Walter Wang, president and CEO of J.M. Manufacturing Co. Inc., the largest plastic pipe manufacturer in North America, is donating $1 million to UCLA to further Chinese American studies. This story from the Los Angeles Times, starts with a pretty strong statement:
Headlines about dangerous toys from China dominated the news for months last year, prompting congressional hearings and consumer questions about the Asian manufacturing giant's product safety. But Walter and Shirley Wang, Bel-Air residents with three children, asked a different question: Where were the headlines pointing out that some of the problems were caused not by shoddy Chinese manufacturing practices but by American design flaws?According to the story, the donation also will fund a Web site, media and policy handbook, and a database of experts about Chinese American issues, which will educate the public and policymakers. This is not a new issue for the Wang family. In 2000, they donated $1.5 million to help finance a PBS series, "Becoming American: The Chinese Experience." They're also donating thousands of dollars worth of plastic pipe to bring clean water to villages in Africa, and They are currently involved with the Earth Institute to donate hundreds of thousands of dollars of plastic piping to bring clean water to destitute villagers in Africa. Congratulations to Walter and Shirley Wang on their generosity, and best of luck with their relationship with UCLA.