Walter Wang

Last updated
Walter Wang
NationalityTaiwanese
American
Education University of California-Berkeley
Occupation(s)Businessman, investor, philanthropist
Known forThe Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation, JM Eagle
Spouse Shirley Wang
Children3
Parent

Walter Wang is a Taiwanese businessman, investor, and philanthropist. He is the co-founder of The Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation, and JMM Foundation, a philanthropic organization. He is also the CEO of JM Eagle, a global manufacturer of plastic pipe. Wang's father was Wang Yung-ching, [1] founder of the plastics and petrochemicals conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group and one of the wealthiest individuals in Taiwan before his death in 2008. [2] His sister is Cher Wang, co-founder and chairperson (since 2007 [3] ) of HTC Corporation and integrated chipset maker VIA Technologies. [4]

Contents

Early life and education

Wang's father was Taiwanese billionaire, Wang Yung-ching, who is known informally as Y.C. Wang. [5] Wang is the youngest of Y.C. Wang's five children by Wang Yang Chiao. When Wang was nine years old, Wang Yang Chiao left Taiwan against Y.C. Wang's wishes. They moved to Berkeley, California to be closer to one of Yang Chiao's older children, Cher Wang. [6] Wang attended University of California - Berkeley [7] before moving back to Taiwan to work for his father's corporation, Formosa Plastics Group, in 1988. [8]

Career

In 2005, Wang purchased JM Manufacturing through syndicated loans from his father. In 2007, Wang bought PW Eagle, another large PVC pipe producer, to form JM Eagle. [9] JM Eagle relocated its headquarters to Los Angeles, California in 2008. [10]

Wang is a board member of the publicly listed Formosa Petrochemical and Formosa Chemical and Fiber Corporations in Taiwan. He is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization Los Angeles and Intercontinental chapters. He belongs to the World Economic Forum and the Committee of 100. [11] Wang sits on the board of directors for the Danny Thompson Memorial Leukemia Foundation, the Los Angeles Police Foundation, [12] the Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center, [13] the DEA Educational Foundation, [14] the Chinese Overseas Exchange Association (COEA), and the Boao Forum in China. [15] [16] Along with his wife, Wang is a trustee of the U.S. Olympic Committee, and both serve on the board of the Los Angeles Olympic Committee 2028. [17]

Philanthropy

Wang is co-founder of the Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation and the JMM Foundation, along with his wife. [18]

The Wangs are the most prominent sponsors of the Emmy-nominated PBS documentary Becoming American: The Chinese Experience by [Bill Moyers]. [19]

The Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation helped establish the DEA Museum in Los Angeles, California, with the goal of educating the public on illegal drugs and trafficking. [20]

Academic contributions

In 2017, Walter and Shirley Wang established an endowment at University of California - Los Angeles (UCLA), Shirley Wang's alma mater, to support students from middle-income families and have given scholarships in chemistry and biochemistry to students, graduate students, middle-income students, fellowships, and study abroad programs. The Wangs have also endowed a chair for Asian American Studies and a chair for Medicinal Discovery at UCLA. [21] [22]

At UCLA, they endowed the first academic chair on U.S.-China relations and Chinese American studies in the United States. [16] [21] [23] [24] [25]

The couple also funded Wang Hall at Harvard Westlake School in Los Angeles, California, and provided the lead donation for the renovation of the Harvard-Westlake School Humanities and Art Building. [26] [27]

In 2023, Walter and Shirley Wang donated $2.5 million to help increase support for Columbia University's Yellow Ribbon Program, which now meets 100 percent of student veterans’ tuition and fees. It was described by the university president as “the single most significant gift dedicated to student veterans that this institution has ever received.” [28]

Medical contributions

Together, the Wangs established an endowed chair at the Cedar Sinai Medical Center for Pediatric Surgery, both to fund novel research in pediatric surgery and to assist underprivileged children in need of surgery. [29]

In the wake of the COVID-19 global pandemic, JM Eagle and Plastpro, Inc. also donated surgical masks to Ohio facilities local to the Plastpro, Inc. factory. [30] [31] [32] The Walter and Shirley Wang donated $1 million to the Mayor's Fund of Los Angeles, in addition to supplies for face shields intended for use at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and the Innovation Lab at UCLA. [33]

They also support Doctors Without Borders. [34]

Relationship to China

In 2013, Wang served as a representative of the China Overseas Exchange Association (COEA) in Beijing, according to the People's Daily . [35] The same year, Wang traveled to Beijing as part of a Committee of 100 delegation to encourage American-Chinese diplomatic relations. [36] In March 2018, Wang attended the first session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in Beijing, according to the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office. [37]

Personal life

Ten days after purchasing JM Eagle in 2005, Wang was diagnosed with stage-four nasal cancer. [38] [39] He was issued a clean bill of health in mid-2006. [40]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">University of California, Los Angeles</span> Public research university in California, U.S.

The University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Its academic roots were established in 1881 as a normal school then known as the southern branch of the California State Normal School which later evolved into San José State University. The branch was transferred to the University of California to become the Southern Branch of the University of California in 1919, making it the second-oldest of the ten-campus University of California system after the University of California, Berkeley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pan-Green Coalition</span> Political coalition in Taiwan (Republic of China)

The pan-Green coalition, pan-Green force or pan-Green groups is a nationalist political coalition in Taiwan, consisting of the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP), Taiwan Statebuilding Party (TSP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), Green Party Taiwan, Taiwan Solidarity Union (TSU), and Taiwan Constitution Association (TCA). The platform of the New Power Party is also very closely aligned with all the other Pan-Green parties.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taiwanese Americans</span> Americans of Taiwanese birth or descent

Taiwanese Americans are Americans who carry full or partial ancestry from Taiwan. This includes American-born citizens who descend from migrants from Taiwan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wang Yung-ching</span> Taiwanese businessman

Wang Yung-ching, also called YC Wang, was a Taiwanese businessman. He was best known for being at the chairman of Formosa Plastics Corporation, one of Taiwan's foremost plastic manufacturing establishments until is retirement in June 2006, where he stepped down at the age of 89.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formosa Plastics Group</span> A conglomerate in Taiwan

Formosa Plastics Group is a titular Taiwanese conglomerate of diverse interests, including biotechnology, petrochemical processing and production of electronics components. The group was founded by Wang Yung-ching and his brother Wang Yung-tsai, and is chaired by Wong Wen-yuan. Despite its name, its holdings include several companies prominent in the high tech electronics sector, including VIA Technologies and Nanya Technology Corporation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Formosa Plastics Corp</span> Taiwanese plastics company

Formosa Plastics Corporation is a Taiwanese plastics company based in Taiwan that primarily produces polyvinyl chloride (PVC) resins and other intermediate plastic products. It is the corporation around which influential businessman Wang Yung-ching formed the Formosa Plastics Group, and it remains central to the Group's petrochemical operations. The president of Formosa Plastics Corp. (FPC) is Jason Lin (林健男).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Henry Liu</span> Taiwanese-American writer and journalist

Henry Liu, often known by his pen name Chiang Nan, was a Taiwanese-American writer and journalist. He was a vocal critic of the Kuomintang, then the single ruling party of the Republic of China in Taiwan, and was most famous for writing an unauthorized biography of Chiang Ching-kuo, then president of the Republic of China. He later became a naturalized citizen of the United States, and resided in Daly City, California, where he was assassinated by Bamboo Union members who had been reportedly trained by the Kuomintang's military intelligence division.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Min Zhou</span> American sociologist

Min Zhou is a Chinese-born American sociologist. In 2023, she was elected to the National Academy of Sciences.

Roger Wang is a Chinese-American businessman. He is the chairman and former chief executive officer (CEO) of the Golden Eagle International Group.

The 18th Golden Melody Awards ceremony for popular music category was held on June 16, 2007. The Azio TV broadcast the show live from the Taipei Arena in Taipei, Taiwan. The ceremony recognized the best recordings, compositions, and artists of the eligibility year, which runs from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cher Wang</span> Taiwanese entrepreneur and philanthropist

Cher Wang is a Taiwanese entrepreneur. As co-founder and chairperson of HTC Corporation and integrated chipset maker VIA Technologies, she is one of the most successful women in computer technology. Wang's father was Wang Yung-ching, founder of the plastics and petrochemicals conglomerate Formosa Plastics Group and one of the wealthiest individuals in Taiwan before his death in 2008. As of 2014, she is listed as the 54th most powerful woman in the world by Forbes.

<i>Formosa Betrayed</i> (film) 2009 American political thriller film by Adam Kane

Formosa Betrayed is a 2009 American political thriller film directed by Adam Kane, written by Charlie Stratton, Yann Samuell, Brian Askew and Nathaniel Goodman, with a story by Will Tiao and Katie Swain and starring James Van Der Beek. Set in Chicago and Taiwan in the 1980s, the story follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) agent investigating the murder of a Taiwanese professor at a Midwestern college. The search for the killers takes the agent to Taiwan, where he discovers there is more involved in this murder than he ever anticipated. Although Formosa Betrayed has been regarded as a "pan-green movie," its writers say they did not take sides over the Pan-Blue/Pan-Green political divide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wang Yung-tsai</span> Taiwanese industrialist

Wang Yung-tsai was the younger brother of Wang Yung-ching, founder of Formosa Plastics Group. He was born in Chyokutan, Shinden Town, Bunsan District, Taihoku Prefecture, Japanese Taiwan.

JM Eagle is an American corporation and a manufacturer of plastic pipe. At its 22 plants in North America, the company manufactures polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene pipe for a variety of industries including utility, plumbing, electrical, natural gas, irrigation, potable water, drainage, and sewage.

The Taiwan Top50 Tracker Fund or TTT is an exchange-traded fund holding Taiwan stocks. The fund tracks the FTSE TWSE Taiwan 50 Index.

Pauline Yu is an American scholar of Chinese literature and culture noted for her contributions to the study of classical Chinese poetry and comparative literature. She is also known for her research and advocacy on issues in the humanities.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2014 Vietnam anti-China protests</span>

2014 Vietnam anti-China protest was a series of anti-China protests followed by unrest and riots across Vietnam in May 2014, in response to China deploying an oil rig in a disputed region of the South China Sea.

Shirley Wang is an American businesswoman and philanthropist. She is the co-founder of The Walter and Shirley Wang Foundation, a philanthropic organization. She is also the founder and CEO of Plastpro, Inc., a leading fiberglass door manufacturer founded in Los Angeles in 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital</span> Hospital in Los Angeles, CA

UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital (MCH) at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is a nationally ranked pediatric acute care children's hospital located in Los Angeles, California. The hospital has 156 pediatric beds, is affiliated with the University of California, Los Angeles David Geffen School of Medicine, and is a member of UCLA Health. The hospital provides comprehensive pediatric specialties and subspecialties to pediatric patients aged 0–21 throughout California. Mattel Children's also sometimes treats adults that require pediatric care. UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital features an ACS verified pediatric level 1 trauma center. The UCLA Mattel Children's Hospital is located on the third and fifth floors of the newly constructed Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

Formosa Petrochemical Corporation is a Taiwanese energy company engaged in refining of crude oil, distribution of refined petroleum products, the production and sales of olefins, and the generation of electricity and steam. It was founded as a subsidiary of Formosa Plastics Group, and went public in 2003. It is headquartered in Mailiao Township, Yunlin County, in Taiwan.

References

  1. ↑ Kovac, Matt (11 July 2005). "Taiwan's Priestess of The PDA". Business Week. Archived from the original on 20 September 2008. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  2. ↑ "Wang, Billionaire who led Formosa Plastic death at 91". The New york Times. 17 October 2008. Archived from the original on 20 July 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2014.
  3. ↑ "Executive Profile: Cher Wang". Businessweek. Archived from the original on April 10, 2013. Retrieved 5 March 2013.
  4. ↑ Lee-Chua, Queena N. (2015-06-12). "Taiwan family feud". INQUIRER.net. Archived from the original on 2020-10-20.
  5. ↑ Chung, Grace (5 May 2021). "Taiwan's Richest 2021". Forbes. Archived from the original on 19 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  6. ↑ Fisher, Daniel. "Taiwanese Plastics Heir Fights Cancer, Litigation To Build World's Biggest Pipemaker". Forbes. Archived from the original on 2020-05-23. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  7. ↑ https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/15788312
  8. ↑ https://www.committee100.org/members/walterwang/
  9. ↑ "PW Eagle to be bought by J-M Manufacturing". Reuters. 21 January 2007. Archived from the original on 11 March 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  10. ↑ Henderson, Tagg (16 December 2008). "JM Eagle Completes Move to Los Angeles". www.thedriller.com. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 19 June 2021.
  11. ↑ "Walter Wang: Accomplished entrepreneur and philanthropist". Committee 100. Archived from the original on 2021-05-09. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  12. ↑ "LAPF Leadership". LAPF Foundation. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  13. ↑ "Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (ADARC)". Aaron Diamond AIDS Research Center (ADARC). Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  14. ↑ ABC7 (5 June 2013). "Philanthropist Walter Wang honored by DEA Educational Foundation | ABC7 San Francisco | abc7news.com". ABC7 San Francisco. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  15. ↑ "Wang family closes ranks on board seats". Taipei Times . 2009-06-05. Archived from the original on 2020-06-03. Retrieved 2020-06-03.
  16. 1 2 "Profiles: Walter and Shirley Wang". www.globalchinesephilanthropy.org. Archived from the original on 2020-09-19. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  17. ↑ "USOPF Trustees". Team USA. Archived from the original on 22 July 2020. Retrieved 11 May 2020.
  18. ↑ Tigas, Mike; Wei, Sisi; Schwencke, Ken; Roberts, Brandon; Glassford, Alec (9 May 2013). "Walter & Shirley Wang Foundation Inc - Nonprofit Explorer". ProPublica. Archived from the original on 3 June 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  19. ↑ Watanabe, Teresa (2 February 2008). "UCLA gift to boost U.S.-China relations". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 8 June 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  20. ↑ Pullen, Sarah (26 November 2008). "News from DEA, Domestic Field Divisions, Los Angeles News Releases, 11/26/08". www.dea.gov. Archived from the original on 30 October 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  21. 1 2 "Donors of Chinese descent vastly increase philanthropy, mostly to higher education". Los Angeles Times. 6 September 2017. Archived from the original on 12 November 2020. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  22. ↑ "Annual Report on University Private Support" (PDF). University of California. Archived (PDF) from the original on 19 October 2020. Retrieved 30 May 2020.
  23. ↑ "UCLA's Global Professor Min Zhou Appointed to Walter and Shirley Wang Endowed Chair" (PDF). Archived (PDF) from the original on 5 March 2023. Retrieved 3 May 2020.
  24. ↑ UCLA. "She believes doing good knows no borders". UCLA – The Optimists – Shirley Wang. Archived from the original on 2023-05-01. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  25. ↑ "UCLA Foundation names new board members". UCLA. Archived from the original on 2018-05-06. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  26. ↑ Moghavem, Layla. "Wang Hall opens, classrooms converted". The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  27. ↑ Dennis, Claire. "School holds Wang Hall reception". The Harvard-Westlake Chronicle. Archived from the original on 2021-06-24. Retrieved 2021-06-19.
  28. ↑ Mendell, Chris. "Columbia hosts military ball honoring student veterans". Columbia Daily Spectator. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
  29. ↑ "A Tradition of Closeness and Compassion" (PDF). Retrieved 11 May 2020.[ permanent dead link ]
  30. ↑ "PANDEMIC COVID-19 has changed everything" (PDF). UCLA Health. Archived (PDF) from the original on 21 June 2020. Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  31. ↑ "Plastpro Donates Surgical Masks To Ohio Local Facilities". californer.com. Archived from the original on 2020-04-20. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  32. ↑ "Plastpro donates surgical masks to Ohio local facilities". www.plastproinc.com. Archived from the original on 2020-08-10. Retrieved 2020-05-16.
  33. ↑ Wen, Abraham; Chu, Shang (29 May 2020). "Racist attacks are mounting, but in L.A., Taiwanese Americans are among the first to help". lite.cnn.com.
  34. ↑ "Shirley Wang To Receive Ellis Island Medal Of Honor – InsuranceNewsNet". insurancenewsnet.com. 3 May 2011. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  35. ↑ "中国海外交流协会海外代表共议"中国梦"--时政--人民网". People's Daily (in Chinese). September 23, 2013. Archived from the original on 2023-03-30. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  36. ↑ "李克强同美国百人会访华团代表会见并座谈交流". General Office of the State Council (in Chinese). November 2, 2013. Archived from the original on 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  37. ↑ "北京副市长会见列席全国政协十三届一次会议侨胞". Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (in Chinese). March 19, 2018. Archived from the original on 2023-03-20. Retrieved 2023-05-01.
  38. ↑ Walter, Wang (29 November 2015). "Power of Prayer: To be healed, first forgive others". The Washington Times. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  39. ↑ "Taiwanese Plastics Heir Fights Cancer, Litigation To Build World's Biggest Pipemaker". Forbes. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
  40. ↑ "Emphasizing the 'Family' in Family Business". The Eugene Lang Entrepreneurship Center. 17 May 2018. Archived from the original on 1 May 2023. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.