing Spring Festival couplets, paper cutting, pasting the character “Fu” (fortune), traditional sugar figurine blowing, lantern making, red envelope giveaways, face painting, and cultural performances. This marked the third time the Franklin Foundation and College Doctor have jointly organized a Spring Festival fair for children with special needs, continuing their shared mission to create a loving, inclusive, and joyful holiday experience.

(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Jane He, President of the Franklin Foundation, explained that the event was specially tailored for children with special needs. Due to various real-life challenges, many of these children are unable to participate in traditional Lunar New Year activities such as gala performances, holiday parades, or family gatherings that involve making dumplings or rice cakes. Yet, they share the same desire to feel the festive spirit and be part of the celebration. At the same time, many parents—who often provide round-the-clock care—find it difficult to prepare holiday meals or take their children to crowded public spaces, fearing sensory overload or stress for their children. The fair provided a safe and welcoming environment where families could relax and enjoy the celebration together.

Dr. The K. Chen, founder and principal of College Doctor, a well-regarded educational institution known for its strong community reputation, noted that hosting such events serves two important purposes. On one hand, it maximizes care and accessibility for children with special needs, allowing them to truly enjoy the holiday. On the other, it serves as an educational opportunity for typically developing students, teaching them empathy, compassion, and the importance of social responsibility.

Peter Liu (Right) from Arcadia High School (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The volunteer team for the event consisted primarily of outstanding middle and high school students. Volunteer leaders included Peter Liu from Arcadia High School, recognized for his achievements in technology, and Quinne Fang from Sierra Canyon School, who excels in biotechnology and also demonstrates exceptional talent in visual and performing arts. Both student leaders have participated in Franklin Foundation community service initiatives for more than three consecutive years and have made significant contributions. Under their leadership, more than 20 student volunteers assisted throughout the event, handling venue setup, performances, calligraphy and paper-cutting demonstrations, face painting, gift distribution, and crowd coordination. From planning to execution, the fair was largely organized and carried out by these young volunteers, helping them develop leadership, organizational skills, and a strong sense of civic engagement.

Quinne Fang (Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

The event atmosphere was further enriched by live calligraphy demonstrations from Franklin Foundation co-founder and calligrapher Jianping Qu, along with calligrapher Yi Li, a parent of a special-needs child. They wrote Spring Festival couplets on site, offering heartfelt blessings to attending families. The traditional sugar figurine performance proved especially popular among the children, who delighted not only in watching the art form but also in receiving handcrafted sugar figures. Additional festive gifts, including Lunar New Year lanterns prepared by Maggie Fang, were also distributed to the children.

(Photo by: Richard Ren/LAPost)

Although the fair eventually came to an end, many children were reluctant to leave. Some innocently asked, “Will there be a temple fair again tomorrow?”—a moment that deeply touched parents and volunteers alike. Co-hosted by the New Bridge Social and Recreation Center, the special Spring Festival Temple Fair concluded successfully amid laughter, warmth, and shared blessings.