U-GO at the Financial Times

By: Iris Crampton, Student Volunteer, United Kingdom

On October 23rd, 2024, the Financial Times' new global headquarters welcomed U-GO for our third London fundraiser, attracting longtime supporters and many newcomers inspired by our mission.

The event aimed to raise awareness of U-GO in the UK and broaden its community of London-based support.

Saboteur, the London-based branding agency, also used the occasion to unveil U-GO’s new branding.

U-GO welcomed more than 100 people, including early supporter Andrew Balls.‘U-GO makes the impact of donations tangible, so that donors know where the money goes,’ he said. ‘The efficiency of U-GO means that one hundred percent of the money donated goes directly to scholarships.’

There were also many exposed to U-GO for the first time.

‘I have not attended any U-GO events yet, but look forward to learning tonight,’ said Marshall Manson. ‘I do know that education at a national level has a direct and measurable impact on almost every one of the sustainable development goals.’

The four members of the Saboteur team were excited to see their pro-bono branding work come to life.

‘A woman’s education is the most impactful investment,’ said Francisca Posada-Baynham of the Saboteur team. ‘Women give back to their communities which benefits everyone and it is an amazing cause.’

The formal program began with John Ridding, the FT CEO’s, warm welcome and full-throated endorsement of U-GO. Having worked with John Wood from the early days of Room to Read, Ridding expects even greater impact and success from U-GO.

Jancis Robinson, the esteemed wine columnist, described John Wood as an inspirational ‘powerhouse’ even from his first Hong Kong gala in 2003. Robinson recounted a conversation in the hotel lift the morning after. ‘Did you mean to give last night? No. Did you mean to give last night? No.’ echoed around the lift, Robinson said. ‘Did you give? Yes. Everyone did!’

John Wood took the stage offering the latest update on U-GO’s growing momentum and increasing impact. Highlights included introducing partners from Pakistan’s DIL program who were in the room and explaining how every donation goes directly to scholarship because the overhead is fully paid for by board members.

To conclude his talk, what John has rightfully called the ‘Tears of Joy’ video showed the live reactions of girls worldwide when they were told that they had been accepted into the U-GO program. The moving tear-filled emotions of the girls emphasized the real-world impact of the program and how it changes lives. The formerly rowdy audience watched the video in total silence and several appeared to wipe away real tears.

Building on the momentum of support and interest sparked by the event the UK board plans to further events in the next year.