GCAA (Gulfcoast Chinese-American Association) is a non-profit charitable organization (IRS certified 501c3 entity) whose mission is to provide educational, cultural service and charitable support to the region’s Chinese Americans, American families with Children from China and Americans at large who desire friendship with and cultural understanding of American Chinese. 

Since its inception in 2005, GCAA has steadily expanded its services to the community at large.  These include, but are not limited to: 

1) Free educational seminars to members and the community at large on a wide range of topic of interest and benefit to the public. Seminar topics included tax laws, insurance, technology, health, nutrition and wellbeing.  It also hosts regular free Chinese movie screenings with discussions by a leading Chinese anthropologist or scholar. 

2) Regularly-published newsletters that provide news and info on programs that advance the service, friendship and cultural goals of GCAA. The newsletters are free and programs are open to the public.  

3) Hosting of cultural events and holiday festivities. Open to the public, they not only help educate the public and promote the Chinese culture, but also serve as a reminder for the adopted children from China of their heritage and traditions.  

4) Support for the Sarasota Chinese Academy, the only Chinese school locally, where most of the teachers and administrative staff are also members of GCAA.  A notable number of students are non Chinese Americans, attesting to the need for the valuable services GCAA brings to the community.  The teachers and students perform pro bono at community events to help raise money for civic and charitable causes of other organizations such as the Asolo Repertoire . 

5) Hosts and serve as goodwill ambassadors to foreign delegations to promote trade and cultural exchange with other nations and sister cities. GCAA representatives assisted long term with the local government to forge a sister city relationship with the Siming District of Xiamen and hosted delegations from China in cultural, educational, sports and technology exchanges.  

6) GCAA stands ready to assist families in hardship with linguistic, social, legal and financial support as needed, and as its resources permit.  

GCAA activities and services are open to the community at large.  Its activities are funded by voluntary membership fees, donations from members and local small businesses.  Board members and officers serve on a volunteer basis and receive no financial compensation.  

GCAA is an independent member-based association that is neither affiliated with nor controlled by any political, religious or other organization or entity. 

The association strongly supports and advocates equality of all individuals and expressly prohibits any discrimination on the basis of sex, race, national origin, ethnicity, religious beliefs or cultural views.