University of Dreams to Build Campaign Headquarters & Job Center in Ghana To Support Emmanuel Ofosu

University of Dreams CEO Eric Lochtefeld and a group of University of Dreams employees and alumni will travel to Ghana, Africa, for the company’s first volunteer humanitarian trip on August 26, 2007, to help build a job center and to establish the campaign headquarters for social activist Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah. Mr. Yeboah is a Ghanaian who was born with a severe physical challenge, who, against unimaginable odds, is affecting social and political change throughout his country and the world. Oprah Winfrey produced a documentary about his life called Emmanuel’s Gift.

In its efforts to help Emmanuel get elected, the company has collected more than $100,000 worth of products, which will be shipped to Ghana and distributed at the grand opening of Emmanuel’s campaign headquarters and job center. The center will be maintained through the December 2008 elections, with the intention of becoming a permanent center for hope beyond that date.

More than 20 Alumni and University of Dreams employees will participate in this 10-day experience to help reverse one of the largest epidemics facing Ghana – unemployment. The goal is not only to equip the unemployed citizens of Ghana with skills necessary to get a job or to start their own business, but also to connect with the members of the community and assist the Ghanaians in realizing their dreams.

“We have tremendous respect for Emmanuel and his mission,” said Lochtefeld. “I am proud of our employees’ dedication and enthusiasm to this project, and we unequivocally support Emmanuel and his intellect and vision to bring positive change to Ghana. We believe that helping Emmanuel get elected to Parliament will do more for Ghana than 100 mission trips could ever accomplish on their own.”

University of Dreams has purchased a 200-square-foot shipping container, which is being shipped to Ghana on June 1 to arrive in time for the 10-day trip. The container includes a $35,000 donation of denim clothing by Wrangler Jeans, as well as $20,000 worth of laptop computers and $5,000 of office supplies donated by University of Dreams. Additionally, the University of Dreams Foundation has purchased an assortment of basketballs, playground balls, footballs, air pumps, cones for lining fields, athletic socks, and other athletic gear for children. A Bay Area sporting goods store, the Sports Basement-Sunnyvale, has donated 150 brand new soccer balls, and St. Joseph’s of Atherton, a Northern California grammar school, has donated hundreds of athletic uniforms. Company employees are currently conducting a toy drive to fill the remainder of the container.

University of Dreams participants met Emmanuel after hearing him speak at a University of Dreams sponsored seminar. Emmanuel was born without part of his right let and overcame his disability, as well as the government of his country, to pursue his dreams. Since riding his bike across Ghana with one leg to show support for the disabled citizens of his country, Emmanuel has met the President of the United States, been interviewed by Oprah, was presented with the 2005 ESPY Arthur Ashe courage Award and has been featured in a film called Emmanuel’s Gift.

University of Dreams will set up a community center with computers to create a job center. The country has an unemployment rate over 25%.

About University of Dreams
University of Dreams is a summer internship program for college and university students. The company’s mission is to positively change culture on a mass level by inspiring, equipping, and challenging people to discover and pursue their dreams. Founded in 2000, University of Dreams has 1363 alumni to date. Some of the companies participating in the University of Dreams summer internship program include 20th Century Fox, Dockers, DreamWorks, Ericsson Inc., Time Inc., Hilton Hotels, Juicy Couture, Ketchum, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Merrill Lynch, UBS, Disney ABC, and Tommy Bahama. For more information, please visit the Web site at www.InternPrograms.com.