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2009 Highlights

Orlando • Lake Eola Park • November 15, 2009

Sunny skies and palm trees greeted 2,500 participants at Orlando’s Partnership Walk on November 15.  The enthusiasm and dedication of each Walk team was evident, with approximately $50,000 of the over $200,000 raised at the event coming from team fundraising.

Orlando’s Village in Action, called “Global Innovations,” introduced young and old to the effectiveness of Aga Khan Foundation programs in the developing world through interactive exhibits and activities.  At the Global Innovations exhibits, visitors had the opportunity to enter a traditional yurt that was used for child-centered pre-school center and test their skills at the rural development obstacle course where they learned about the water scarcity.  The bridges that were masterfully created by volunteers served as gateways to the continents of Africa, Asia and North America, where visitors partook in a variety of exhibits to learn how the Foundation is extending a helping hand to improve health, education, and livelihoods in many poor communities in the developing world.  The Mozambique exhibit was very popular with Walk attendees.  They learned how Aga Khan Foundation is helping fishing communities improve their conditions from introducing them to better fishing tools to training them in better techniques to process and market the fish they catch. 

At the opening ceremony, Florida Teacher of the Year Megan Allen further educated walkers about Aga Khan Foundation and the importance of education, aligning with the 2009 theme Education: The Universal Bridge. “We are gathered because we dream of that brighter tomorrow, realizing that disadvantaged individuals can lift themselves out of poverty, that communities can achieve self-reliance, that we can find solutions to help change the world. Positive changes are already underway...seen through the work of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A.”

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Houston • Sam Houston Park-Downtown • November 14, 2009

On November 14, the atmosphere at Sam Houston Park in Downtown Houston was energetic with some 9,500 enthusiastic participants. Large Discovery Domes defined the skyline and infused new excitement and mystery into the already popular annual Partnership Walk, which raised over $900,000 this year for Aga Khan Foundation programs that help poor communities improve their conditions and lift themselves out of poverty.

Meant to educate attendees on development problems and Aga Khan Foundation’s solutions to those problems, the Village in Action is an exciting feature at every Partnership Walk.  But Houston’s Village in Action was an outstanding focal point as visitors sought to “discover” what was inside of the Discovery Domes. After receiving a passport, walkers traveled to different stations throughout the Village, collecting a stamp from each as they toured interactive displays surrounding the domes. After receiving the designated number of stamps, a passport-holder gained entry into one of the themed Domes that focused on Aga Khan Foundation’s program areas in health, education and microfinance.  

Participants attending Partnership Walk expected to fulfill their duties as global citizens by offering their time, money and attention to important issues. However, with such inspiring educational activities and eye-grabbing performances, professionals and students alike walked away from the event with new memories of friends and family, new information about international development, and a renewed hope for the future.

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Los Angeles • Santa Monica Pier • October 25, 2009

The breeze unfurling off the Pacific Ocean greeted 3,000 participants at the 15th annual Los Angeles Partnership Walk on October 25. The Santa Monica Pier was a vibrant setting for the day’s events, and the scenic new venue rejuvenated the long-standing LA tradition. The event brought in $325,000 for Aga Khan Foundation development projects and gave thousands a better understanding of the global issues that the Foundation strives to resolve.

Aside from the scenery of majestic palms and sailboats, walkers at the event enjoyed interactive, educational Village in Action exhibits and a diverse line-up of stage performances. Famed LA Band “Naked Rhythm,” the “Bollywood Dance Group” and the Laker Girls all performed, and as a special treat, participants watched the talents of the Cirque du Soleil acrobats.  

Each speech, activity and performance at the Walk had underlying currents of cultural pluralism and hope for a world in which everyone can live with hope and opportunity. Dean James G. Ellis, USC Marshall School of Business delivered the keynote address this year, emphasizing the importance of partnerships between civil society organizations, governments and individuals. This year, the LA Walk helped strengthen partnerships with our most important supporters – individuals like you.

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Atlanta • Olympic Park • October 25, 2009

At Centennial Olympic Park in the heart of downtown Atlanta, 7,000 gathered to participate in the annual Partnership Walk on October 25th. That day, $1 million was raised to support Aga Khan Foundation’s creative solutions to development issues.

Coinciding with the growing health consciousness throughout the U.S., the Atlanta volunteer team organized its first 5K Run in conjunction with Walk day activities, with training for the race began weeks beforehand.  Youth at the event enjoyed a T-shirt design contest, a 1K Run, 100-yard dash, and a host of interactive exhibits at the Village in Action.  Each year the exhibits featured in the Village in Action highlight Aga Khan Foundation programs that help alleviate poverty in developing countries.  This year’s theme of “Education: The Universal Bridge” was

Dikembe Motumbo, Chair and President of the Dikembe Motumbo Foundation and NBA All-star of the Houston Rockets, emphasized a responsibility to help the less fortunate in his keynote address. “When you take the elevator to go up, you always got to make sure to send that elevator back down because there are people who need that same elevator you took to come up.”  The purpose of Partnership Walk is to raise awareness and funds to help others help themselves and Dikembe’s words ring true to the spirit of the only annual Walk in the U.S. focused on alleviating global poverty.

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Chicago • Montrose Harbor • October 11, 2009

On October 11 in Chicago, 2,500 people gathered beside Lake Michigan at the Montrose Harbor to support Aga Khan Foundation. The $250,000 raised at Chicago Partnership Walk will fund development projects in Asia and Africa that bring hope and opportunity to men, women and children in countries from Afghanistan to Zanzibar.

Dr. Eboo Patel, Executive Director of the Interfaith Youth Core, a member of President Obama’s Advisory Council of the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnership, and a member on the AKF USA National Committee, set the tone for the day with a motivational keynote address. “We follow in the vision of this man [His Highness the Aga Khan] who has dreamed of a world of bridges—bridges of hope, bridges of cooperation, bridges between people. We are building the arch so that other people can get to the other side… The other side is the future. The other side is a world in which five-year-olds everywhere from Afghanistan to Alaska are excited about school, a world in which nurses and doctors every where can save the lives of people who come to their hospitals, a world in which business people everywhere, whether they’re in Kabul, Karachi or Kansas, have the tools in front of them to begin their own businesses, to create a life for themselves and their families that they can be proud of, that they feel is dignified.”

Long-time supporter Illinois Secretary of State Jesse White and his spectacular Tumbling Team performed at the event, dazzling the audience with their acrobatics.  A variety of upbeat performances kept the crowd on their feet and warm throughout the day – as the temperatures dipped to the chilly 40 degree Fahrenheit in the first cold wave of the season in the “Windy City.” The diverse acts on-stage reflected different cultures, sounds and dances, demonstrating the cultural pluralism that resonates with each AKF program and event.

Families enjoyed the interactive exhibits in the Village in Action as they learned about the Foundation’s impact in Asia and Africa. Young people enjoyed making abacuses in early childhood development classes and doing math exercises in the East African school room as well as traveling through an obstacle course depicting the route that milk of the USDA-sponsored Education Dairy and Nutrition takes through Central Asia.  Walkers also learned about the Foundation’s role in combating preventable diseases from the roving mosquitoes and bacteria that circulated throughout the park and encouraged folks to visit the health clinic to “get cured.”  Displays along the Walk route to also engaged walkers in learning more about the Foundation’s work in water and sanitation, microfinance and cultural pluralism.

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Birmingham • Veteran's Park • October 3, 2009

A large turnout of 1,400 gathered to participate in Birmingham’s first annual Partnership Walk in an environment that was welcoming and intimate. Immediately upon entering the grounds, attendees were surrounded by sunshine and pine trees and showered with southern hospitality.  The strong community atmosphere was enhanced by lively performances from local groups and appearances from numerous community leaders.

The keynote speaker, Alabama Teacher of the Year Yung Kincer, was especially touched by this year’s theme, Education: The Universal Bridge. She spoke with passion about the importance of education while commending Aga Khan Foundation for its dedication to educating men, women and children in developing countries in Africa and Asia. “I really want to stress to you that education is important. Education can save lives, and education can make our world so much better.”

Inspired by Yung Kincer’s words and Aga Khan Foundation’s mission, donors and sponsors of the Birmingham Partnership Walk contributed over $310,000 to support the Foundation’s projects in developing countries.

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Memphis • H.W. Cox Park • September 27, 2009

At the first annual Partnership Walk in Memphis a diverse crowd of 1,000 students, professionals, families and community leaders gathered at Cox Park in Collierville, Tennessee and raised $317,000 for Aga Khan Foundation programs.  Much of the crowd participating at the event came from schools, universities and local community groups who were just beginning to learn about the work of the Foundation.

Known as the home of music stars like Johnny Cash and Elvis Presley, Memphis was destined to deliver exceptional entertainment – from on-stage performances by cultural and student groups to an exceptional Village in Action that engaged visitors interactive and educational exhibits.  From the informative exhibit of Al Ahzar Park to the obstacle course of Milk & Hope to the challenging blind-folded rope game depicting cooperative civil society, the Village in Action offered visitors a range of activities to help them understand the importance of investing in development activities in Africa and Asia.

Mayor A.C. Wharton Jr. of Shelby County summarized an important belief driving the Foundation’s work in his motivational keynote address. “I am a firm believer that deep down inside each of us is a better person that is waiting to be born, regardless of where they live, their skin color, or where they worship. Deep down inside all of us when we give birth to that greater and better person waiting to be born – putting aside all differences – we become the strongest army that has ever set foot on the face of the earth – not by weapons, not by bombs, not by missiles, but simply by the weapons of good will of love, compassion, and understanding. That is the mightiest army of all and you are well on your way to spreading that message.”  Joining in Shelby County mayor on stage was also the mayor of Collierville, Stan Joyner as well as the former mayor, who has been very supportive of PartnershipsInAction activities over the years. 

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San Francisco • West Bluff Amphitheater • September 27, 2009

San Francisco’s first Partnership Walk led 375 participants by the scenic San Francisco Bridge and raised $85,000.  The Walk’s setting emphasized PartnershipsInAction’s central theme for 2009, Education: The Universal Bridge, which highlighted Aga Khan Foundation programs that help develop rural and impoverished areas in Asia and Africa.

During his speech at the opening ceremony, Jeff Morgan, Executive Director of the Global Heritage Fund, praised the efforts of Aga Khan Foundation. “I want to thank the Aga Khan Foundation for their leadership in building a global community and bringing people together around the world. The Foundation is working in the most dangerous, the most difficult areas to help the most disenfranchised, the most rural people that are out there today.”

Participants soon realized that just as the fog lifted over San Francisco, with the help and support from individuals like you, the dense clouds of poverty, hunger, illiteracy and disease can be lifted from the lives of men, women and children in developing countries.

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Dallas • Dallas City Hall Plaza • September 27, 2009

Alongside the stunning Dallas skyline, a crowd of over 4,500 walked in the 10th annual Dallas Partnership Walk on September 27 to show support for sustainable solutions to ending global poverty, raising approximately $550,000.  The heat from constant sunshine was eased by a cool breeze as participants enjoyed live entertainment and Village In Action exhibits that highlighted Aga Khan Foundation programs alleviating disease, illiteracy and hunger in developing areas in Africa and Asia. At the Village in Action, attendees learned about the obstacles facing development in poor communities and some of the ways that Aga Khan Foundation is bridging the gap between poverty and prosperity in those areas.

At the opening ceremony, Dr. Donald R. Bobbit, Provost and Vice President of Academics Affairs at University of Texas at Arlington, gave an inspiring keynote address discussing the vast benefits of education and our obligation to help those in need.  “As those who are more fortunate, here in the U.S., it is our responsibility to share our abundant resources. When half the world’s population lives on $2 a day, less than my morning cup of coffee, it’s the right thing to do.” Iqbal Noor Ali, Chief Executive Officer of Aga Khan Foundation U.S.A., also spoke, thanking all of the walk attendees for their dedication and determination in the fight to end global poverty. Media celebrities Bob Ray Sanders, Vice President and Associate Editor of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, and Arezow Dost, reporter, KTVT Channel 11 hosted the on-stage program brought to life by talented dancers and musicians throughout the day.

Most notable at the Walk was the large bridge constructed of wood and rope that stood as a visual reminder of this year’s Walk theme Education: The Universal Bridge. Throughout the day, walkers crossed literal and metaphorical bridges connecting them with interactive exhibits, food vendors and the opportunity to make a difference.

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