DID YOU KNOW? The 11 countries that make up Southeast Asia are Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor, and Vietnam.
Image resource: vectorstock.com
In the 1970s, there are many wars that happened in between Southeast Asia that a lot of families have to left their home to find a better place for their children.
Ted Ngoy, a Cambodian man, is one of the refugees. He arrived in the United States in the early 1970s with his wife to seek a better life.
Ted found his first job at a gas station. He was hired as a baker for the gas station. And he makes delicious donuts. Ted worked very hard and saved a lot of money because he wants to achieve his American Dream one day soon.
Ted Ngoy stands in front of his first independent donut shop - Christy's in La Habra, named after his wife Christy Ngoy.
Ted's donuts shop -Christy’s are so popular that he keeps opening new locations that he owned more than 20 donuts shops from 1970s through the 1990s DID YOU KNOW? 90% of the private own donuts shops are own by Cambodian Americans
Ted's donuts shops become so successful that he needs more workers working for him. He helps hundreds of Cambodian refugees to come to the United States and give them jobs at donuts shops. Many of them keep working at the donuts shop for their entire life while sending their 2nd generation Asian Americans kids to school.
DID YOU KNOW? Originally, the pink box holding Cambodian donuts was merely a cheap leftover box left at the corner of his factory by the box makers.
Although, it was not easy to own a shop and have to work very long hours. Many Cambodian Americans still appreciate the chance it was given to them. Some donut shops are now even run by the 3rd generation Cambodian Americans!
Unfortunately, Ted becomes so interested in gambling that he eventually lost all of his donut shops. After that, Ted went back to Cambodia and find his peace when he reconnects with Buddhism.
NOT ALL HEROES
WEAR CAPES
So many Cambodian families were helped by Ted that their children can achieve more dreams. Some even become businessmen to continue to run the family legacy.
This book is dedicated to all Asian immigrants who have achieved their version of the American Dream in a new country with little resources to provide a better life for their children. This children's book is based on the same name independent documentary The Donut King (2020) directed by Alice Gu