In an incredibly gracious gesture, Paul Njoroge — who lost his wife, three children and mother-in-law in the Ethiopian Airlines plane crash two years ago today — has facilitated a donation of more than $440,000 to Bermuda charities in appreciation for the outpouring of support he received from the people of Bermuda.
The Ethiopian Airlines jet crashed shortly after take-off on March 10, 2019, tragically killing all 157 people on board. Mr Njoroge, who worked at Butterfield Wealth Management, lost his wife Caroline Karanja, 7-year-old son Ryan Njoroge Njuguna, 4-year-old daughter Kerry Paul Wanjiku Njuguna, 7-month-old daughter Rubi Wangui Njuguna, and his mother-in-law Ann Wangui Karanja.
“When I lost my family, there was an immediate outpouring of support to me, much from people I did not even know,” Mr Njoroge said today, adding that this donation is made “with that same spirit, in the name of my beloved departed family.”
A spokesperson said, “Jumuiya Ya Afrika, a charity of the African community in Bermuda which promotes African culture and heritage in Bermuda through shared opportunities and mutual linkages, is pleased to have facilitated donations to two local charities through one of its members.
“It is exactly two years today when Paul Njoroge, a Kenyan national who was resident in Bermuda and working at the Bank of Butterfield tragically lost his family in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 plane crash.
“Continuing to feel a strong tie to Bermuda, Paul asked Jumuiya Ya Afrika to recommend local charities to benefit from a charitable donation Boeing Community Investment Fund [BCIF] had made available to him.
“Following Mr Njoroge’s wishes, Jumuiya Ya Afrika suggested two local charities; SCARS [Saving Children and Revealing Secrets] and the Family Centre to be the beneficiaries and contacted them with details on how to apply for the donation.
“We are happy to announce that both SCARS and the Family Centre met the criteria set out by…