IndiaPost.com - Golfers take a swing to raise funds to end poverty

MINNEAPOLIS: The first Partnership Golf Tournament at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Minnesota was organized by the Midwest volunteer team of Aga Khan Foundation USA (AKF USA) The Partnership Golf Tournament in Coon Rapids, a northern suburb of Minneapolis, hosted 35 golfers and over 50 guests attended the dinner program.

Golfers had the opportunity to participate in several contests including a $10,000 Hole-in-One, most fairway hits, longest putt, closest to the pin and longest drive. Partnership Golf is an initiative of (AKF USA) to raise funds and create awareness that help communities in some of the poorest areas of Africa and Asia.

The objective is to find long-term solutions to poverty. Inspired by the tremendous success of Partnership Walk, Partnership Golf offers Americans a unique opportunity to increase awareness about international development while enjoying a day out on the green with friends and colleagues. Prior to the tournament, a luncheon was held featuring keynote speaker Iqbal Noor Ali, Chief Executive Officer of the Foundation in USA.

Explaining the mission and scope of the Foundation's work and its impact on alleviating poverty and expanding opportunities in specific parts of the developing world through innovative solutions, Noor Ali also discussed the role that corporations and individuals can play in making the world a more secure and safer place by helping to improve the well-being of marginalized communities in Africa and Asia. Attorney Todd Iliff served as master of ceremonies at the luncheon. During the evening banquet in his welcoming remarks, Iliff encouraged guests to support the work of AKF USA by helping to raise funds through their businesses and corporations and to participate in the Partnership Walk on October 14 in Chicago at Millennium Park.

Partnership Golf's sister annual event, Partnership Walk (www.partnershipwalk.org) has attracted more than 212,000 people and raised over $26 million in its 12-year history in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Los Angeles. Aziz Ajani, Chairman of the Midwest team of AKF USA made a presentation at the dinner about the impact of the Foundation's projects by sharing a few success stories, and bridging them with activities in the U.S. He explained the purpose, unique features and objectives of Partnership Walk.