Golf legend Betsy King and LPGA Star Lorena Ochoa help raise more than $130,000 for African children: Next stop, Kilimanjaro

Seattle, September 23, 2008—At a weekend fundraiser at the Pine Canyon Club in Flagstaff, Arizona, LPGA legend Betsy King and her non-profit organization, Golf Fore Africa raised more than $130,000 to present to World Vision, the international Christian relief and development organization. The money was raised by the Flagstaff golf community and members of the Pine Canyon Club and will go toward helping children and families in need in Lesotho (housing for AIDS orphans) and Rwanda (a new medical clinic) in Africa. These funds will help provide clean water, agricultural support, education and basic health care to vulnerable children and families.

There was a golf clinic Sunday and on Monday amateur Flagstaff-area golfers played nine holes with Betsy King and nine holes with Lorena Ochoa.

In December, Betsy King will return to Africa to raise money and public awareness of the plight of more than 12 million children orphaned by AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Part of the effort will be a fundraising climb of Mount Kilimanjaro, Africa’s highest mountain. In January, 2009, after reaching the summit of the 19,000-foot peak, King hopes to join with other LPGA stars, World Vision and Habitat for Humanity in building homes for children orphaned by AIDS in Lesotho, in southern Africa. A trip to Rwanda is planned as well.

Golf Fore Africa is now involved with two new fundraising projects — totaling a half-million dollars. The first project, involving many LPGA players, is building a medical clinic in Rwanda that will provide basic health care, treat malaria and distribute ARV drugs to help those suffering with AIDS. The second project, in Lesotho, in Southern Africa, is a partnership with World Vision and Habitat for Humanity to build houses for children who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS.

Golf Fore Africa: Linking your passion for golf to compassion for children www.golfforeafrica.org

Contact:

Golf Fore Africa / Betsy King & Debbie Quesada 480-284-5818 (Betsy is available for interviews)
World Vision media: John Yeager 253-815-2356 (office) 425-765-9845 (cell)

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World Vision is a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to working with children, families and their communities worldwide to reach their full potential by tackling the causes of poverty and injustice. We serve all people, regardless of religion, race, ethnicity, or gender. For more information, please visit www.worldvision.org/press.