A successful Long Island entrepreneur who is very philanthropic to Long Island nonprofit organizations is the next “Golfer of the Year” at the Geraldo Rivera Invitational Golf & Tennis Tournament.
This 35th annual event on Monday, June 29 at Pine Hollow Country Club in East Norwich will be honoring Zaki Hossain of Huntington. The fundraiser benefits Life’s WORC and is personally hosted by Rivera, the iconic journalist who helped launch Life’s WORC 54 years ago with Victoria Schneps, the founding president of Schneps Media, the parent company of the Long Island Press and dozens of other New York publications. Both remain active with the organization today.
Life’s WORC provides a variety of services to some 2,000 people with developmental disabilities and autism. Garden City-based nonprofit organization owns and operates a network of 45 group residences throughout Long Island, in Queens, and in Manhattan.
“Among all of the awards and recognitions I have received in my career, this is the first time I have ever been showcased for my very modest ability to play golf,” Hossain said.
Hossain recently retired from his leadership role at Modern Packaging, Inc., in Deer Park. He continues to own and operate Pintail Coffee, a coffee roaster and distributor in Farmingdale.
Nearly 50 years ago, Zaki and his wife, Rahat, immigrated to the United States from Bangladesh with their 22 month-old daughter and $400. They moved in with Rahat’s sister and her family in Astoria, Queens. After some time, they were able to afford their own one bedroom apartment in the same building.
With Hossain’s passion to build a better life and do good for his family, he sent his resume out more than 100 times. Hossain worked at local office jobs, while his wife worked as a hospital dietitian.
As a talented mechanical engineer who earned his Master’s degree in the United States, Zaki and his partner launched Modern Packaging, Inc. This firm grew into a huge success, known for its packaging technology serving major corporations. When he launched Pintail Coffee, he pledged to donate its profits to local food banks. Since it began, Pintail has delivered more than one million meals for those in need.
Other milestones in the Hossain family’s generosity have been:
-The Rahat & Zaki Hossain Cardio Vascular Intensive Care Unit at the Petrocelli Surgical Pavillion at Northwell University Medical Center.
-Some $2.5 million in gifts to Molloy University in Rockville Centre for scholarships and workforce development.
-The Zaki Hossain Center for Hypertension, Diabetes & Vascular Disease at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow.
Zaki and Rahat are also working with their extended family to create a small hospital focused on treating kidney issues in Sylhet, Bangladesh, Rahat’s hometown.
Information about sponsorships, foursomes, and tickets for the June 29 Life’s WORC event can be obtained by telephoning Phil Keefe at 516-741-9000 X 5110
