Washington, D.C. — Donation made possible through proceeds from "Africa on the Potomac: The Pan-African Inaugural Celebration of President Barack Obama"
The Corporate Council on Africa (CCA), The Embassy of the Republic of Kenya, African Diplomatic Corps, African Union, and African Professionals in Washington, D.C., will donate $35,000 to the Barack Obama Secondary School in Kogelo, Kenya, CCA announced today.
The donation, to be given in February through the United States Embassy in Nairobi, will be used to purchase books, supplies, and other needed enhancements. Event partners agreed at the offset of the event's planning process that the Senator Barack Obama Secondary School would be the most appropriate beneficiary of event proceeds. Proceeds were generated from ticket sales and corporate and personal sponsorships and donations.
"The election and inauguration of President Obama has inspired tremendous pride and hope among us and our African friends and colleagues across the globe," said CCA President and CEO Stephen Hayes. "On January 20, we celebrated this moment in history, and as a result can make this gesture of support to the Barack Obama Secondary School. Our hope is that the proceeds will help communicate to these Kenyan schoolchildren that, through education and hard work, anything is possible."
Built on land donated by President Obama's paternal grandfather and formerly named the Kogelo School, the school was renamed Senator Barack Obama Secondary School in 2006. The then-Illinois senator visited the school in 2006.
Kogelo, located in western Kenya, is the ancestral village of U.S. President Barack Obama. His Kenyan grandmother and other members of his Kenyan father's family still reside in Kogelo.
In celebration of the African heritage, election and swearing-in of President Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States of America, "Africa on the Potomac: The Pan-African Inaugural Celebration of President Barack Obama", was held on January 20, 2009, at the Crystal Gateway Marriott in Arlington, Virginia. The event was emceed by former CBS news anchor and senior vice president of The Hawthorn Group, Angela Rae, and former NBC news anchor and co-founder and CEO of The Africa Channel, James Makawa. It was a sold out black-tie affair of 1,000 friends of Africa, including members of President Obama's Kenya-based family; Academy Award-winning actor Robert DeNiro and his family; Kenya's minister for foreign affairs Moses Wetang'ula; African Union deputy chairperson Erastus J.O. Mwencha; Kenya ambassador to the U.S. Peter N.R.O. Ogego and other African ambassadors to the U.S.; and private and public sector leaders from the U.S. and Africa. Guests enjoyed performances by the Boys Choir of Kenya, Voices of South Africa, and renowned Congolese recording artist Samba Mapangala.
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Established in 1993, The Corporate Council on Africa is a nonpartisan 501 (c) (3) membership organization of nearly 200 U.S. companies dedicated to strengthening the commercial relationship between the U.S. and Africa. CCA members represent nearly 85 percent of total U.S. private sector investments in Africa. The organization is dedicated to bringing together potential business partners and to showcase business opportunities on the continent.
