Aga Khan Foundation’s Walk in Memphis Tennesse raises money, awareness to help destitute around globe

With growing numbers of protests throughout the nation and across the world taking aim at economic inequality, the fight against poverty took center stage Sunday in Downtown Memphis.

Memphis’ emergence as the poorest metropolitan area in the country, according to recent figures from the U.S. Census Bureau, has added especially heavy weight to the topic for locals.

On Sunday, Mid-Southerners literally took steps to change that, attending the Aga Khan Foundation’s 17th annual “Walk to End Global Poverty” in Tom Lee Park, an initiative aimed at raising awareness and funds to benefit the destitute around the world. Nasreen Aman, media coordinator for the foundation, estimated that more than 2,000 participated in the walk.

Through donations and fundraising efforts including a silent auction, Aman said, the private organization raised about $515,000 on Sunday, an increase of $5,000 from its 2010 walk.

via http://www.commercialappeal.com/news.