Hakki Akdeniz
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| Hakki Akdeniz | |
|---|---|
 Hakki Akdeniz.jpg | |
| Born | February 5, 1980 Silvan, Turkey |
| 🏳️ Nationality | Turkish |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| 📆 Years active | 2009-present |
Born February 5, 1980, Hakki Akdeniz is a Kurdish philanthropist and restaurateur from New York City. He is the owner and founder of the pizzeria chain Champion Pizza.[1]
Career[edit]
Akdeniz was born in Silvan, Turkey. He learned to make dough at a young age while working in a pide store. In 1997, his family moved to Canada, and in 2001, Akdeniz moved to New York City, where he worked at a pizzeria until 2005. In 2009, he founded Hakki Pizza, later renamed Champion Pizza, in Manhattan.[2]
In 2016, Champion Pizza gained attention by giving away free pizza in honor of the late Carrie Fisher.[3] In 2017, Akdeniz offered jobs to immigrants at his pizzeria and sold a "Trump Pizza" to raise funds for a local homeless shelter.[4][5]
In February 2019, Akdeniz was featured on Fox 5 New York, discussing his philanthropy and the expansion of Champion Pizza.[6] In 2020, he gained national attention by appearing in a commercial for Super Bowl LIV.[7]
Awards and honors[edit]
- In 2019, Akdeniz received the Beacon Award from The American Immigrant Society.[8]
References[edit]
- ↑ A, A (July 21, 2015). "From living on the streets to pizzeria king". Daily Sabah. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ↑ Homa, Ava (January 2, 2017). "Kurdish pizza champion inspires Americans". Kurdistan 24. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ↑ Rothman, Michael (December 28, 2016). "New York Pizzeria Owner Pays Tribute to Carrie Fisher With Free Slices". ABC News. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ↑ Schapiro, Rich (February 1, 2017). "NYC pizzeria owner who came to U.S. as a refugee offers 100 jobs to immigrants: 'It's about being human'". New York Daily News. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ↑ Fanrouge, Gabrielle (January 19, 2017). "This gold 'Trump' Pizza will make thousands for shelter". New York Post. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ↑ Formoso, Jessica (February 6, 2019). "Meet the man behind the Champion Pizza chain: Hakki Akdeniz had a dream when he left Turkey, to someday own a pizzeria". Fox 5 NY. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
- ↑ Shiff, Blair (February 3, 2020). "Budweiser Super Bowl commercial features pizza mogul who used to be homeless". Fox Business. Retrieved February 25, 2020.
- ↑ "The Beacon Awards Honorees". The American Immigrant Society. January 10, 2019. Retrieved August 28, 2019.
External links[edit]
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