FOCOS raises the bar at its Third Annual Fundraising Dinner
The Foundation of Orthopedic and Complex Spine (FOCOS) on Saturday, May 18, 2019, celebrated its Third Annual Fundraising Dinner held at the Kempinski Gold Coast Hotel.
Themed: “Let’s make a difference together”, the event so far is the Foundation’s most successful fundraising event in Ghana and brought together over 300 guests from all over the world. The third annual event went off with a “big bang”, as organizers achieved their goal of raising GHC 1, 000,000, at the event.
Founder and President of FOCOS, Prof. Oheneba-Boachie in his message recounted the difference FOCOS has made in the lives of over 60,000 patients across 53 countries through its work and operations, over the past two decades. “We were recognized as the No. 1 medical tourism hospital in West Africa in 2018. Our boundaries continue to expand with patients coming from as far as Americas and Asia,” Prof Boachie-Adjei said.
He further touted some other achievements chalked by the FOCOS Orthopedic hospital and recounted the hospital’s trajectory in earning the international acclaim it currently enjoys as the centre for complex spine and orthopedic treatment. Finally, Prof. Boachie-Adjei appreciated the support from donors like: Svani Motors, GNPC, the Miss Ghana Foundation, Compassion International the OWASS Akatakyie Group as well as Ghanaian organizations that have supported the work of the foundation in Ghana over the years and international benefactors like the Bloomberg, the Cohen Foundations in the US, and Wayne and Claire Heyland. He also announced a soon-to-be-launched the endowment campaign via crowdfunding where individuals can commit to as little as GHC 100 annually to the work of FOCOS.
Guest of Honor for the event was renowned global business magnate, Sir Samuel Esson Jonah, who also took the stage to make an appeal to the audience. The Guest of honor praised the selfless leadership of Prof Boachie-Adjei and FOCOS in giving hope back to individuals by citing some patients who were almost incapacitated by their conditions and after the intervention of FOCOS, lived productive lives.
“Regina’s (a national handball player) knee injury threatened to end her sporting career because she could only afford 700 cedis for a surgery that was estimated to cost 23,000 cedis. Without the intervention of FOCOS, her dream would have been shuttered. In her own words: “I thought my world had come to an end after my injury but FOCOS has brought joy back into my life,” Sir Jonah said. He finally called on Ghanaian Philanthropists and organizations to support the work of FOCOS in making a difference to the lives of others.
Entertainment on the night was provided by energetic Ghanaian singer, songwriter and actress, Becca, who made a personal donation by performing pro bono at the event. The audience was also treated to a live band performance by the Hyskool band.
The event brought together several dignitaries from diverse industries notably : Ambassador Fritz-Poku, Ghana’s former Ambassador to the US and Switzerland and Board Chairman of FOCOS, Dr. Ernest Addison, Governor of Bank of Ghana, Mr. Joe Mensah, CEO of Kosmos Energy, Mr. Kofi Sekyere, CEO of Kumasi Mall, Mr. Mensah Seneadza, CEO of Suntory group, Dr. Henry Holdbrook-Smith, Orthopedic Surgeon and former CEO of the Korle-Bu teaching hospital, Mr. Steve Kyerematen, Former CEO of Activa Ghana, Alhaji Yusef Ibrahim, Mr. Yofi Grant CEO of Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC), Mr. Olu Luther-King CEO of Fine Print Ghana as well as other dignitaries. Also, two FOCOS USA board members, Yaw Asamoah Duodu and Peter Akwaboa together with their guest were in attendance.
Since 2016, FOCOS has organized its annual fundraising event on the third Saturday in May, to support needy patients requiring orthopedic surgeries. Over the past two years, Former President John Agyekum Kufuor and CEO of the Ghana National Petroleum Commission Dr. K.K Sarpong, have taken their turns as guests of honor in 2017 and 2018, respectively. Guests will not want to miss an evening of celebration and giving in the 2020 edition.