Military Ball

Walter and Shirley Wang, University Trustee

in recognition of their generous support for student veterans at Columbia University.

Walter Wang is the CEO and chairman of North America’s largest plastic pipe manufacturer, JM Eagle. Headquartered in Los Angeles, the company has 23 plants throughout 17 U.S. states as well as Mexico and China. Mr. Wang has been a leading supporter of efforts to bring clean water to communities in developing countries around the world. As of 2010, JM Eagle has provided 400 miles of pipe, supplying 500,000 people with water in eight African countries. Mr. Wang sits on the board of directors of the Formosa Petrochemical and Formosa Chemical and Fiber Corporations. Mr. Wang also serves on the board of directors for the Drug Enforcement Agency Foundation and the Los Angeles Police Foundation.

Shirley Wang is the founder and CEO of Plastpro Inc., one of the world’s largest fiberglass door manufacturers. Plastpro was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Los Angeles, with a 300,000 square-foot fully automated plant in Ashtabula, Ohio. Builder News recognized Plastpro’s doors with a “Best Product” award, and Plastpro was recognized by Window and Door magazine with “Most Innovative” and “Top 100 Manufacturer.” In 2022, CIO Views listed Mrs. Wang among the year’s most admired women business leaders. Mrs. Wang serves as a director for the board of the publicly traded company Douglas Emmett Inc. Additionally, Mrs. Wang is currently a trustee at Columbia University and Harvard-Westlake School. Previously, Mrs. Wang was the first Asian chairwoman of the board of the UCLA Foundation and was on the UCLA Executive Campaign Committee raising $5.49 billion for UCLA.

Walter and Shirley Wang's multimillion dollar support has extended to numerous philanthropic initiatives, encompassing disaster relief, social justice, medical and cancer research, education, and technology. They have donated to educational institutions including UCLA, Columbia University, Brown University, and Harvard Westlake School for funding scholarships, endowed chairs, lounges, stadiums and buildings. The Wangs have contributed over a million to the Los Angeles Mayor’s Fund to help families who were impacted by the pandemic as well as over 50,000 face shields to healthcare facilities at UCLA and Cedars Sinai. Their donations to Cedars Sinai established the Walter and Shirley Wang Emergency Department Treatment Area East, and the Walter and Shirley Wang Endowed Chair for Pediatric Surgery. The Wangs have given in excess of a million to relief efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, the Syrian Refugee Crisis, and the Maui fires. The Wangs funded the Drug Enforcement Administration Museum exhibition at the California Science Center and donated millions to the DEA Foundation youth program, serving over 65 cities nationwide, and the Summer Night Lights LA Parks Program to curb gang activity amongst youngsters. They have also donated body cameras for police officers of the LAPD. Their donations to Asian Americans Advancing Justice have funded multiple staffing positions including six pro bono lawyers dedicated to aiding abused women and combating anti-Asian discrimination. 

They were the first and major sponsors of the Emmy nominated PBS documentary, “Becoming American: The Chinese Experience” by Bill Moyers. They also supported the production of “Blood of Yingzhou,” which won the 2007 Oscar for Best Short Documentary. They also supported "The Warriors of Quigang,” which was nominated for the 2010 Academy Award in the same category and resulted in the Chinese government committing $30 million to clean up the toxic waste around the waterway where the film was set. They are also supporters of the LA Philharmonic.

The Wangs view sports as a vehicle to promote community pride and cohesiveness. They are trustees and proud sponsors of the US Olympic and Paralympic Foundations and LA28. As the title sponsor of the JM Eagle LA Championship, they engaged in a multi-year partnership with the LPGA and were the first to double the purse for this event, helping to elevate women’s sports. They also founded a professional basketball team in Taiwan, the New Taipei Kings.

Mr. and Mrs. Wang each have been awarded the Ellis Island Medal of Honor for their contributions to America. They have also received awards including the China Institute Blue Cloud Award, the Asia Society Visionary Award, the Advancing Justice Ruby Hero Award, and the Anti-Defamation League Humanitarian Award.