Sponsor Wire

All For Africa
(New York)

Special Evening of Boxing, Music & Charity to Support All For Africa's Palm Out Poverty Campaign in New York City

19 September 2008

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SPONSOR WIRE

New York — Inaugural 'Knock Out Poverty' event hosted by BET's Jeff Johnson to feature special musical performance by Youssou N' dour, celebrity guests Jeffrey Wright of "Casino Royale," Gbenga Akinnagbe of HBO's"The Wire," Unicef ambassador Angelique Kidjo, former Miss Universe Mpule Kwelagobe & African heads of state September 23 at Hammerstein ballroom in New York.

Heavyweights from music, politics and sports will join together to "Knock Out Poverty," Tuesday, September 23, 6:30 p.m., at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, a landmark event to help fight poverty in Africa.   The evening will be hosted by Jeff Johnson , investigative journalist, political correspondent and activist, and chief correspondent for BET's "The Truth with Jeff Johnson."

Grammy® Winner and UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Youssou N'Dour , award-winning actors Jeffrey Wright and Gbenga Akinnagbe, former Miss Universe Mpule Kwelagobe and several African Heads of State are among the stars set to align for this historic evening of entertainment and sports, benefiting the charitable organization, All for Africa .

With a skillful combination punch of top-caliber boxing and music, "Knock Out Poverty" will feature an IBF title fight between Africa's veterans Eromosele "Bad Boy" Albert (Nigeria) and Ossie Duran (Ghana) as part of a jam-packed card of sanctioned bouts.

"Our primary goal with 'Knock Out Poverty' is to create a signature event that entertains, but more importantly has the power to bring people together for a much grander purpose," said Bruce Wrobel, All For Africa's Executive Director.   "We're hopeful this evolves into an annual New York happening."

Having witnessed personally the extraordinary benefits of private sector infrastructure investment on long-term health, education and living conditions of the extremely poor in Africa, CEO Bruce Wrobel created All for Africa to replicate these successes in the nonprofit sector.   Most public sector and nonprofit programs typically provide one time investments that are often unsustainable as the local population lacks the means to continue funding ongoing operation expenses.   The Knock Out Poverty event will launch All for Africa's innovative Palm Out Poverty Campaign , the result of which will be the award of 700 individual palm oil trusts to 700 worthy beneficiaries on the ground in Africa.   Each trust is expected to generate more than $1 million over a 30-year period totaling more than $700 million for operational funding.

Noella Coursaris, Congolese model and the Founder and Director of Georges Malaika Foundation, the first ever recipient of a Palm Oil Trust says, "All for Africa has introduced a novel approach to charitable giving – not simply setting aside a one-time donation, but providing a long term, sustainable solution for funding the operational expenses which will insure the success of our first school in the Congo for many years to come."

The Hammerstein Ballroom is located at 311 West 34th Street between 8th and 9th.  

Advance premium or group sale tickets to "Knock Out Poverty" are now available for purchase at: http://www.allforafrica.org/buyet_form.cfm. Or call the ticket information line at 212-351-0111.  

For more information or to make a contribution, call 212-351-0055, email diane@allforafrica.org or visit www.allforafrica.org

All For Africa ("A4A") is a non-profit organization that serves as a platform for individuals, corporations and other organizations to actively get involved in, design and coordinate economically sustainable projects in Africa. All for Africa believes that the quickest route to realizing Africa's true potential is through the effective collaboration between the "for profit" and the non-profit stakeholders in Africa's future.

Boxers are 'All For Africa' in the ring (New York Daily News)

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