Albert Cheng and the late renowned Chinese American historian Him Mark Lai founded the Friends of Roots program in 1991. Over the past 34 years, volunteers of this program have helped over 500 overseas Chinese find their ancestral villages in Guangdong, with their roots traced to over 600 villages across 30 cities and counties.

The Chinese saying "When drinking water, remember the source" best summarizes the essence of the program and it is also Albert Cheng's belief. He always says, "Once you find your roots, you find yourself. Then you understand your destiny."