Raritan Valley Community College graduate Osei Boateng, of Somerset, has been selected as one of the Top 10 CNN Hero of the Year finalists for his international humanitarian service.
The CNN Hero of the Year winner will be chosen by the public via online voting and receive a $100,000 prize to continue their humanitarian work.
Boateng, a native of Ghana, is the founder and chief executive officer of OKB Hope Foundation, a nonprofit organization committed to bringing healthcare to the doorsteps of rural and underserved communities in Ghana using a mobile medical unit. The unit is equipped with medical equipment and supplies, medications, two traveling doctors, a nurse, and a lab technician.
Since the organization’s inception, it has provided direct medical care to over 4,000 individuals across 52 rural communities. Additionally, through its mental health initiative, the OKB Hope Foundation has provided mental health support and resources to over 3,000 students at six high schools in Ghana.
Boateng is a healthcare professional with over five years of experience in hospital administration and operations. He has worked at New York Presbyterian Hospital and for the Henry Ford Health System.
He graduated from RVCC in 2016 with an associate degree in Science and Mathematics – Pre-Medical Professional. He then transferred to Cornell University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science in Human Biology and Society, with minors in Business and Gerontology, and a master’s degree in healthcare administration. Boateng is now working on a Master of Business Creation from The University of Utah.
To read about all the CNN hero finalists and cast votes, go here. Voting will be open through Dec. 5. The winning 2023 CNN Hero will be revealed during a live broadcast, “CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute,” on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.
