FOR LANI CHING, WMCD IS MORE THAN AN ALL-NIGHTER

When Lani Ching joined the WMCD Youth Team at the end of her freshman year, she already knew how to fill a room with energy. This energy was perfect for our youth team, and her experience has helped her channel that energy into leadership, collaboration, and selfless service.

“What initially motivated me to join the team was actually Dominic telling me about it,” she explained. “He mentioned how great the organization was and all the work that the youth team members got to do. I was also inspired to join after seeing and hearing about all the fun my friends had at the Hear We Glow Again All-Nighter.”

Not long after joining, Lani began helping plan 2024’s “Tropic Fever” Charity All-Nighter. For the first time, she saw what it really took to organize an event of that scale. “Being behind the scenes and planning every second of the event was such a great experience,” she said. As a freshman stepping into an established organization, she quickly found herself learning not only about event planning and outreach, but also about herself.

One of her earliest moments of growth came before the event had even begun. Ahead of the 2024 all-nighter, Lani helped present to the Westfield Middle School Builders Club, encouraging local middle school students to get involved with the event. Speaking in front of a room of students and representing the organization pushed her outside of her comfort zone. It was an important step for someone who, by her own admission, had always preferred to work independently rather than collaboratively.

Over time, experiences like these began changing the way she approached leadership.

“WMCD has taught me how to step outside of my comfort zone,” she reflected. “It has also taught me how to work collaboratively with others. Growing up, I was always the type of person that preferred to work independently and not in a group setting. Being on the team taught me that everyone’s ideas should be considered and working collaboratively can make a huge difference.”

Then came her first all-nighter. “My first WMCD was 2024’s Tropic Fever, which was such a blast,” she said. “I honestly don’t think I got a wink of sleep.” But beyond the excitement, games, and late-night energy, Lani also experienced something much deeper. “After attending my first event, I felt more inspired than ever to keep serving on the youth team and trying to make a difference,” she said.

Over the next two years, Lani became one of the team’s most energetic and recognizable members. She helped with outreach efforts, participated in multiple Instagram takeovers for WMCD, and contributed to planning both 2025’s “Musical Midway” and the 2026 All-Nighter. As the organization continued to grow, she took pride in watching WMCD evolve from the smaller group she joined as a freshman into something much larger.

“By now, the organization was much bigger than when I joined as a freshman, and I honestly can’t believe how big it’s gotten,” she reflected. “Being even a small part of WMCD’s growth has inspired me to create positive change wherever I go.” There were so many moments that showed this growth, such as the new charity challenge activities in 2026, where participants competed in events like basketball shooting and jump roping to raise money directly for recipient organizations. Watching the entire community rally together made the impact of WMCD feel suddenly tangible.

“I had never seen something’s impact so clearly before,” she said. “I could really see the difference we were making for our recipients. It was a really heartfelt moment and made me realize all my hard work had paid off.”

That inspiration extended beyond WMCD itself. During high school, Lani founded her own nonprofit organization, Melodic Miracles, which works to provide financial assistance for students involved in music. The organization reflects many of the same values she strengthened through her years on our youth team: empathy, community involvement, and youth-driven impact.

As a graduating senior preparing to attend the University of California San Diego this fall to study biochemistry, Lani leaves WMCD with far more than memories from a few sleepless nights. She leaves with confidence, leadership experience, and a clearer understanding of how young people can create meaningful change when they are willing to step forward and lead.

In giving advice to future youth team members, she focused on that understanding. “Don’t be afraid to go out of your comfort zone,” she said. “You might have to advertise the organization to strangers or talk to adults at a board meeting. Even if you are uncomfortable with these types of things, always keep an open mind, because in the end it will only benefit you.”

Through the years, Lani has grown a lot with the organization, and it was more than just a few all-nighters. It became a place where she discovered that even a small role in something meaningful can inspire a lifetime of giving back.