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SALT LAKE CITY — A University of Utah student has been nominated for CNN's 2023 Hero of the Year award, and he needs the public's help.
Osei Boateng, 28, grew up in Ghana, coming to America when he was 19 to attend Cornell University and now the University of Utah. Over his lifetime, he lost his grandmother and his aunt because of their lack of access to medical facilities in Ghana, and Boateng knew he wanted to protect others from the same fate.
Thus, in 2022, the OKB Hope Foundation was born — a medical van that travels to remote villages in Ghana to provide health care, vaccinations and medication. Boateng has been nominated for CNN's 2023 Hero of the Year award for his foundation's work.
"I was shocked, I was surprised, I was excited — everything at the same time, because for us, this is a huge deal. It gives us the platform to share our story, get the support that we need, and also make sure that we get the care to the people that need it the most," Boateng said about his nomination.
While many can be nominated for the Hero of the Year award, CNN whittles the list down to 10 finalists, and puts it up to the public to vote for who wins the $100,000 prize to put toward their humanitarian work.
While the OKB Hope Foundation currently only has one van traveling in Ghana, Boateng hopes to use the $100,000 to get more medical vans for not only Ghana, but other African countries as well.
The single van has already helped 50 communities and over 4,000 people, according to Boateng. "When one van has been able to go to 50 communities, imagine having three or four vans that are operating at the same time — the impact that can make," he said.
To support Boateng, viewers can vote up to 10 votes daily at CNN's Hero of the Year website. The votes can be split up among contestants or all put toward one person. The public can vote every day until Dec. 5, and the winner will be announced on CNN on Dec. 10 at 6 p.m. MST.
To learn more about the OKB Hope Foundation, visit the foundation's website.
Boateng has received a bachelor's degree in biology and a master's in health care administration from Cornell. He is currently working toward a master's in business creation at the University of Utah while residing in New Jersey.
