Thomas Fung facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Thomas Fung
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
Fung in 2012
|
|
| Born | 1950 or 1951 (age 73–74) |
| Nationality | Canadian |
Thomas Fung Wing-fat (simplified Chinese: 冯永发; traditional Chinese: 馮永發; born 1950 or 1951) is a Canadian businessman and a kind helper of many causes. He was born in Hong Kong. Thomas Fung is the oldest son of Fung King Hey, who started a big financial company in Hong Kong called Sun Hung Kai Financial.
Thomas Fung is famous for starting the Fairchild Group. This company works in media and real estate. It runs shopping malls with an Asian theme and also has Chinese-language TV channels and radio stations. Time Magazine (Canadian edition) once said he was one of the most important people in Canada. In 2011, he received a special award from the University of British Columbia.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
Thomas Fung spent most of his teenage years in Hong Kong. He moved to Canada in 1967. He finished high school at Magee High School in Vancouver.
When he was in his twenties, he took baking classes in Japan. Later, in 1984, he came back to Vancouver. There, he opened the first of his four Saint Germain Bakery stores.
In the 1970s, Fung also studied filmmaking at New York University. At the same time, he was training at a financial company called Merrill Lynch in New York City. After that, he returned to Hong Kong for ten years. During this time, he started a company that made films, an advertising company, and a public relations company. He also worked for his father's company, Sun Hung Kai & Co.
Building Businesses
In 1984, Thomas Fung decided to move to Vancouver permanently. He chose to build his businesses in Canada. His brother, Tony, continued to work in Hong Kong.
Thomas Fung created Aberdeen Centre in Richmond. This was North America's first and largest shopping and entertainment place with an Asian theme. In 2008, he also started Sea Land Air Flight Centre. This school teaches people how to become commercial and private pilots.
Fung's company, the Fairchild Group, owns many media businesses. It has two national TV stations and five radio stations that play music and news from different cultures. The group also owns a large Chinese-language magazine and an online shopping technology company in Canada.
Helping Others
Besides his business work, Thomas Fung gives a lot of support to groups that help people. He has helped organizations like the Vancouver Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Conservatory of Music, and the Children's Hospital. He also supports groups like United Way and World Vision.
Awards and Recognition
The Canadian government asked Mr. Fung to be an advisor for Canada's global trade plans. Business in Vancouver Magazine named Thomas Fung as one of the top 10 business people of the decade. Vancouver Magazine also listed Fung as one of the "Power 50" for five years in a row. The Vancouver Board of Trade gave Fung the "Spirit of Vancouver Leadership Award" for his leadership.
Family Life
Thomas Fung is married to Amy Chan. They have one son, Joseph, who was born in 1982. Joseph works in Hong Kong.
His brother, Tony Fung Wing Cheung, is the Chairman of Yu Ming Property Management Limited. He also used to be the Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.
His sister, Rita Fung, was married to David Ho. David Ho was the founder of an airline called Harmony Airways, which is no longer in business.
See also
- Chinese Canadians in British Columbia
