History

Dr. Edward Rada began to teach in Soochow, Taipei, in the Fall Semester of 1961, at the same time he had a research position with the Joint Commission on Rural Reconstruction (JCRR). Two-third of his UCLA salary came as sabbatical-leave pay.

Observing how Soochow University was struggling financially in 1962, he asked then president, Dr. C. Y. Stone, if there were something that he might do for Soochow after he returned to USA. Dr. Stone's reply was 'I can't tell you what to do; you have to decide that for yourself'. Dr. Rada thought about the idea for a year before making inquiries among some of his close Methodist friends if they might be interested in starting such an organization. One thing he was determined about was that if it started, it had to be lasting - not in and out.

Having returned to UCLA the next year, with a vision and faith, three of them filed papers for the incorporation of the Friends of Soochow in the State of California in 1963 as a nonprofit corporation with tax-exempt status. Later, they obtained tax-exempt privilege from the U.S. Internal Revenue Services. The three were Robert A. Rogers, the Chief Financial Officers of UCLA, Dr. Donald W. Odell, attorney, and Dr. Edward Rada, Economics Professor of UCLA.

As such, The Friends of Soochow Foundation has started help the Soochow University financially and academically since 1963.