In The News

Stay Empowered: How to Bring One Million Lights to the World

March 12, 2015 – Anna Sidana, founder of ‘One Million Lights’, non-commercial organization that distributed more than 60 thousand solar lights and helped more than 400 thousand of people without electricity to get the light to their homes. “I think it’s possible for anyone in any country to find a way out of poverty. The main ingredient for that is to create an environment of hope, when people feel empowered and believe they can do something about their lives. And that’s where ‘One Million Lights’ comes to play.” Read more…


747 Jets to West Africa as Ebola Response Pivots Toward Recovery

DirectReliefLogo2February 4, 2015 – A Direct Relief-chartered Boeing 747 departed Los Angeles International Airport today carrying more than $7 million in prescription medicines as well as supply modules to sufficiently equip 83 health facilities in Liberia and Sierra Leone for several months. The supplies will help restore medical facilities weakened by the worst outbreak of Ebola in history. Read more…


One Million Lights Receives 2014 Best of Palo Alto Award

November 25, 2014 – One Million Lights has been selected for the 2014 Best of Palo Alto Award in the Non-Profit Organizations category by the Palo Alto Award Program. Read more…


One Million Lights Joins Zulufadder Children’s Trust to Distribute Lights to Schools Without Electricity

Zulufadder Children's Trust LogoAugust 18, 2014 – Learners’ faces from schools in KwaZulu-Natal lit up with excitement when they received safe, rechargeable solar lights from One Million Lights in partnership with Energizer® South Africa during August to set their futures alight. Read more…


Gauteng, KwaZulu-Natal Communities Receive Safe Rechargeable Solar Lights from One Million Lights

August 15, 2014 – Communities without electricity in Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal received 7000 safe rechargeable solar lights from One Million Lights, in partnership with Energizer® over the past month to set their futures alight. Read more…


What Can a Single Flashlight Do

July 29, 2014 – When a child is born, leaving the warm comfort of its mother’s womb and bursting into the world with a cry, there is hope. Hope for the mother that her child will be amazing, will achieve greatness and be a compassionate human being. Read more…


One Million Lights for Brighter Futures

July 24, 2014 – With 1.45-million people, representing 11% of South African households, living without electricity and a further 3.6% of households accessing electricity informally*, light is a scarce commodity for many, often disrupting daily life and education due to limited study time. Read more…


Energizer SA partners with One Million Lights to improve lives in poor communities

Energizer LogoJuly 22, 2014 – Energizer® South Africa and USA registered non-profit, One Million Lights are teaming up to improve the daily lives of children and adults in poor rural villages around the world, by providing clean and healthy lighting. Read more…


Race for a Cause: Why People Really Give

June 24, 2014 – Almost a thousand people had signed up for the race. I boarded the plane from San Francisco to Chicago for an overnight trip — just long enough to spend Saturday evening in the city, attend the race and then turn back the next morning. With many hours to kill on the plane, I wondered why people came? Read more…


Changing Light to Change Lives

May 22, 2014 – What if there were a simple, cheap way to advance the education of millions of the world’s poorest children, and to improve their health and that of everyone in their communities? What if, at the same time, this simple, inexpensive solution would significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Read more…


One Million Lights Receives Inaugural Grant from the Silver Spring Foundation, Bringing Solar Education to K-12 Schools Around the World

Silver Spring Networks LogoApril 24, 2014 – One Million Lights, a nonprofit with the goal of improving lives of rural communities around the world through the distribution of solar lights, is the recipient of the Silver Spring Foundation’s inaugural grant for 2014. Read more…


Craig Connects: 6 Women Who Are Disrupting the Startup World with Social Change

CraigConnects LogoMarch 25, 2014 – From Craig Connects, “Folks, my team and I have compiled a list of 6 women who are really disrupting the startup world with social change. These women are in no particular order, but are listed here because their work is admirable, and they really have their boots on the ground, working to make a real difference.” Read more…


Mentionable Monday: How Could We Change the World with One Million Lights?

March 10, 2014 – To the 1.2 billion people in the world without electricity, a million lights could change lives. These people make up 20% of the world’s population, and around 1.5 million of this un-electrified population dies every year from kerosene fires and related respiratory diseases caused by fuel fumes. Read more…


One Million Lights featured in Oprah Magazine’s 18 Ways to Give Back with $5 or more

December, 2013 – Whether you have a few bucks or a hundred-dollar bill, here are effortless ways to spread the wealth this holiday season. For example, if you have just $15, you can light up the life of an impoverished family by donating to onemillionlights.org: Replace a potentially toxic kerosene lantern in one of 27 countries worldwide with a rechargeable solar lantern. Read more…


Energizer Lighting Make the Community Rural

August 25, 2013 -For most residents who live in the rural, electricity is expensive stuff. Even in an area that is just 1.5 hours from Jakarta, in villages like Suka Bakti, Tambelang, Bekasi, there are still many people who haven’t been able to enjoy the energy that is vital for human beings. Read more…


Residents of West Java Solar Lights Can Help

August 24, 2013 – The Solar Light Power Distribution Program of PT Energizer Indonesia, and One Million Lights, along with the Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI), awarded 1,200 solar LED lights to be used by 4,800 rural Indonesian residents. Read more…


Energizer Electrifies 6 Villages with 1200 Solar LED Lights

August 23, 2013 – The program ‘Solar Light Power Distribution’, PT Energizer Indonesia along with One Million Lights and the nonprofits Indonesian Forum for the Environment (WALHI) provided solar-powered LED lights to the people of rural Indonesia. Read more…


Wilson Kimeli Naiyomah’s AFE (Applied Field Experience) with One Million Lights in Palo Alto, CA

Duke-UNC Rotary Center
for International Studies in
peace and conflict resolution

July 16, 2013 – W.K. Naiyomah tells about his experience and plans for distribution of solar lamps in Kenya, and expansion of partnership programs for One Million Lights. Read more…


Antioch schools look to energize education: Solar projects will be a learning tool and save money

July 12, 2013 – Antioch Unified Schools along with SunPower, One Million Lights, and the Exploratorium will develop grade-appropriate educational modules to teach all elementary students lessons in solar science and renewable energy, starting in the 2014-2015 year. Read more…


Energizer Selects Ascent Solar as Solar Panel Provider for Energizer Lantern Donation, Which Will Deliver 13 Million Hours of Solar Light to Families Living in the Dark Around the World

June 20, 2013 – Energizer chose Ascent Solar Technologies, Inc. to be the solar panel provider for Energizer lanterns donated by One Million Lights to rural families around the world that may otherwise depend on kerosene. Read more…


Energizer and One Million Lights brighten indigenous communities in Zambales

May 17, 2013 – Energizer and One Million Lights Philippines distributed 300 solar-powered LED flashlights to the indigenous communities of Zambales. These solar-powered LED flashlights have the capacity to provide more than three hours of light after five hours of charging under direct sunlight. Read more…


BOGO: A Marketing Campaign or Social Impact Tool?

April 09, 2013 – One Million Lights is featured as an example of using the Buy-One-Get-One marketing idea. Read more…


Today Show features One Million Lights Buy One, Get One Bogo Light

March 25, 2013 – The Today Show featured One Million Lights’ Buy-One,Get-One Bogo Light, as part of a story about products that benefit charity. Read more…


WomenNow TV chooses Sidana to be Hero of the Month

Feb 18, 2013 – WomenNow TV, a talk show centering on the South Asian Diaspora in the United States, names Anna Sidana, founder of One Million Lights, to be Hero of the Month. Read more…


One Million Lights Philippines wins TAYO Award

Dec 11, 2012 – Raffy Tanpho of One Million Lights Philippines accepts the TAYO (Ten Accomplished Youth Organizations) Award 2012. Read more…


Shed light on a brighter future

Nov 14, 2012 – This gift will light up your child’s blanket forts and camping trips, as well as the dark nights of someone whose home doesn’t have electricity. Read more…


Lighting the Way

Oct 1, 2012 – Anna Sidana founded One Million Lights, a nonprofit that makes life brighter for families around the world. Read more…


True-life heroes inspire children at Read-Along

Aug 21, 2012 – Core members of One Million Lights-Philippines, teenagers Lance Katigbak and Catherine Felicia Peralta, tell stories about heroism as part of a celebration of National Heroes Day. Read more…


Sierra Fan receives Top Scholar Award

June 8, 2012 – ABC TV presents a Top Scholar award and interviews high schooler Sierra Fan. Sierra is a Global Ambassador of One Million Lights and has just returned from a distribution in the Philippines. Read more…


SunPower Foundation One Million Lights Partner on Solar Education

May 17, 2012 – Two California nonprofit organizations are coming together to provide solar power education to K-12 schools. SunPower Foundation in San Jose, and One Million Lights, based in Palo Alto, have developed a program called One Million Students, which provides K-12 teachers with curriculum about solar energy. Read more…



Mangyan families get solar-powered lamps

May 15, 2012 – Some 100 Mangyan families in remote and depressed communities in Victoria and Naujan towns in Oriental Mindoro, who had no access to electricity, received free “solar-powered” lanterns. Read more…


SunPower Foundation Partners with One Million Lights to Bring Solar Education into Classrooms Worldwide

May 14, 2012 – A new solar education program for K-12 schools called One Million Students, encourages environmental action among today’s youth. The program provides educators with grade-appropriate curriculum structured to increase student understanding of how solar works and how it is being applied to generate clean, renewable energy in locations around the world. Read more…


Lighting the Way

May 02, 2012 – A night jungle race proves to be an ideal showcase for Energizer’s That’s Positivenergy campaign. In partnership with One Million Lights, Energizer has pledged to donate 12,000,000 hours of lights this year to impoverished communities in order to help the less fortunate break through the cycle of poverty by providing them with a healthy environment to study and work. Read more…


Changing Lives, One Light At A Time

April 30, 2012 – One Million Lights and Energizer have teamed up to back the OML Philippine chapter, started by two students, Mark Lozano and Tricia Peralta. One hundred lights have been distributed to Barangay Puray in Rodriguez, Rizal. Read more…


Solar lamps bring ‘one million lights’ to Mangyan communities


April 24, 2012 – One Million Lights, together with Energizer in Philippines, brought Mangyans around Oriental Mindoro, 1,400 solar lamps to replace their kerosene lamps. The Mangyans live in a remote area in the Halcon mountain range, without the benefit of electricity or running water, usually in huts and use kerosene for lighting. Read more…


Philippines chosen as recipient of solar-powered lights

April 10, 2012 – Energizer and the One Million Lights organization has chosen the Philippines as one of the 4 country-recipients of the energizer solar-powered lights, together with Argentina, Kenya and Ethiopia. Read more…


Feel Good Friday: We Care Solar and One Million Lights

April 6, 2012 – Reach and Teach tell the stories of two organizations that bring light to areas of need. We Care Solar brings solar power in a suitcase to hospitals in regions without reliable electricity. One Million Lights brings smaller solar lights to provide families with light in the evenings. Read more…


Women of Influence: Anna Sidana


April 6, 2012 – Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal. Anna Sidana, founder and CEO of One Million Lights, is a 2012 Woman of Influence. Read more…


LED LunaLight brightens Kenyan lifestyles.

March 26, 2012 – Five Cal Poly engineering students are finding a way to bring light to rural Kenya, turning hours of darkness into hours of opportunity. Materials engineering senior, Mike Deagen, leads the project, inspired by an internship last summer with the non-profit One Million Lights. Read more…


Energizer spreads Positivenergy by lighting up poor communities with OML Phils.

March 9, 2012 – Energizer, makers of the world’s longest lasting batteries, together with One Million Lights (OML) Philippines, the local chapter of the global California-based OML non-profit organization, launched a unique project that aims to raise awareness of the need for safe, healthy, and efficient lighting systems all over the country. Read more…


2 teenagers feted as People Power heroes

February 25, 2012 – Philippine Daily Inquirer / Inquirer News – High school senior Mark Benjamin Lozano, 17, and college freshman Catherine Felicia Marie Peralta, 18, were recognized by President Benigno Aquino and the Edsa People Power Commission for their efforts in jump-starting the Philippine version of the One Million Lights movement. Read more…


Sidana nominated for 2012 Silicon Valley Women of Influence

February 24, 2012 – Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal. Anna Sidana, Founder of One Million Lights, is on the list of 2012 Silicon Valley Women of Influence. Read more…


Interview with Anna Sidana, Founder of One Million Lights

February 22, 2012 – TrendHunter – Replacing Kerosene Lamps with Solar Ones – Anna shares where the idea for her ambitious project came from, and how she keeps herself motivated on this challenging—but world-changing—social venture. Read more…


Bid to re-inspire

February 19, 2012 – New Straits Times – Bid to Re-inspire – The Energizer Night Race is part of a global series of races that was first launched in South Africa in 2007, and has since been held in North America, Latin America, Europe and Asia. Read more…


Rechargeable Solar Lights

January 19, 2012 – TrendHunter – Rechargeable Solar Lights –
One Million Lights is a nonprofit on a mission to provide one million safe, rechargeable solar lamps to people currently using dangerous, toxic and expensive kerosene lamps—or perhaps no lamps at all. Read more…


11K night race to be held on 11/11/11

November 10, 2011 – Houston Chronicle – How about this bright idea to celebrate 11/11/11?
The 11K Houston Energizer Night Race for a Brighter World will start at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Sam Houston Race Park, 7575 N. Sam Houston Parkway W. Read more…


One by One, Marketers Plan for a Singular Event

November 9, 2011 – …Energizer, which is sponsoring the event with a nonprofit organization, One Million Lights, has announced a goal of donating 11 million hours of light to rural communities around the world as part of a new campaign that carries the theme “Now that’s positive energy.” Read more…


Night race to help light up world: Houston gets ready for Energizer

November 2, 2011 – Houston Chronicle – One Million Lights, a charitable group whose mission is to distribute rechargeable solar lights around the world, will be the beneficiary of the Houston Energizer Night Race for a Brighter World set for 6:30 p.m. Nov. 11 at Sam Houston Race Park, 7575 North Sam Houston Parkway West. Read more…


Energizer Press Release

October 13, 2011 — Energizer Partners with Global Charity One Million Lights and Sponsors Night Races Around the World in Support of its now that’s positivenergy™ Platform. Read more…


Racing for a Brighter World Press Release

October 12, 2011 — One Million Lights is proud to announce a partnership with Energizer Battery Company to support the Energizer Night Race for a Brighter World global race series as part of the new Energizer “now that’s positivenergy™” communications platform. Read more…


One Million Lights Featured in Palo Alto Patch

August 2011 — Anna Sidana and high school ambassador Sierra Fan are featured in Palo Alto Patch, a community-specific news and information platform, for their work with One Million Lights. Read more…


Anna Sidana Receives Human Values Award

June 2011 — Anna Sidana, founder & CEO of One Million Lights, is awarded the Human Values Award for her  commitment to helping others. Read more…


Anna Sidana on Business Travel Radio

July 2011 — Listen to Anna Sidana, our founder & CEO, discuss her work with One Million Lights on Business Travel Radio with Sandy Dhuyvetter. Read more…


Straight Talk About Giving by Wendy Smith

May 2011 — Want to know you’re definitely changing lives?  Give to One Million Lights.  Anna Sidana, founder of One Million Lights, is featured on Wendy’s Smith’s blog. Read more…


The Leduc Representative

February 2011 — Calmar club lighting up the lives and homes of the Philippines.  Calmar students, Rotary Club, and One Million Lights team up to make a different.  by Mark Wierzbicki. Read more…


Mashable

November 2010 — 10 Inspiring ‘Buy One Give One” Projects. #8 One Million Lights. The One Million Lights project distributes solar LED lights to replace kerosene lamps in areas around the world where there is no electricity. Read more…


Gentry Magazine

October 2010 — Let There Be Light. A Bay Area-based nonprofit seeks to light up the darkest corners of our world and effect change we can all see. by Lena Dakessian. Read more…


Volunteer Spotlight: Stefan Gouyet

August 2010 — Stefan Gouyet is a Freshman at Palo Alto High School – One Million Lights relies on a strong group of volunteers to keep our programs strong and connected to our community. Read more…


LaserFocusWorld.com

Aug 19, 2010 — SOLAR LIGHTS: One Million Lights leverages SPIE conference to illuminate the developing world. Read more…


Humaneity Magazine

July 2010 — Lighting Up Lives. A new organization in the US helps provide solar lights to adults and children in impoverished countries so they can have a better future. by Anna Sidana. Read more…


Press Release

March 24, 2010 — One Million Lights welcomes Anne Raimondi to its board of directors. Seasoned Executive and Community Leader to Lend her Expertise. Read more…


Press Release

Nov 30, 2009 — Dr. Arun Jhaveri joins One Million Lights as Executive Advisor. One Million Lights is honored to have Dr. Jhaveri on our team. His energy, expertise, and dedication to greening our world will be welcome additions. Read more…


Press Release

September 2009 — The Elfenworks Foundation and One Million Lights wish former President Jimmy Carter a Happy 85th Birthday! Read more…

Wharton School of Business, San Francisco

July 27, 2009 — One Million Lights Welcomes Anand Hariharan, Manager Cisco Systems, to its Board. Read more…


Tracker News (pdf)

Feb 12, 2009 — LEDs will light the way. CFLs may have become the symbol for greener lighting over the last couple of years, but LEDs are poised for a global come-from-behind take-over. Read more…


Marie Claire

Jan 21, 2009 — One Million Lights, One Child at a Time. If you’re not convinced that one person can make a big difference in the world, then you don’t know about Anna Sidana. Read more…


ABC7

Jan 20, 2009 — Video: Palo Alto Woman Sharing Light Worldwide. One immigrant turned Silicon Valley entrepreneur is working to literally share the light. Read more…


India West

Dec 31, 2008 — eBay Provides Light to 15,000 Children. Though the economic downturn has resulted in scaled-down holiday celebrations, eBay has gone a step further. Read more…


San Francisco Examiner

Dec 29, 2008 — Nonprofit Aims to Illuminate India. Bay Area high-tech professional Anna Sidana launched the nonprofit One Million Lights after a trip back to her hometown of New Delhi, India, exposed her to the poor condition of households without electricity. Read more…


eBay

Dec 18, 2008 — eBay Supports Employees Cause with Gift of Light to 15,000 Children in India and Africa. Company Donates Innovative Solar Lights as an Alternative to Dangerous Kerosene Lamps. Read more…