Grace Amey-Obeng, board chairperson, UMB Foundation
UMB Bank and UMB Capital on Tuesday launched the UMB Foundation, an independent philanthropic entity, to streamline the corporate social responsibility initiatives of the two entities in Accra.
UMB Foundation aims to focus on supporting initiatives in education, health and projects that celebrate and promote Ghanaian heritage and culture.
Grace Amey-Obeng, Board Chairperson, said UMB Bank and UMB Capital created UMB Foundation to give back to Ghanaians for contributing to the success of both institutions.
She said “corporate philanthropy through the creation of foundations is an effective, strategic and sustainable method of providing necessary assistance in key areas of need.”
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of UMB Foundation, Yvonne Botchey, said the UMB Foundation would be announcing its first key projects in each focus area, adding that “we expect these projects to make a meaningful difference in the areas of education, health and the celebration and promotion of Ghanaian heritage and culture.”
In her overview, Ms. Botchey said that under each strategic focus area, UMB Foundation sought to assist education by improving access to education for economically disadvantaged and/or special needs children through scholarship programmes; upgrading school facilities, supplies and infrastructure in neglected communities, and providing teacher motivation and capacity building programmes.
Volta region
On health, she said the Foundation will undertake initial projects in Northern and Upper West regions and these will comprise assisting to provide easy and quick access to quality healthcare, especially for women and children, supporting the provision of improved medical facilities, supplies and resources; and assisting those without financial means in the payment of medical treatment and services for critical health conditions.
She said initial projects in Greater Accra and Ashanti regions will support the restoration and maintenance of cultural sites, monuments and buildings, support the establishment of museums and libraries to preserve historical artifacts, information to serve as a place of learning.
Ms. Botchey further noted that while the head office of UMB Foundation would be based in Accra, UMB Foundation will sponsor projects throughout Ghana over time.
UMB Foundation is governed by an independent four-member Board of Directors who are supported by sub-committees tasked to implement activities in each key focus area.
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