Dedicated to working on specific projects where progress can be monitored, Golf Fore Africa teamed up with World Vision and recently completed a $250,000 project in the Rwandan community of Mudasomwa (see sidebar). According to Debbie Quesada, Golf Fore Africa’s COO, the community of 70,000 people was aided in a multitude of ways: schools were established; uniforms were provided for children; medical care was made available to orphans and vulnerable children; health insurance was provided for families infected with HIV; and food assistance, agricultural training and clean water were all integrated into the community.

In the beginning of 2007, Golf Fore Africa rallied together LPGA pros to observe the growth in the Mudasomwa community. King recalls a museum outing the group held with the community’s children.

“We got to bring them gifts, soccer balls, dolls and different things for the children,” Kings says. “We also let the children pick one gift in the museum shop, and all the children picked something that was useful—not a toy. But lots of children picked bags because it was something they could use to put whatever they had into. It kind of hit me, that here they were thinking of something useful as opposed to a kid [from the United States] who might choose a toy because he already has a backpack or something to carry his things.” Another group of LPGA players is expected to make the trip this coming January.

Currently, Golf Fore Africa is raising funds for two new projects to develop in 2009. The first, a medical clinic in Rwanda, will provide health care and antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to help AIDS-infected individuals. The second project, a collaboration with World Vision and Habitat for Humanity, will entail building homes for AIDS orphans in Lesotho, Africa.

“Our dream is to see that every person in Africa that needs support, because they have been infected or affected by AIDS, would have that support,” King says. “And I know we have a long way to go. There are over 10 million children that have been orphaned by AIDS in Africa. We are not going to be able to help everyone, but we are going to help as many as we can.”