.png)
education attainment
The Onwunaka Foundation celebrates the industry of education. It encourages learning and growing in understanding in order to reinvest knowledge into one’s community. Our education program carries out a series of projects including:
Through an application process, we offer scholarships to recent high school graduates and current college students to help pay for their tuition and room and board. The Onwunaka Foundation pays directly towards the tuition or room and board to ensure funds are properly allocated.
We welcome guest educators to teach various classes and open the minds of students to various applications of the subjects that they are learning. Our guest educators also provide new teaching styles that local educators can learn from and apply in their own classes. Furthermore, guest educators are able to learn from local educators about how they find success in teaching scholars.
We offer grants to local elementary and high schools to help with supplies that they may need. This includes but is not limited to desks, textbooks, lighting, and gardens.
We offer school supply drives for scholars to gain access to pencils, notebooks, bookbags, and more. These supplies allow scholars to feel more confident in retaining the knowledge being passed to them.
We invite you to donate to this cause to help us achieve stated goals.
a brief introduction
.png)
The Onwunaka family came to the United States to find opportunities for improved education and economics. After seeing their children earn nine degrees between their three children, they understood that this achievement should not be rare but rather more common. The Onwunaka family consistently supported various families in local Nigerian villages and were able so see other children earn degrees and improve their familial situation. However, the need became greater due to various economic instabilities, infrastructure deficits, and lack of proper educational resources.
With a clear purpose to help transform local communities in Nigeria, the Onwunaka family commits their talents and resources to train and support people, businesses, and organizations to build a future that is fruitful for the community. By forming their 501c(3) non-profit, this foundation acts as a responsibility by members of the Onwunaka family that they are to serve selflessly and sustainably.
About Us
Mission Statement
The mission of The Onwunaka Foundation is to design a brighter future for low income communities in Nigeria first focusing on places in Imo state. Designing this future comes through investment in education, investment into small businesses or startups (business development), investment in infrastructure development, and investment in people to help strengthen their economic health and sense of community.
Vision Statement
The vision of The Onwunaka Foundation is to foster communities where modern infrastructure, high educational attainment, robust economic strength, and a strong sense of community thrive. The Onwunaka Foundation aims to elevate lives without isolation, ensuring safety and security through economic stability and establishing and promoting a culture of mutual trust.
SEEDS THAT BEAR FRUIT
Our Seeds
The Onwunaka Foundation sees itself as a seed that is planted into the community in hopes of bearing fruit.
Trust
Trust from the community must be earned. The Onwunaka Foundation takes this to heart and works to form trusting relationships via transparency, support, and listening to the needs of those we serve.
Hope
Hope is vital to grow into new heights that haven't been seen. The Onwunaka Foundation reminds itself to be hopeful in the work that we do and to instill hope into those that we serve. Hope must be supported through diligent planning and execution to keep hope alive.
Excellence
The Onwunaka Foundation believes that service absent of dignity is demeaning. Thus, everyone we serve deserves our best effort. We also believe that excellence in execution opens up the mind of those we serve to the possibilities that are at their grasp.
Programs of the Foundation
Economic EMPOWERMENT
The Onwunaka Foundation understands the value of meeting basic needs in order to envision a brighter future. By improving economically, we value the lives seen and unseen that will be nourished by strong economic foundations and growth. Our economic empowerment program carries out a series of projects including:
We will conduct yearly awards programs to celebrate various business leaders and employees of businesses that continue to push communities forward and provide the stability needed for a healthy society. Celebrating Business Man of the Year, Business Woman of the Year, Community Business of the Year, and Business Consistency Champion to name a few. These awards will continue to encourage people to continue striving in their businesses for the long haul.
Business Audits will be a free service to help look at the economic outlook of a business by understanding their costs, revenues, market opportunities, partnership opportunities, and more. This will give a guiding light to business owners to make them stronger, help them grow, and establish more stability.
Business Grants will offer aspiring business owners and current business owners to access capital for growth. By going through our application and vetting process, business owners are able to pitch why they need the grant, what it would be used for, and the expected results after applying the grant funds to the business. By utilizing our template, this process will encourage business owners to make plans for the future whether they are approved for the grant or not. Business owners who are approved for the grant, will have to commit to having The Onwunaka Foundation as silent partners. This entails offering complete access to business functions, weekly meetings to provide updates, and asking for help (outside of money) that can help further the goals of the business. The Onwunaka Foundation doesn't solely provide money but we provide the support necessary to better ensure success.
By offering various events, we will bring different businesses under the same roof to network, connect, and form potential partnerships that can help strengthen their businesses. These networking events will also include business training such as financial literacy to help strengthen business skills.
We will launch a digital publication that celebrates different aspects of the communities that we serve. This publication will tell stories of different community leaders, businesses, and groups that are carrying out the ideals of trust, hope, and excellence.
We invite you to donate to this cause to help us achieve stated goals.
Infrastructure Development
The Onwunaka Foundation aims to improve the infrastructure of local communities. Our projects focus on sustainable development that will evolve as the community advances. Some of our projects are:
Whether we are erecting new buildings or improving upon existing structures, The Onwunaka Foundation uses locally sourced materials, local talent, renewable energy sources, and community partnerships to build structures that are easy to maintain and meet multiple needs for members of the community.
Energy access is vital for connectivity, productivity, and efficiency. It also helps with health, education, and business needs. Thus, The Onwuanka Foundation installs sustainable energy products such as solar panels and solar charging stations to help people access clean renewable energy.
Roads are vital for safe transportation of people, goods, and services. Our road projects will make commute easier and more sustainable for people as well as encourage business growth.
We invite you to donate to this cause to help us achieve stated goals.
Meet the Board
The Board of The Onwunaka Foundation is comprised of five members of the Onwunaka family. These members came together with the common vision of serving their home country in a formal and organized process. This foundation is not charity, its their calling. Now, the Onwunaka family will forever be associated with the heart of service.
Chairman
Chibueze Onwunaka, EdD
The Chairman supervises and conducts all activities and operations of the Foundation, with advice and consent from the Board of Directors. The Chairman keeps the Board of Directors informed, freely consults with them in relation to all activities of the Foundation, and sees that all orders and/or resolutions of the Board are carried out to the effect intent.
Secreteary
Emmanuel Onwunaka
The Secretary is the custodian of all records and documents of the Foundation, which are required to be kept at the principal office of the Foundation and secured digitally. The Secretary shall act as secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors, and shall keep the minutes of all such meetings on file in hard copy or electronic format and distribute meeting minutes to the Board.
Community Engagement OFficer
Stella Onwunaka, RN
The Chief Community Officer is tasked with learning from the community the various needs they may have. They are also responsible with forming trusting relationships with members of the community to find opportunities for The Onwunaka Foundation to carry out projects with high likelihood of success.
Director of Public Relations
Marilyn Onwunaka, NP
The Director of Public Relations oversees all social media channels, helps plan and execute events, and establishes & maintains positive community relations to help share the stories of those that The Onwunaka Foundation serves and updates stakeholders on the activities of The Onwunaka Foundation.
Chief Financial Officer
Gabby Onwunaka, MS
The Chief Financial Officer is responsible for ensuring that the financial commitments of the foundation are carried out as stated, ensures that all donations are utilized for stated purposes, and provides financial updates to the board and the public. Financial transparency is at the forefront of this role to ensure that trust is earned and kept.