How the Colorado-Ghana Children's Fund Began

In 2003, a committed group of business and community leaders in Colorado created this non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization in order to make a difference in the lives of street children in Ghana, thereby enabling them to build a better future for themselves and their nation.  The program is administered in Ghana by Edwin Vanotoo, its founder and a Ghanaian native, who also is now a U.S. citizen.  He returned to Ghana to live after graduating from the University of Denver, where he established his own private company in Takoradi. 

However, he also had a vision to help the poorest children in his native country and discussed this project with Dennis Chrisbaum, a Colorado businessman who served as Edwin's mentor while he lived in Colorado.  Together they established this project which successfully links Edwin's adopted country (and state) to the needs of Ghana and its children.  Edwin and his wife, a physician, and other volunteers in Ghana have worked together with volunteers in Colorado to make his vision a reality.  With few administrative costs in U.S., the Colorado-Ghana Children's Fund delivers a highly efficient and cost-effective program currently impacting the lives of 35 children in Ghana. 

With additional support from the American public, we hope to increase the number of children we can send to school in the future.  Please join use in making a positive difference in the life of a child, a family, a community. 

 2007 Board of Directors

Samuel R. Batey, Ph.D., The Batey Group

Barbara L. Batey, Ph.D., The Batey Group

Dennis R. Chrisbaum, Export Assistance Center

Nancy C. Chrisbaum, Filmmaker and Writer

Gillian Conte, The Creative Spirit, Graphic Artist

George De Roos, Retired Government Attorney

Emmanuel Eliason, World Gospel Tabernacle

Karen A. Gerwitz, Colorado State Board of Education

Derick Glymin, Cowry Enterprises, Ltd.

Rosalind "Bee" Harris, Publisher, Denver Urban Spectrum

David Hopkins, Ph.D., University of Denver, Daniels College of Business

Herman Malone, RMES Communications

Edwin Vanotoo, Business Executive, Ghana

Judy Walden, Walden-Mills Group