Florence Wang
Mahoning County (1944 – )
2007 Women's Hall of Fame Inductee -- Community Service

A volunteer dedicated to the arts, education, international understanding, and community needs in northeast Ohio, Ms. Wang's involvement spans thirty years of service.

Nominated by Helen T. Paes
Vice President, Business Services
Youngstown/Warren Regional Chamber of Commerce

Florence Wang’s community involvement spans thirty years of service in the Youngstown area. Her dedication to the arts, education and community needs is reflected in Ms. Wang’s years of work and participation on executive boards of numerous civic and cultural organizations. Her leadership roles in the Mahoning Valley are numerous and include: President of the American Red Cross, Leadership Mahoning Valley, Mahoning County Medial Society Alliance, YWCA, and Friends of the Ballet. She has also served on the Board of Directors for the Butler Institute of American Art, the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra, and the International Institute Foundation.

Ms. Wang is proud to be an American, but she has not forgotten her Chinese heritage. She has actively in promoted international cultural humanitarian exchanges in the arts, education, and business through the mission of the American and International Red Cross.

As one of the founders of the Chinese Association of the Greater Youngstown Area, Ms. Wang has dedicated herself to promoting cross-cultural understanding between American and Chinese cultures. She was the principal of the Youngstown Chinese School and has been the organizer and Master of Ceremony for the regional annual Chinese New Year celebration for several years. She has worked tirelessly to bring Taiwanese students to Youngstown State University, and due to her efforts, YSU and Longhua University in Taiwan began an unprecedented sister university relationship and exchange program. At the invitation of the Chinese Red Cross National Society, Ms. Wang has given seminars and workshops in Beijing, Shanghai and Qingdao since 2000.

She is a Chinese gourmet chef and has demonstrated her gourmet cooking skills by appearing on television, offering classes and lecturing throughout the area.

Ms. Wang has given generously of her time and efforts to the Northeastern Ohio College of Medicine, was actively involved in the Campaign for Medical Research, and organized a medical coalition in Youngstown that provided free screening for elderly people.

Florence Wang is an outstanding example of community leadership, involvement and dedication that has enriched the community through her years of service in Youngstown, Mahoning Valley and communities in Taiwan and China.