A philanthropist and entrepreneur, Mark Freeman, has presented assorted food items and others valued at thousands of Ghana Cedis and a cheque of Five Thousand Ghana Cedis (Ghc 5000) to the Assurance of Hope for the Needy Children’s Home at Teshie in the Greater Accra region. This is to mark his 50th birthday (golden jubilee).
The money and food items which include bags of rice, frozen chicken, gallons of cooking oil, cartons of tin tomatoes, toiletries, hand sanitizers and detergents a large chest deep freezer, among others were to help alleviate the plight and improve the living conditions of the children who have become orphans for various reasons.
In an interview with Ghananewsonline.com.gh at the presentation cum colourful birthday party held at the premises of the children’s home, Mark Freeman who is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Atani Clearing Services – a shipping and frieght forwarding company, and also into logistics, farming and the manufacture of both alcoholic and non alcoholic beverages, said as a natural giver his motivation stems from the fact that he feels blessed and happy any time he gives and believes that giving to the less fortunate is a divine call upon his life.
“I don’t give because I have, but because I know what it means to be in want. As God gives us in abundance we must also give to the less fortunate in society,” he said.
Freeman was grateful to God almighty for seeing him through the last fifty years and prayed for His guidance and protection even in the coming years.
Founder and Manager of the home, Rev. Enoch Yartey-Quaye Mensah, in receiving the donations on behalf of the children, praised the celebrant and expressed his heartfelt gratitude for the donations which he described as “very timely”. He assured Mark Freeman and his team that he would make sure the items and money are used judiciously, adding that he and the children have never seen this “show of kindness” since the establishment of the home some 17 years ago.
Rev.Yartey-Quaye Mensah said he came up with the idea of a home for orphans and abandoned children in 2004, as an answer to a call from God in his teenage years in school. He said the premises for the home were aquired from his own savings and the operational cost of running the home since it’s establishment has been born by himself and his wife.
He said although it is difficult sometimes they always trust God to provide for them and God has never failed them.
He used the opportunity to call on other benevolent and well meaning individuals to follow the footsteps of Mark Freeman and also support the Children’s Home so as to continue to give hope and a life to the children.
The colourful ceremony was also graced by a former deputy health minister who is also the immediate past Honourable Member of Parliament (MP) for the Ledzokuku constituency, Bernard Okoe Boye, as well as some family, friends and former school mates of the celebrant. They all ate and drank with the children as a show of love and kindness and love.
Former mates of the celebrant from Achimota school made a cash donation of one thousand Ghana Cedis (1000) while old students of Mfantsipim boys Senior High school presented a cheque of two thousand Ghana Cedis (2000) to the home, all in a bid to better the lot of the children.
By Nelson Ayivor || ghananewsonline.com.gh