Ismaili News

Submitted by PartnershipsInAction Georgia
Tuesday, 20 October 2009
Over 8,000 are expected to participate in the Atlanta Partnership Walk/Run to demonstrate their support for ending global poverty. Partnership Walk, now in its 15th year, is an event held annually in major cities across the U.S. The Walk is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. (AKF USA) to raise awareness and funds to alleviate global poverty and promote partnership between America and the developing world. Nationwide, over 30,000 are expected to participate in the Walk in nine cities, including Birmingham, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Memphis, Orlando and San Francisco.

The Walk/Run will bring together families, friends, students and leaders in government, business, media and the arts for a day of learning activities, fundraising and culturally diverse performances. 100% of funds raised at Partnership Walk go directly to the projects supported by the Foundation. The cost of organizing the Walk/Run is completely underwritten by AKF USA and in-kind contributors. No contributions are used for administrative costs. Since 1995, PartnershipsInAction events have attracted over 280,000 participants, raising $32 million.

The 2009 Atlanta Partnership Walk/Run will be held on Sunday, October 25 at Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta. In addition to the traditional 1K Walk, which starts at 11:30 a.m., Partnership Walk/Run will feature its first ever 5K Run/Walk, 1K Run for children ages 7-13 and 100 Yards Run for children 6 and under, beginning at 8:00 a.m. See the website for schedule details. Participants will walk or run to demonstrate their support for ending global poverty.

The event will feature celebrities and distinguished guests, along with entertainment celebrating the diversity of world cultures. Distinguished guests attending the event include Dikembe Motumbo, Chair and President of Dikembe Motumbo Foundation and NBA All-Star of the Houston Rockets. The lively stage program will be hosted by media celebrities Suchita Vadlamani and Mark Hayes, co-hosts of "Good Day Atlanta."

Among the other dignitaries participating are:

Jerry Oberholtzer, Mayor of Snellville
Melvin Everson, Georgia State Representative
Gwen Desselle, Georgia State Teacher of the Year
The 2009 theme for the Walk, "Education - The Universal Bridge" highlights the impact of Aga Khan Foundation's educational activities. Serving as a bridge to help individuals and communities build more productive, fulfilling and dignified lives, the Foundation's educational activities span across a broad range of initiatives to help people in Asia and Africa reach their full potential, covering early childhood development, primary and secondary school improvement, and skills and management training for professionals, entrepreneurs and community members.

Aga Khan Foundation's education programs bring to light the power of partnerships and reflect the Foundation's enduring commitment to education. For over a quarter century, Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A. has worked in the developing world in the areas of health, education, rural development, civil society and the environment. These efforts equip people with life-long skills to overcome poverty and embrace the time-tested principle of helping people to help themselves.

One of the most inspiring features of Partnership Walk is the Village in Action, where participants can enjoy interactive displays and hands-on exhibits that spotlight how the Foundation is implementing creative solutions in poor regions from Afghanistan to Zanzibar with projects that promote quality education and health care, expand microcredit opportunities and improve incomes and agricultural productivity. Volunteers will guide participants through interactive exhibits to introduce the innovative ways that Aga Khan Foundation is alleviating hunger, disease and illiteracy.

AKF USA, established in 1981, is a private, non-denominational, non-profit international development organization committed to alleviating poverty, hunger, disease and illiteracy. AKF USA is part of the Aga Khan Development Network (www.akdn.org), a network of private, non-denominational, development agencies around the world, established by His Highness the Aga Khan to empower communities and individuals, often in disadvantaged circumstances, improve living conditions and opportunities. The overarching goal of the Network's programs is to help poor communities achieve a level of self-reliance whereby they are able to plan their own futures. The Foundation presently supports over 100 programs in 18 countries for the common good of all citizens regardless of their gender, origin or religion. The geographic focus of the Foundation's development programs is in East Africa and South and Central Asia.

Visit www.PartnershipsInAction.org/walk.

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