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Kenyan-Based Social Entrepreneur Kennedy Odede Appointed as Board Member of America’s Leading NGO

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Nairobi — Kenyan-based social entrepreneur and Founder and CEO of Shining Hope for Communities (SHOFCO) Dr. Kennedy Odede has been appointed as a board member of America’s leading NGO, the Americares.

In a statement on Tuesday, April 12, 2022, the organisation announced that Dr. Odede will serve as a member of its Board of Directors for a three-year term.

The renowned community organizer will be part of the team which oversees all aspects of the health-focused relief organisation’s life-changing health programs, including its disaster response work and support for 4,000 under-resourced hospitals and health clinics worldwide.

“Kennedy’s innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, along with his dedication to serving his community and people in need around the world, is truly inspiring. He also brings a global perspective, which is incredibly important for an organization working to save lives and improve health in more than 85 countries,” Americares President and CEO Christine Squires stated.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Odede expressed his happiness to be part of the organization that is addressing health problems facing American communities.

“I am proud to bring my knowledge of life on the ground to the board of Americares. Americares does vital work, addressing many of the health problems that hold communities like mine back. Together, we can work to deliver innovative solutions that transform futures. I am proud to serve and partner,” Dr. Odede said.

This is not the first time Dr. Odede is being appointed to serve in such a role, in 2014 he was appointed to serve Wesleyan University’s Board of Trustees for a three-year term that ended in 2017.

He has also received numerous awards honoring his achievements and that of SHOFCO with the latest being the 2022 Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship Innovator of the Year Award.

He has also won the prestigious UN-Habitat Scroll of Honour and the Conrad N. Hilton Humanitarian Prize.

In 2014, he was named to Forbes “30 Under 30” Top Social Entrepreneurs list. He went ahead and won the Muhammad Ali Humanitarian Award that same year.

Dr. Odede is also a member and fellow of several global initiatives and forums including Clinton Global Initiative, Obama Foundation, Aspen New Voices, UBS Global Visionary, Young Global Leader of the World Economic Forum, and the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council.

His work has been featured by President Bill Clinton, Madonna, Beyonce, and on multiple occasions by Nicholas Kristof in The New York Times and his book A Path Appears.