India Post News Service

CHICAGO: Over 3,800 people participated in the Chicago Partnership Walk last week walking over BP Bridge to Lake Shore Drive and back to Millennium Park, an event held annually in five major cities across the U.S. to raise awareness and funds to alleviate global poverty. Seventy teams from corporations, universities, schools and community groups registered for the Walk to take a step to end global poverty. Nationwide, over 12,500 participated as Partnership Walk was also held in Dallas and Los Angeles.

The Atlanta and Houston Partnership Walks are scheduled for Saturday, November 10, 2007.Partnership Walk is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation USA (AKF USA) and organized by its network of volunteers in communities across America. 100 percent of the funds raised at Partnership Walk go directly to the projects supported by the Foundation.

The cost of organizing the Walk is completely underwritten by AKF USA and in-kind contributors. No contributions are used for administrative costs. Over the past 11 years, 212,000 have participated in Partnership Walk across the US raising over $26 million.Walkers participated in an exciting and engaging learning adventure by taking part in hands-on exhibits designed to make visitors feel they are traveling to different countries in the developing world. Participants not only learn about the difficult circumstances in developing countries, they get to experience different cultures from around the world.

The two mile Walk was enlivened with the Jesse White Tumblers giving an electrifying performance, as they have each year since Partnership Walk began in Chicago in 2002. Serving as masters of ceremonies were Judie Garcia, WGN-TV news anchor, Dr. Sandy Goldberg NBC5-TV contributor and consultant, and Bill Moller, WGN radio host.

A stage program of music, dance and performances throughout the day engaged participants (at the Millennium Park's Jay Pritzker Pavilion) in a multicultural celebration of world cultures.