History

On September 11, 1956, President Dwight Eisenhower announced the People-to-People Program, which called for American citizens to engage in citizen diplomacy and create sister city relationships to build a structure that advocates for world peace.

In response to this call to action, a small group of Glendora residents began to lay the groundwork for the Glendora Sister City Association, Inc. (GSCA). The GSCA would meet monthly as a community organization and officially become incorporated as a nonprofit on April 6, 1966. The charter officers of the GSCA included;

Chairman: President of Citrus College, Dr. Glenn Vaniman

Vice-Chairman: Dr. Clarence Kron

Recording Secretary: Mrs. H.P. Waters

Corresponding Secretary: Mrs. Herbert Sharp

Treasurer: Mrs. Georgia Meissenburg

After several years of inactivity, a new Glendora Sister City Association was revitalized as a community organization in May of 2023 and later became incorporated as the Glendora Sister City Association, a Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation, in 2025.

Sister City Timeline

1968 - Mérida and Glendora become sister cities

1977 - Bicentennial Mural by Manuel Lizama donated and placed in the Bidwell Forum

1988 - Moka and Glendora become sister cities

1990 - Goddard Middle School and Moka Higashi Junior High School become sister schools

1998 - Ten rose bushes from Glendora were planted in Moka, and ten cherry blossom trees from Moka were planted in Glendora

2002 - The Hands of Friendship plaque is placed in front of Glendora City Hall

2006 - Sandburg Middle School and Nakamura Junior High School become sister schools