Boston, Nov. 23, 2015, — Boston Chinatown Main Street (CMS) announced the election of Mr Rick Wong to be its new President effective November 12, 2015.
Rick Wong(middle) led volunteers at the community street cleaning event in October 2015 in Boston Chinatown(file photo).
Rick will continue in the important role of President that was held by Tony M. Yee for the last 10 years. It is with great sadness to note the sudden passing of Tony. Tony has provided the leadership for CMS in its many activities to promote Boston Chinatown and its business, such as the very successful events during Chinese New Year and the Chinatown Main Street Spring Festival. Tony had been tireless in his work with CMS. In the last couple months, CMS held the second annual Lantern Festival on Rose Kennedy Greenway Park in September, and the community street cleaning event in October. Tony will be missed by all.
Rick Wong was elected unanimously by the votes casted by the Board Directors. Rick promised to continue the great work of CMS, and will look forward to expand on past achievements. Rick is currently working to complete an ongoing project to put up all new Chinatown lamp pole banners to beautify the Chinatown streets.
Rick Wong is a former President of Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association of New England (CCBA). During his CCBA presidency, he led the CCBA staff and joined force with Chinatown Main Street, to assist the 30 families of fire victims from the 25 Harrison Avenue (the old See Sun Building).
With the assistance from Boston Fire Department and Inspectional Services Department and donors, CCBA set up its auditorium as a temporary shelter to house the displaced residents. Rick worked long hours with volunteers, and the City of Boston Department of Neighborhood Development and Housing Authority to locate permanent housing for the victims. Rick created a Chinatown Cleaning program with CCBA staff to sweep Chinatown daily with the donated funds he sought from corporate sponsors. Rick Wong is the former President of the Wong’s Family Benevolent Association, and is currently an officer of the Executive Board. Rick worked as an engineer, and recently retired from the General Electric Company (GE). He is happy to note that this provides him with more time for community volunteer work. For the last 7 years, he and his fellow GE engineers participated in the yearly Boston Shines street cleaning in the Spring and CMS street cleaning in the Fall.
Please join the Chinatown Main Street Board of Directors and all its volunteers to congratulate Rick Wong as our President and new leader of the Chinatown community.
Chinatown Main Street is a non-profit organization, established and under the direction of the the City of Boston to oversee some beautification programs of the districts, recruiting new businesses, retaining and strengthening existing businesses, and drawing people into the districts to shop and explore the Chinese Culture.