Vincent Getchum Hosang

OD
Born(1940-08-05)August 5, 1940
St. James, Jamaica
NationalityJamaican
CitizenshipUnited States
Occupationbusinessman
Known forfounder of Caribbean Food Delights and Royal Caribbean Bakery
Spouse
Jeanette HoSang (née Leefatt)
​
​
(m. 1976)​
Children4
Parent(s)Mr. and Mrs. Henry HoSang

Vincent Getchum HoSang, OD, (born August 5, 1940) is a Jamaican-American businessman and philanthropist, who is the CEO of Caribbean Food Delights and Royal Caribbean Bakery.

Early life and education

HoSang was born in Springfield St. James, Jamaica to Mr. and Mrs. Henry HoSang who had migrated from China in the early 1900s. He is the eighth child of ten, six boys and four girls. At age 12, HoSang's parents moved to Montego Bay. He received his early education at Cornwall College. In February 1968, HoSang migrated to the Bronx, New York.[1][2]

Career

In February 1978, HoSang and his wife bought a fast food store known as Kingsbridge Delight in the West Bronx, selling fried chicken, shrimp, ribs, and French fries. In 1980, Sunrise Bakery on Dyre Avenue, which was owned by another West Indian, became available. The HoSangs bought it in December 1980 with the intention of making it a full-fledged Jamaican bakery and changed its name to Royal Caribbean Bakery. In 1984, they expanded into a 15,000 sq ft.facility on East 233rd street in the Bronx where Caribbean Food Delights was incorporated and became the frozen food division of Royal Caribbean Bakery. The company at this stage expanded into the wholesale trade. Three years later in 1987, both companies expanded into a 20,000 sq ft facility in Mount Vernon, New York. The HoSangs next bought a 73,000 sq. ft. building on 10 acres of property in Tappan, New York in 1993 and named it Caribbean Food Delights.[1][2]

Philanthropy

HoSang established the Vincent HoSang Family Foundation (VHFF) in April 2002 as a means of giving back to the community and educating future entrepreneurs. The VHFF is a 501(c)(3) organization that comprises the philanthropic arm of Caribbean Food Delights and Royal Caribbean Bakery.[3][4] The foundation funds full scholarships for six students studying entrepreneurship at the University of the West Indies. The Vincent HoSang University of the West Indies Venture Competition (UWIVC) was started in 2002. Sponsorship was taken over by the foundation since its inception. Each year, the foundation is involved in a range of philanthropic projects, such as serving over 4,000 meals to student athletes at the Penn Relays in Pennsylvania every year,[5] and donating US$250,000 to Missionaries of the Poor in Jamaica to build a place of worship, a food pantry, and other community activities.[6]

Personal life

HoSang met his wife, Jeanette (née Leefatt), who is from Spanish Town, Jamaica, in New York City and got married in August 1976. The couple have four children: Damian, Sabrina, Simone and Brian. Brian HoSang was involved in a fatal motorcycle crash on May 12, 2008 at the age of 24.[7]

Honors and awards

References

  1. 1 2 2006 Congressional Record, Vol. 152, Page E616 (April 26, 2006)
  2. 1 2 Balford Henry (February 5, 2017). "Vincent HoSang and his Change of Fortune Story". Jamaica Observer. Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  3. ↑ "The Vincent HoSang Family Foundation". ProPublica profile. Retrieved 2020-08-23. {{cite magazine}}: Cite magazine requires |magazine= (help)
  4. ↑ "The Vincent HoSang Family Foundation". Retrieved 2020-08-23.
  5. 1 2 Derrick Scott (May 2, 2018). "City of Philadelphia Honors Jamaican Businessman Vincent HoSang". South Florida Caribbean News. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  6. ↑ "Vincent HoSang UWI Venture Competition 2017 launched". Jamaica Observer. October 15, 2017. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  7. ↑ Jared McCallister (May 16, 2008). "HoSangs' son killed on bike". New York Daily News. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  8. ↑ "St. George's Society List of Honorees". Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  9. ↑ "Westchester Legislators Honor Caribbean Roots of Rapper, Entrepreneur". Westchester Daily Voice. July 3, 2012. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  10. ↑ "Vincent HoSang Family Foundation". University of the West Indies. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  11. ↑ "Vincent HoSang is in the business of nation building". University of the West Indies. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  12. ↑ "Vincent HoSang: 2013 Community Leadership Award". Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  13. ↑ "National Honours and Awards 2015" (PDF). Jamaica Information Service. Retrieved 2020-08-22.
  14. ↑ Basil Roman (June 26, 2019). "First Caribbean Asian Father-Daughter Team Wins EY". Retrieved 2020-08-22.
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