OUR HOME
OUR HOME
FOC was founded in late 1991 in downtown New Bedford, MA, USA, at least in part because of the desire to provide a convenient, safe, practical and distinctive location for employees and others with whom we would be doing business: suppliers and customers from all over the world.
New Bedford was known in the 19th Century as “the city that lit the world”, because as the active seaport which was home to the worldwide whaling industry, its products were used to light the lamps and later lighthouses throughout the U.S. and elsewhere. Whaleships were at sea for 3 or more years at a time in every direction, including both poles and everywhere in between. On returning back to the home port, goods gathered overseas were shared with others, as were stories of people, customs and cultures. Immigrants came from far places to man the ships, and many stayed and settled when their sailing days ended.
FOC continues the new tradition of lighting the world, in that the products that FOC sells are based on fiber optics or other light-centric technologies such as lasers and optical coatings. We also see the entire planet as our market and our source of supplies, and therefore select the best and highest quality to offer to those who depend on us to get their job done.
FOC is located in a 200 year old stone and brick building in the New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, on a cobblestone street. We look out over New Bedford harbor and the #1 fishing fleet in the U.S. (measured by the dollar value of the catch).
FOC is proud to support these non-profits
New Bedford Chamber of Commerce
The New Bedford Chamber is a progressive organization that participates in initiatives that positively impact our business members and the quality of life in the SouthCoast region.
https://onesouthcoast.com
Waterfront Historic Area League (WHALE)
This mission of WHALE is to foster historic preservation and continued use of the city’s architectural heritage, so to enhance community and economic vitality in New Bedford, MA.
www.waterfrontleague.org/
Buzzards Bay Coalition
The Buzzards Bay Coalition is a membership-supported nonprofit organization dedicated to the restoration, protection, and sustainable use and enjoyment of our irreplaceable Bay and its watershed.
www.savebuzzardsbay.org/
ROTARY CLUB OF NEW BEDFORD
The Rotary Club of New Bedford, Massachusetts is comprised of local business and community professionals who care about our area and strive to make a difference.
http://www.newbedfordrotary.com/
OSA Foundation
The OSA Foundation inspires future optics innovators, supports career development for optics students, and recognizes distinguished achievement in the field through awards and honors.
http://www.osa.org/en-us/foundation/
New Bedford Symphony Orchestra
The mission of the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra is to place the world’s finest music at the center of the cultural life of the South Coast community.
www.nbsymphony.org/
New Bedford Art Museum/Artworks!
New Bedford Art Museum/ArtWorks! is dedicated to engaging a diverse audience in relevant exhibitions, exemplary education and creative experiences as a vital innovative center for the arts.
http://newbedfordart.org
New Bedford Whaling Museum
The mission of the Old Dartmouth Historical Society is to educate and interest all the public in the historic interaction worldwide of humans with whales; in history of Old Dartmouth and adjacent communities; and in regional maritime activity.
www.whalingmuseum.org/
New Bedford Preservation Society
New Bedford Preservation Society’s mission is to heighten awareness, provide education and guidance and promote sensitive restoration and preservation of New Bedford’s fine historic structures and the neighborhoods in which they are located.
www.nbpreservationsociety.org/
Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School
Old Colony provides state-of-the-art technical training with an applied academic curriculum for the development of the region’s future technicians and skilled labor force.
http://www.oldcolony.us/
OCEAN at MGH
Ovarian Cancer Research
Ocean Explorium - Buttonwood Park Zoo
Buttonwood Park Zoo’s mission is to create experiences for exploring and enjoying the natural world and offer families an opportunity to learn the importance animals play in our world.
https://www.bpzoo.org
Schooner Ernestina-Morrissey Association
SEMA provides access to information about Ernestina’s history and new information about the ongoing efforts to ensure the future of this National Treasure.
www.ernestina.org/author/schooner-ernestina-morrissey-association/
Zeiterion Theatre
THE MISSION of the Zeiterion Performing Arts Center is to provide New Bedford and the region with performing arts programming of excellence that inspires, educates, engages and entertains.
www.zeiterion.org/
Global Learning Charter School
The mission of GLCPS is to ensure that all students achieve academic excellence, are ready for the rigors of higher education, and master essential skills.
www.glcps.org/
American Cancer Society
The American Cancer Society is the nationwide, community-based, voluntary health organization dedicated to eliminating cancer as a major health problem.
www.cancer.org/
Child & Family Services
Child and Family Services strengthens families and the communities in which they live. The mission is to heal and strengthen the lives of children and families.
https://child-familyservices.org/
Whaling City Rowing
Preserving the traditions of New Bedford’s maritime past while encouraging an appreciation for the area’s modern-day maritime beauty.
www.whalingcityrowing.org/
Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust (DNRT)
Dartmouth Natural Resources Trust is a non-profit land trust founded in 1971 with the mission to preserve and protect Dartmouth’s natural resources for people and nature, forever.
dnrt.org/
Community Boating Center, Inc.
Our mission is to teach positive life values to youth through boating
www.communityboating.org/
Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford
Boys & Girls Club of Greater New Bedford/Wareham serves to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
www.bgcnewbedford.org/
New Bedford Ballet
New Bedford Ballet has a mission of performing ballets, providing classical ballet training, ensuring access to ballet instruction through scholarships.
www.newbedfordballet.org/
AHA! Art, History & Architecture
The AHA! mission is to be a cooperative venture dedicated to invigorating the downtown New Bedford cultural scene.
ahanewbedford.org
The Trustees of Reservations
The Trustees of Reservations preserve, for public use and enjoyment, properties of exceptional scenic, historic, and ecological value in Massachusetts
www.thetrustees.org/
Schwartz Center for Children
The Schwartz Center for Children offers a variety of programs to enrich the lives of children with all types of medical needs who live in Southeastern Massachusetts.
https://www.meetingstreet.org/Schools/The-Schwartz-School
The Dartmouth Grange
Dedicated to improving the quality of life for families and the community by building an equal opportunity program of fellowship, service to others, and unity of action within a framework of fraternalism.
www.dartmouthgrange.org/
YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts
The YWCA Southeastern Massachusetts strives to eliminate racism and empower women, providing programs and services based on a vision of peace, justice, freedom and dignity for all people.
ywcasema.org/
Inter-Church Council of Greater New Bedford
Acting as a channel for community outreach in promoting ecumenical cooperation, social, economic and racial justice, service to those in need and addressing public issues
www.iccgnb.org/
St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford
www.southcoast.org/stlukes/
Lloyd Center for the Environment
The mission of the Lloyd Center is to instill a life-long respect and affection for nature in citizens of all ages through research and education.
lloydcenter.org/
Rhodes 19 Class Association
Our mission is to promote Rhodes 19 racing by encouraging and supporting local fleet development nationally, and by working to maintain the one-design integrity of the boat.
www.rhodes19.org/
Motor Neurone Disease Association
We are a national and local network that provides information and support alongside fighting for improved services.
www.mndassociation.org/
National Multiple Sclerosis Society
The National MS Society is a collective of passionate individuals who want to do something about MS now—to move together toward a world free of multiple sclerosis. MS stops people from moving. We exist to make sure it doesn’t.
www.nationalmssociety.org/
Our Sisters’ School
Our Sisters’ School mission is to educate and inspire middle school girls from the Greater New Bedford area to reach their full potential in a safe, supportive and challenging environment.
www.oursistersschool.org/
New Bedford Education Foundation
NBEF is a non-profit organization that supports educational opportunities for New Bedford public schools’ students beyond what is funded through the school budget.
newbedfordeducationfoundation.org/
Greater New Bedford Workforce Investment Board, Inc.
WIB provides the leadership necessary to build the regional workforce development system
masshiregreaternewbedford.com
PAACA / Positive Action Against Chemical Addiction, Inc.
PAACA is dedicated to providing quality substance abuse prevention and treatment services.
www.paaca.org/
Women’s Fund of Southeastern Massachusetts
Our mission is to advance the educational attainment and economic security of women and girls in Southeastern Massachusetts
www.womensfundsema.org/
Joseph DeMello Elementary School – PTO
The New Bedford Museum of Glass
Non-profit organization working to celebrate the beauty and history of glass in this thriving New England seaport.
www.nbmog.org/
Alma Del Mar Charter School
K-8 Expeditionary Learning public charter school committed to setting students on a college trajectory and challenging them to be service-minded leaders.
almadelmar.org/
DGAL - Dartmouth Girls Athletic League
The DGAL’s mission is to promote women’s sports in the Town of Dartmouth by developing good players, promoting fun and team spirit, and advocating and teaching good sportsmanship to all.
http://www.dgal.leag1.com
Massachusetts Audubon Society
Massachusetts Audubon Society’s mission is to protect the nature of Massachusetts for people and for wildlife.
www.massaudubon.org/
Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick
The Friendly Sons of Saint Patrick sponsors more than a dozen scholarships annually based on academic merit and need, to deserving local students, regardless of their heritage.
friendlysonsofsaintpatrick.com
JDRF ONE
JDRF is the leading global organization funding promising type 1 diabetes (T1D) research with a mission to accelerate life-changing breakthroughs to cure, prevent and treat T1D and its complications.
www.jdrf.org/
Cranberry Education Fund
Grumpy’s Cranberry Harvest 5K Trail Run/Walk’s proceeds support the Cranberry Education Fund.
https://www.facebook.com/Grumpys5krace
Love Of The Game
LOTG is a community outreach program that creates sporting events for individuals with developmental disabilities.
www.facebook.com/LOTGSports/http://www.facebook.com/LOTGSports/
UMASS DifferenceMaker program
DifferenceMaker program provides students with resources to secure funding, mentors, workspace, to get their innovation off the ground in a positive and entrepreneurial environment.
http://bit.ly/2dufFr6
CARE South Coast
CARE South Coast is a 501C3 animal rescue and shelter servicing the Southcoast Region of Massachusetts. An all-volunteer, no-kill group provides sheltering and adoption programs, basic medical support and assists families and individuals experiencing financial hardship with spay/neuter services.
https://www.caresouthcoast.com
Sophia’s Fund
Sophia’s Fund is a 501(C)3 Non-Profit Organization “Fighting childhood cancer on all fronts”. Sophia’s Fund is dedicated to helping families in their crusade against cancer; assisting with life changes; raising awareness to gain greater support in the local and national communities; and striving to allow families to focus their energy on the battle.
https://www.sophiasfund.com/
20–5-1 Campaign
Hiking fundraiser: 20 mountains, 5 states for 1 mission: a Cure for Childhood Cancer. FOC’s own Systems Architect, Kelly Michael Skelton, will attempt to climb the 20 mountains himself (each over 4,000 feet) every weekend over the summer of 2019. #20mtns5states1mission and #MoreThan4 are the hashtags to follow this event.
foc-20-5-1-campaign
Dartmouth Youth Activities Association
Dartmouth Youth Activities Association (DYAA) provides a quality, affordable sports program with a mission to provide recreational opportunities to the youth of our Community.
