The organisers of the 12th Annual Merritone Outdoor Picnic and Family Fun Day announced recently that business entrepreneur Patricia "Miss Pat" Chin and her family -owners/operators of VP Records -will be the recipients of the forth annual 'Caribbean American Family of the Year Appreciation Award' for being exemplary role models and in acknowledgement of their long-standing commitment to the greater Caribbean American community in the USA.
"Miss Pat, Chris, Randy and Angela are truly an institution in the music industry. They have served as an example to all immigrants, specifically those from the Caribbean," Conroy Allison, founder the annual family picnic said.
"Miss Pat and her husband Vincent started in the music business in the late 50's in Jamaica. Today, VP Records, a company which they started from humble beginnings after moving to the USA is the leading distributor of Caribbean music from artistes like Sean Paul, Shaggy, Wayne Wonder, Elephant Man, Mavado, Tanto Metro & Devonte and others who have successfully represented Caribbean culture to a mainstream audience worldwide. The Chins' success proves that hard work, perseverance and determination can move mountains.
Individually and collectively, the family has given a great deal to the Caribbean community. They have set a tremendous example for Jamaicans in the Diaspora and are richly deserving of this award" Allison said.
While Ms Pat revels in the good fortune of her company, which has seven offices (including a showroom for her successful clothing line Riddim Driven), and the creative input of her grandchildren whom she hopes will carry the family torch for generations to come, she has played a unique role as an entrepreneur, a manager, a producer, a CEO, an all-season business woman, who acted as a midwife for every business venture of the VP enterprise.
"It's now 30 years since we are here [in New York], but actually 50 in the music business, since I was 22," she noted.
"Now I am 72. Sometimes I wonder where did all those years go?"
Miss Pat and family, joins an elite list of past honorees of the Merritone Family Fun Day that includes philanthropist Vincent Ho-Sang, CEO of Caribbean Food Delight; broadcaster Jeff Barnes and TV host and founder of Team Jamaica Bickle, Irwine Clare.
"The Caribbean Family of the Year Award" will be presented to the Chin's at the <span style="font-weight: bold">12th staging of the Merritone Outdoor Picnic and Family Fun Day slated to take place at Lake Quassy, Middlebury, Connecticut on Sunday, July 12.</span> <span style="font-style: italic">This year's 'Family Fun Day' will feature the 'Royal Caribbean Bakery Patty Eating Contest, Karaoke, 25 different rides for children and the "Tri-State Knockout Domino Competition" where teams compete for cash prizes compliments of Western Union.</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold">Music will be provided by Merritone Disco featuring Winston and Trevor Blake</span> alongside the award winning DJ Roy from Irie Jam Radio & Road International Disco, Supa Fridge, Glamour Wayne and Kulcha Touch with DJ Desu.
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