OUR STORY
Akwasi’s Olympic journey was successful because of the support of his wife, Erica, and because he persevered with unyielding dedication to the promise he made to his Grandma Minka as a child: “I Will Never Give Up.”
The Frimpongs realized the powerful impact Akwasi’s journey had on people in Africa and around the globe. He was the hope of a billion people worldwide.
Erica and Akwasi founded the Hope Of A Billion Foundation (HOAB) in 2022 with the goal to encourage, engage, and empower a billion lives in underserved communities around the world through sport, business, and educational opportunities.
The Frimpongs, and those who have partnered with them to bring HOAB’s programs to the world, believe anything is possible with resilience, determination, and hard work.
OUR MISSION
WHO WE ARE
Erica brings more than a decade of management and leadership experience to HOAB. Her experience helping her husband, Akwasi, set up the Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation of Ghana and supporting his Olympic goals, gave her the understanding of what it takes to build something from the ground up. She hopes to inspire all children to think for themselves and understand they can do anything if they work for it.
Erica Frimpong
Akwasi made history in the 2018 Winter Olympic Games when he became Ghana’s first skeleton Olympian and Africa’s first black male skeleton Olympic athlete. He is an entrepreneur, motivational speaker and brand ambassador for multiple companies. He co-founded the Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation of Ghana in 2016, and with the Hope of a Billion Foundation he hopes to motivate underdogs around the world to chase their dreams.
Akwasi Frimpong
M. Brent Willis served the flying community for 25 years as an Air Traffic Controller before acquiring hotels in 2002 and 2009 with his wife, Naomi, to house homeless in Salt Lake City, Utah. They created A Tall Order Foundation, a non-profit 501c3, in 2015 to continue to expand housing and services to the homeless community. Brent and Naomi are passionate about serving the underserved throughout the world.
Brent Willis
Richard’s films have been released on Eurosport, BBC, and the National Geographic Channel. He wrote and directed the award-winning On running short film Black Ice about Akwasi Frimpong’s life.
Richard Bullock
Joseph is an associate with Parsons Behle & Latimer. He represents clients on topics that include securities enforcement, regulatory, defense litigation, white collar crime, government and independent investigations.
Joseph Watkins
Delphine brings a wealth of international experience in the public, private, and NGO domain. She is the Managing Director of the French Chamber of Commerce in Ghana.
Delphine Adenot-Owusu
A former Global VP at Nike, Danny has partnered with many of the world’s most iconic sports clubs, athletes, and cultural influencers. He helped co-found the HOAB name.
Daniel Tawiah
Brian manages global communications and events at Wavestone, a C-Suite consulting company. Brian brings valuable nonprofit experience from his work with Right To Play and Athlete Ally.
Brian Healey
Norman is the President and CEO of the Noorda College of Osteopathic Medicine. He previously was the Dean of the Woodbury School of Business at Utah Valley University.
Norman Wright
Jasmine is an Ameri-Ghanaian artist, educator, scholar, entrepreneur, civil rights activist, and founder of the nonprofit, Tough Skin. She is also a master printer in historical photographic printing processes.
Jasmine Abena Colgan
Amy is the Director of Client Success at a mobile app company, and brings 10+ years of experience in marketing and partner relations to the HOAB team.
Amy Villarreal
Ahmed lives and works in the Netherlands as an advisor to various government institutions and companies in the fields of human rights, democracy, infrastructure and scientific research.
Ahmed Ben Yerrou
Peter founded the Johan Cruyff College in the Netherlands where Akwasi Frimpong was a student. After 18 years, Johan Cruyff College has expanded to 4 branches.