Tai Wang, Co-Principal of W.A.C. Lighting, Nominated for "2007 Ellis Island Medal of Honor
NEW YORK March 16: Tai Wang, co-principal and co-founder of W.A.C. Lighting, has been nominated for the prestigious 2007 Ellis Island Medal of Honor, an award presented by NECO, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations Foundation, Inc.
The Medal of Honor is presented to outstanding American citizens, from all walks of life, who have distinguished themselves within their specific ethnic groups. These individuals are recognized for their significant contributions to the United States and the international community.
Pictured is Tai Wang on the right, with W.A.C. CEO Tony Wang in the center, and GM Shelley Wang on the left.
"Tai is the perfect model of immigrant entrepreneurs," explains Peter Koo, President of Flushing, NY Chinese Business Association and Owner of six Starside Drug Stores. "She and her husband Tony have founded and developed W.A.C. Lighting, a company which has evolved into a leading and highly recognizable manufacturer of lighting. In addition to her numerous corporate and philanthropic responsibilities, she has sacrificed much of her personal time to teach the culture and virtues of Chinese culture to young Asian people. Tai volunteers her valuable time to teach Chinese children about their culture's traditions and customs, including dance, music and the arts. She is an inspiration to all of us."
Nearly a quarter-century ago, Tai and her husband Tony Wang came to the United States chasing their dreams, with their one-year-old daughter Shelley, in-tow. With just a small amount of money, they purchased and managed a supermarket in Maspeth, Queens. In 1984, they established W.A.C. Lighting Company. She fondly remembers unloading their first 40-foot container, box by box, just one month after her son Thomas was born. With that dedication and the Wangs' unwavering leadership, W.A.C.
has grown into a leading manufacturer of track, recessed, monorail, undercabinet and decorative lighting, and has recently launched the W2 Architectural Lighting division. Tai, an accountant by trade who graduated from Zui-Li Business College in her native Taiwan, continues to serve as Vice President of Finance for the firm, where she has been a role model, inspiring many employees that contributed to Katrina, Tsunami and 9-11 relief campaigns.
According to Rony Kessler, current board member and past-President of The Gift of Life and a past President of the West Hempstead, NY Rotary Club, "Tai and the W.A.C. Lighting family have been very supportive of Gift of Life and The Rotary. She has focused on bringing indigent Chinese children, who are born with heart defects, to the U.S. and
helping them through these serious health crises. Tai was directly
involved in transporting the children from their homes to their hospital beds, and providing around-the-clock, hands-on support during their hospital stay, until their safe return home. She has helped save hundreds of children's lives in the past five years. The children and our organization are forever grateful."
In the past few years, Mrs. Wang has worked with "Alliance for Smiles,"
making expeditions to China to help children born with cleft lips and palates. "Tai is a fantastic person with a very strong commitment to helping children in need," explains Anita Stangl, President and CEO of Alliance For Smiles. "She has served as an adept liaison, administrator, fund developer and translator on several medical missions to China. Tai has a has been a great ambassador to local families and medical teams in China and has helped build bridges of friendship among people to create international understanding and goodwill."
Tai is a Board Member of LaGuardia Community College's Fundraising Foundation, and also serves the Asian American Cross Cultural Association and Lai Yin Chorus. In addition, she and her husband founded the Hope School at Ziang-Xi and W.A.C. Scholarship Program in China.
About The Ellis Island Medal of Honor
Established in 1986 by NECO, the Ellis Island Medals of Honor pay tribute to the ancestry groups that comprise America's unique cultural mosaic. Held each May on Ellis Island, the event is full of pageantry, grandeur and emotion. Both Houses of Congress officially recognize the Medal of Honor, which ranks among the nation's most prestigious awards.
Past Medalists include Supreme Court justices, Nobel Prize winners, American Presidents, famous athletes, entertainers, corporate giants and individuals who have inspired people, improved communities and changed lives for the better. One is presented each year to a foreign citizen for extraordinary service to the United States and the international community.
About NECO
The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations, Inc. serves as an umbrella for over 250 organizations that celebrate, educate and nurture ethnic pride, heritage, culture, tradition and commerce. NECO was created on the conviction of its founders that the diversity of the American people is what makes this nation great. Its mission is to honor and preserve this diversity and to foster tolerance, respect and understanding among religious and ethnic groups.
About W.A.C. Lighting
W.A.C. Lighting, a leading manufacturer and designer of track, recessed, monorail, decorative and undercabinet lighting, is headquartered at 615 South Street, Garden City, New York 11530. The phone is 1.800.526.2588, and the fax is 1.800.526.2585. The email address is info@waclighting.com and the website is www.waclighting.com.
