Fort Bend Turns Out to End Global Poverty By Zeenat Kassam Mitha
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entertainment, dances and cuisine all celebrating a rich diort Bend residents made up a large part of the 7,000 versity of cultures. One of the most inspiring features of the participants that demonstrated their commitment to Partnership Walk was the Village in Action, where attendees end global poverty in the annual Partnership Walk on enjoyed interactive exhibits spotlighting the Foundation’s Saturday, November 2nd. This year, the Partnership Walk practical solutions for alleviating poverty in various counwas held at Sam Houston Park, and Sugar Land Counciltries. The festivities began with The National Anthem, sung woman Amy Mitchell partnered with Channel 13’s Sharron by Sugar Land’s Chloe Choudhury. Melton to emcee the event. Partnership Walk events were held in 10 major U.S. citThe Partnership Walk is an initiative of Aga Khan Founies this year. Since 1995, Partnerships In Action activities, dation USA (AKF USA) to raise awareness and funds that including the annual Partnership Walk and golf events, have reduce poverty, hunger, illiteracy and poor health in Africa attracted over 410,000 participants and raised $54 million and Asia. for poverty alleviation projects supported by AKF USA. ParThe November event raised over $1.4 million for AKF ticipants help communities in some of the poorest areas of USA programs worldwide. One of the most admirable qualiAfrica and Asia to create long-term, self-help solutions to lift ties of the Walk is that 100% of the funds raised go directly to themselves out of poverty. These contributions make a treprojects supported by the Foundation, and not a cent is spent mendous impact in creating opportunities for farmers in Mali on administration. to feed their families, mothers in India to lead healthy lives, Special guests and keynote speakers included the Honand girls in many countries in Africa and Asia to go to school. orable Annise Parker, Mayor of Houston; First Lady Kathy AKF USA, established in Hubbard; the Honorable Marty 1981, is part of the Aga Khan McVey, Member of the U.S. Development Network (www. Agency for International Develakdn.org), a private, non-denomopment’s Board for International inational, not-for-profit internaFood and Agricultural Developtional, development organizament and President of McVey tion committed to alleviating & Co. Investments, LLC; Sujiro poverty, hunger, illiteracy and Seam, Consul General of France; poor health. AKF USA works to Dr. William Flores, President, address the root causes of povUniversity of Houston-Downerty by supporting and sharing town; Dr. Noel Bezette-Flores, innovative solutions in the areas Co-Chair, Citizenship Month of health, education, rural develHouston; Claudia Ortega Hogue, opment, civil society and the enCo-Chair, Citizenship Month vironment. The Network’s agenHouston; Terence O’Neill, Maycies work for the common good or’s Office of International Comof all citizens, regardless of their munities and Sugar Land CounSugar Land Council Member Harish Jajoo, Ashraf Ramji, University gender, origin or religion, and its cilman Harish Jajoo. of Houston Downtown President William Flores, Dr. Suleman Lalani, underlying impulse is the ethic The Partnership Walk was an Sugar Land Council Member Amy Mitchell, Houston Mayor Annise of compassion for the vulnerable all-day event of fun for the entire Parker, First Lady Kathy Hubbard, Marty McVey and Channel 13’s in society. family including fun runs, lively Sharron Melton kicked off the Partnership Walk. TO ADVERTISE: 281.690.4242 or www.fortbend
.com • December 2013
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