Inspired by his children's educational experiences in the United States, Vance Kitira understood the value of learning through play for preschoolers and prioritized nurturing their creativity. Over the years, sales of Vance Kitira candles have funded donations of money, furniture, art supplies, and more to orphanages in his homeland. With the support of Living Concepts, his family's factory in Thailand, Vance designed a block table perfect for young children. The first table was donated to Tuxedo Park School (NY) in May 2006, followed by gifts to Village School in Waldwick, NJ, and an orphanage in Thailand.

To date, we've installed 29 block toy tables in 19 schools, orphanages, and children's centers across Thailand. With Vance's pledge to donate to 16 more places by November, we are confident in reaching our goal of 40 block table donations by the year's end. This initiative not only brings joy and creativity to these children but also fosters a supportive and enriching environment for their growth and development.

Eddie, who has been with us since 1993, has now retired to his hometown of Chiang Mai in Northern Thailand. Despite his retirement, Eddie's passion for candle-making remains strong. He collects recycled wax from our factory to craft thousands of candles, which he generously donates to Buddhist monks. These steady flames aid in their meditation practices, reflecting Eddie's enduring dedication to his craft and his community.

Vance Kitira has always cherished nature and forestry, which led him to purchase 40 acres in Northern Thailand and plant 400,000 teak seedlings. We are proud to announce the Vance Kitira Community Reforestation Project, launched in 2016, where every $50 contributes to a tree planted by the Royal Forest Department of Thailand. This reforestation effort will help conserve rainwater, benefiting local crops and supporting sustainable agriculture.

In response to Hurricane Sandy, Vance Kitira International's headquarters in New Jersey generously donated candles from its warehouse to storm victims in need. Approximately 750 candles were distributed, with 500 handed out along the roadside and another 250 provided to a nearby condo complex, a church, the town shelter, and the emergency management office in Franklin Lakes, NJ.

In October 2011, Thailand experienced an unusually devastating monsoon season, resulting in catastrophic flooding not seen in 60 years. Over 9 billion cubic meters of water breached dams that had reached capacity due to rainfall levels 42% above average. The disaster forced families to evacuate, shut down ten thousand factories, and put nearly 700,000 jobs at risk. In response, Vance Kitira organized several events to raise funds and support our employees in Thailand as they worked to rebuild their lives.