Giving Back

We strive every day to raise our profile in the community and in the industry as a responsible lighting company. We serve, whether it’s philanthropy, emergency relief, personal services or professional services. We lead by example and encourage our associates, industry partners and friends to join us.

Our company and our staff are deeply invested in each of the communities that we have a significant presence in. Our giving is primarily motivated by furthering practical scientific education opportunities, normalizing cultural diversity, and advocacy for those who can’t speak for themselves.

WAC Lighting Foundation Invitational Science Fair

Every year we sponsor the WAC Lighting Invitational Science Fair, which was created to launch the education and career paths of young scientists in high school.

Organized by a consortium of twelve schools and their science and research teachers, more than 400 students have come together each year for over twenty years to present their research. Judges are employed by such leading institutions including Columbia University, New York University, Cold Spring Laboratory, Brookhaven National Laboratories, and many others.

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U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

In 2017, WAC Lighting sponsored the award-winning Department of Energy flagship education event, the Solar Decathlon. WAC has announced that it intends to sponsor the educational outreach for the next Solar Decathlon in 2020 when the competition will take place on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. over the 4th of July week.

The Solar Decathlon is a unique and inspiring event that challenges teams of college students from across the nation and around the world to design and construct the sustainable homes and buildings of the future by harnessing renewable and other efficient energy. The winner of the competition is the collegiate team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency. The program impacted nearly half-a-million teachers and students.

WAC Lighting strives to set an example for and support developing technologies that are both progressive and eco-friendly and provided many of the collegiate teams with energy efficient LED luminaires. The last Solar Decathlon Competition included teams from University of Nevada Las Vegas; University of Maryland; Missouri University of Science and Technology; HU University of Applied Science Utrecht in The Netherlands; Northwestern University; University of Alabama; Washington University; Washington State University; University of California at Davis; University of California at Berkley; University of Denver; Daytona State College; Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University; and Geneva University of Art and Design.

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Blood Drive for Hurricane Victims

In cooperation with the New York Blood Center, WAC Lighting hosted a Community Blood Drive at our corporate headquarters in Port Washington, New York. The purpose of the drive was to motivate people in the Long Island-New York Metro area to donate blood to people in need in hurricane-devastated areas.

“We have all been watching with painfully familiar heartache the devastation that slowly drowned folks out of their homes,” explained Shelley Wald, President of WAC Lighting. “Many members of our community and industry have reached out inquiring how together we can help our friends and neighbors. To help those in need, we are hosting a Community Blood Drive.”

In addition, the WAC management team, reps and employees all participated to raise essential funds for food banks in affected areas.

“The compassion of our friends in the industry and the community is a big part of what makes us proud to live and work with them here on Long island,” continued Ms. Wald. “Let’s demonstrate what amazing things we can accomplish with the love in our hearts.”

In joining together to rally friends, family and neighbors, WAC Lighting was able to gather 83 people for the event and collected 64 pints of usable blood. A pint of blood can benefit the lives of up to 3 people…that’s 192 lives we helped.

Newsday Article (video)

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The WAC Lighting Hall of Science

WAC Lighting has sponsored the construction of The WAC Lighting Hall of Science in Rockville Centre, New York. Through its Special Programs division, the CSTL encourages early education access and engagement in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) for children ages 8 and under. As a forward-thinking and eco-manufacturing lighting company, WAC Lighting continues to support facilities such as the CSTL and their cause.

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American Red Cross

WAC Lighting works very hard as an active donor and a volunteer to help support The American Red Cross, including providing relief for families impacted by 9-11, the Tsunamis in Indonesia and Japan, the China and Taiwan earthquakes and Hurricane Katrina. WAC Lighting is proud to have raised $270,000 in just two weeks for the victims of the China earthquake.

The American Red Cross helps people in need, free of charge, every single day. Contributions help families through some of the most difficult times of their lives. The Red Cross relies on the generosity of those who donate their time and money.

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Alliance for Smiles

WAC and Co-Founder Tai Wang has worked for many years with Alliance for Smiles, making expeditions to China to help children born with cleft lips and palates. “Tai and WAC have 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 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.”

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Gift Of Life

WAC Lighting is an active donor to the Rotarian-based organization, Gift of Life International, Inc. Our co-principal and co-founder Tai Wang is an active supporter of the organization and 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.

Donations to Gift of Life defray the cost of medical expenses surrounding the surgery. While medical professionals donate their time and skills and the hospitals and medical centers greatly reduce their costs, donations are still needed for medical supplies, recovery, and travel.

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WOMANKIND

WAC Lighting has supported Womankind, an organization dedicated to serving survivors of domestic violence, human trafficking, and sexual violence of all ages. We provide innovative healing services and award-winning assistance to women and their children. Depending on circumstance, they have access to a safe place to live, assistance with housing, employment, English language training, legal immigration assistance, financial empowerment, and so much more. Shelley Wald is an Active Member of the Board.

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WAC Lighting Supports Breast Cancer Awareness Month by Matching Employee Donations and Hosting “Pink Dress Down Day”

WAC has been hosting “Pink Dress Down Day” every Friday during the month of October since 2011, where all employees wear something pink to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In addition, the WAC team wears pink ‘Breast Cancer Awareness’ bracelets that help donate funds to the American Cancer Society.

“We are proud that our employees have taken the initiative to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month,” explained Shelley Wald, President of WAC Lighting, at the start of the event. “As a ‘Responsible Lighting’ company, WAC Lighting is committed to offering hope and inspiration to those who have been affected by breast cancer.”

About Susan G. Komen for the Cure
Susan G. Komen fought breast cancer with her heart, body and soul. Throughout her diagnosis and treatments, she spent her time thinking of ways to make life better for other women battling breast cancer. Moved by Susan’s compassion, Nancy G. Brinker promised her sister that she would do everything in her power to end breast cancer forever.

That promise is now Susan G. Komen for the Cure®, the global leader of the breast cancer movement, having invested more than $2.9 billion since inception in 1982. As the world’s largest grassroots network of breast cancer survivors and activists, this organization is working together to save lives, empower people, ensure quality care for all, and energize science to find the cures. Thanks to events like the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure® and the Susan G. Komen 3-Day for the Cure®, and generous contributions from its partners, sponsors and fellow supporters, the organization has become the largest source of nonprofit funds dedicated to the fight against breast cancer in the world.


WAC Lighting Becomes Partner In Hope® With St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®

WAC Lighting participates in the Companies Care for St. Jude Kids® program, which makes a vital difference in the lives of children and helps provide funds to pay for their chemotherapy, radiation and surgeries. These donations give children a second chance at life.

St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is the only pediatric cancer center where families never pay for treatment not covered by insurance. Donations ensure that no child is ever turned away because of a family’s inability to pay, and eighty-five cents of every dollar received by American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC)/St. Jude goes to research and treatment. St. Jude is financially supported by ALSAC, its fundraising organization.

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WAC Lighting Supports Go Red For Women Event At Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery

Reinforcing its “Responsible Lighting” commitment, WAC Lighting supported the “Go Red For Women” event at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen and Lighting Gallery in Chesterfield, Missouri. WAC Lighting donated a popular Monorail Kit to be raffled off during the event.


The H Foundation and Goombay Bash

For nearly a decade, WAC Lighting has supported The H Foundation, a non-profit LaGrange, Illinois-based organization dedicated to raising funds for Cancer Research. Along with a consortium of other lighting companies, hundreds of thousands of dollars have been raised to support The H Foundation and cutting-edge Cancer Research. WAC President Shelley Wald was an Honoree for her many contributions.

The H Foundation’s annual Goombay Bash has become one of Chicago’s largest charity fundraisers, and the industry is stepping up to the challenge of supporting the foundation at a higher level than ever before. Launched in 2000 by Hortons Home Lighting, a leading lighting distributor with locations in LaGrange, Chicago and Orland Park, IL, after two employees were diagnosed with cancer a month apart, the Goombay Bash fundraiser for cancer research has evolved into a beloved industry force. Every dollar raised goes directly to the Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center at Northwestern University and Basic Science Cancer Research. This allows scientists to pursue novel ideas to detect cancer earlier and with greater precision and creates “seed money” for basic research leading to millions of dollars from additional private funding, allowing the center to continue the fight to cure cancer. The H Foundation also helps provide start-up funds that are then matched, enabling thousands of dollars to turn into millions.


The Hope Schools

The Hope School is located in Shanzhon village in Jiangxi Province in Gangzhou City, China, and it is an elementary school created by WAC Lighting. In 2002, WAC donated the facility and equipment which included computers, and also provided the students and staff with funds for food and supplies. We also provided the teachers with additional training so they can perform better in the classroom. In 2017, WAC upgraded those facilities.

In 2016, a second Hope School was donated and built in the town of Xinjie in Dali prefecture in Midu County, in the Yunnan Province. In 2017, a third Hope School was also donated in the village of Qunle, Bazhong City in the Enyang District, in the Sichuan Province.

In addition, WAC provided full, four-year college scholarships in the Shandong province in China. The WAC Scholarship Program gave academic scholarships to more than a dozen of the best students who were accepted by the top 10 colleges. Most of these students were from very poor families.


Nassau County Science and Engineering Fair

The Nassau County Executive Office hosted its First Annual Science and Engineering Fair for all middle school and high school students in Nassau County at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City. This event was the first time that any county in New York State has created a county-wide science and engineering fair.

“Long Island has many opportunities for young people because our economic development team is attracting more and more high tech and science focused companies to Nassau,” said County Executive Edward Mangano. “Nassau County is helping our young people understand the importance of science and technology by encouraging their work on science and engineering projects.”

The Center for Science Teaching and Learning (CSTL), a non-profit organization located in Rockville Centre, is serving as the program managers. CSTL has a mission of encouraging science learning and literacy. CSTL develops programs for people of all ages. CSTL is currently administering a global competition called The Clean Tech Competition and has created competitions nationally and globally.

The competition was divided into categories and winners and received monetary rewards. WAC Lighting, and Long Island Forum for Technology sponsored the event.


Queens Botanical Garden

Queens Botanical Garden (QBG) celebrated Ms. Tai Wang of WAC Lighting as the honoree at the 2015 Rose Gala. She was recognized as an outstanding leader for her generous and steadfast support of the Garden and of the greater Queens community.  Ms. Wang has received a multitude of accolades including Rotary Gift of Life International Humanitarian Award; Ellis Island Medal of Honor; The Alliance for Smiles Honor; Women Achievers Against the Odds Award; Honors from NYC Council Member Peter Koo; Asian American Visionary Award; Landmark on Main Street Community Award; 2014 Flushing Town Hall Cultural Crossroads Award; and the 2015 North Hempstead Woman’s Role of Honor Award.

WAC Lighting was the lead sponsor for Rose Gala 2015.

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LaGuardia College Innovative Leadership Award

WAC Lighting and Co-founder Tai Wang were honored for their business and community innovation, optimism and courage by LaGuardia Community College which is located in New York City. Previous winners include former New York City Mayors Michael Bloomberg and Ed Koch.


Women Achievers Against the Odds Event

WAC Lighting President Shelley Wang and Co-Founder Tai Wang were honored for their accomplishments at the 16th Annual “Women Achievers Against the Odds” Fundraiser, which was hosted by The Long Island Fund for Women and Girls. The Long Island Fund for Women and Girls funds programs that improve the lives of women and girls, highlights and addresses women’s issues, and develops women’s philanthropy. The organization shares a common vision with women’s funds throughout the country—that the world should offer justice and opportunity for women and girls, who are paid equitably for work, live in homes and communities without fear of violence, have equal voices in the political process and serve as the primary decision makers about issues that affect them.


Joe Kocur Foundation

WAC Lighting Sponsored The Joe Kocur Foundation for Children and its 10th Anniversary Celebrity Charity Softball Series in Highland Michigan which featured local celebrities and members of the Detroit Tigers and Red Wings.

The Joe Kocur Foundation for Children is dedicated to assisting children and their families in need by partnering with the local southeastern Michigan communities that it serves. It assists children’s organizations, non-profits and local families by developing fundraising events that are family friendly and provide for an opportunity to interact with others in the community that value the spirit of giving. The foundation also supports the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit and fundraisers for youth who passed too soon, as well as a local police officer who was killed in the line of duty.

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Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company

WAC Lighting supports the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, a premier provider of innovative cultural experiences that reflect the inspiring hope and energy of the immigrant’s journey. The company’s ground-breaking works celebrate the cross-cultural experience that brings forth issues of identity, authenticity, and equality. Its powerful and elegant productions have been presented at some of the most prestigious concert halls in America, with international tours spanning the globe as well as appearing on television specials on PBS, ABC, CBS, and WNYC.

Programs of the Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company are also made possible by the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey State Council on the Arts/Department of State, a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts, the New Jersey Cultural Trust, the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and the New York State Legislature, the Cultural Ministry of the People’s Republic of China, the Association of Performing Arts Presenters’ Cultural Exchange Fund supported by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, PSEG, and the Glow Foundation. 

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Ellis Island Medal of Honor

Tai Wang and WAC received the Ellis Medal of Honor, an award presented by NECO, the National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations Foundation, Inc., as “An acknowledgement of the spirit, hard work and value of our ancestors, those who took the American Dream from just a hope, and made it a reality.”

The award honors those who represent the very essence of the American way of life, having greatly contributed to our national identity while preserving the distinct values and heritage of our ancestors and are a symbol of the diversity of America’s people- whose genius, culture, artistry and thought have joined to form a single mosaic of many cultures and ancestral backgrounds. 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 those who have inspired communities and changed lives for the better.

NECO serves as an umbrella for over 250 organizations that celebrate, educate and nurture ethnic pride, heritage, culture, tradition and commerce. Its multi-ethnic coalition has sponsored a broad range of programs, events and educational initiatives designed to break down the walls of misunderstanding and ignorance between individuals and groups. Additionally, NECO continues its commitment to the restoration and maintenance of Ellis Island, a living tribute to the courage and hope of all immigrants who have built America.


Art to Life Award, Art and Living Magazine

WAC Lighting and President Shelley Wald received the prestigious Art to Life Award from Art and Living Magazine, joining other winners including Donald Trump, Michael Eisner and Kathy Ireland. Art and Living Magazine and its Art to Life Award celebrate the Circle of Creativity, a fresh take on what it means to be creative in the 21st century, which encompasses creators and artists from all walks of life—from fashion, entertainment and design to fine art, architecture, cuisine, and more. Through its numerous media outlets that include Art and Living Now/Next, it reaches an audience that is both boundary-breaking and genre-crossing.

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Asian-American Festival

Committed to supporting ethnic diversity in the community and in the workplace, we are the main annual sponsor for The Asian American Festival in the Town of North Hempstead, New York.

The Asian American Festival is a beach-front gala of delicious international cuisine, shopping, folk art and performances from China, Japan, India, Korea, Pakistan and other nations. The festival features Japanese taiko drumming, traditional Chinese lion dancers, Indian henna tattooing and a Korean hanbok fashion show. The festival also showcases a mélange of culinary delights indigenous to Asian cultures from across the globe.

Other organizations and events that promote cultural diversity and rely centrally on our support include Flushing Town Hall Cultural Association, Chinese Cultural Association of Long Island, Rotary International, and The Landmark Theater in Port Washington.

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Other Activities

We have also engaged our networks and raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities around cancer research, and emergency assistance for communities nationwide affected by natural disasters.

Over the years, WAC Lighting has supported a wide variety of other charitable organizations including: The United Way, Island Harvest, Rotary International, American Cancer Society, the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Cancer Foundation, Parkinson’s Foundation, and many others.

Other community organizations that receive continuing support and engagement from WAC Lighting focus on helping those in our community with the greatest need. These include Selfhelp – helping seniors achieve independence-, local food banks, Hofstra University on Long Island, and Toys for Tots.

In the spirit of engaging our employees to give back we have also run charity drives where the company matches 4 to 1 any qualified donations made by our staff to causes that are meaningful to them.