The Spark of Hope Foundation is honoured to announce a transformational gift of C$100,000 from the Umedaly Family Education Foundation in support of our mission to educate and empower talented women from underserved regions of the world.
The generous donation comes from the Umedaly Family Education Foundation, established by the estate of Mossadiq Umedaly, a visionary leader who believed deeply in education, equity, and paying it forward. This gift will directly support additional scholarships, mentorship, and leadership development for exceptional women, enabling them to pursue higher education and create lasting impact in their communities.
“We were impressed and inspired by your organization and the meaningful education support for talented women, who will make important contributions to their communities. We very much like the integrity, ethic and culture of your organization. We are also impressed with your partnership development and the ongoing development and vision of your organization,” said Hamed Umedaly, on behalf of the Umedaly Family Education Foundation.
“We believe that The Spark of Hope Foundation is absolutely aligned with Mossadiq Umedaly’s principles and vision to educate future leaders so they can in turn improve their communities. Education and giving forward were in his DNA, as well as the importance of women’s education in improving families and communities. Nothing would make us happier than to see his contribution come to meaningful and sustainable fruition. We hope this is the start of a partnership with ongoing and meaningful conversations.”
Narmin Ismail, Founder and CEO of The Spark of Hope Foundation, expressed deep gratitude:
“We are profoundly touched by the Umedaly Family Education Foundation’s extraordinary gift. It is a reflection not only of generosity, but of shared values and vision. This partnership will help us continue building a global community of empowered women leaders. We are humbled and energized by this show of trust.”
About the Umedaly Family Education Foundation
Mossadiq Umedaly was a visionary entrepreneur, philanthropist, and global advisor whose life was dedicated to advancing clean energy, education, and sustainable development. Born in Uganda and later arriving in Canada as a refugee, he rose to become a respected leader in both public and private sectors.
After earning his MBA and Chartered Accountant designation, he played a pivotal early role in planning, developing and operating the Aga Khan University in Pakistan. He then helped position Canada as a cleantech pioneer, first as CFO of Ballard Power Systems and later as CEO of Xantrex, building it into the country’s largest clean technology company.
In public service, Mossadiq contributed to British Columbia’s climate leadership as Chair of BC Hydro and member of key provincial advisory councils. He was widely recognized for his impact, including receiving the Global Cleantech Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2009 and an honorary doctorate from Simon Fraser University.
Though Mossadiq achieved incredible success in his career, his modest roots were the core of who he was – ambitious, hardworking and ready to do good in the world. At his direction, the Umedaly Family Education Foundation was established to support the education of exceptional young people who may not otherwise have the opportunity to reach their full potential.
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