Walk to End Global Poverty at Los Angeles PartnershipsInAction Walk

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, November 13, 2011. Today, over 2,200 walked to end global poverty in the 17th annual Partnership Walk at Santa Monica Pier. The Los Angeles Partnership Walk is an initiative of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A (AKF USA) to raise awareness and funds that reduce poverty, hunger, illiteracy and poor health in Africa and Asia.

 

Los Angeles’s 2011 Walk raised over $400,000. 100% of the funds raised at Partnership Walk go directly to projects sponsored by the Foundation; not a cent is spent on administration.


One of the most inspiring features of Partnership Walk was the Village in Action, where participants enjoyed interactive displays and hands-on exhibits that spotlighted how the Foundation is implementing creative solutions in poor regions from micro-hydro power plants in Pakistan to roof rainwater harvesting structures in India to a campaign in Kenya to plant 10 million trees by next year.


The Walk attracted many high-profile guests and civic leaders including keynote speaker Matt Petersen, President and CEO of Global Green, who said, “I’ve been so impressed with everybody at the Aga Khan Foundation.”  Speaking about the Village in Action that showcased examples of roof water harvesting, hatch windows and hydroelectric power, Petersen commented that these were the kind of solutions the world needs to see in action.


Reshma Dordi, hostess for Showbiz India, and actors Rupak Ginn and Anisha Nagarajan hosted the event. Guest speakers included Richard Bloom, Mayor of Santa Monica; Dr. Franklin D. Gilliam, Jr., Dean of UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs; and Bobby Shriver, Council Member, City of Santa Monica.

 

Read the entire press release here.