Emirati businessman opens kids’ fund in US

dubai — Founding chairman of Al Habtoor Group, Khalaf Ahmad Al Habtoor, has launched a $500,000 children’s fund in Central Illinois. The ‘Dr Khalaf Al Habtoor and Congressman Paul Findley’s Children Fund’ was announced at a recent press conference attended by state and community leaders in Springfield, Illinois, US.

The $500,000 contribution, which was awarded to the Central Illinois Food Bank in Springfield, will be used to establish an endowment to fund programmes that provide food to people in need throughout the food bank’s 21 counties. Al Habtoor learned of the food bank and its outstanding performance in providing for the needs of the hungry, and specifically the needs of hungry children, through his long-term friendship with retired US Congressman, Paul Findley.

Al Habtoor said: “I believe that

500K dollars was awarded to the Central Illinois Food Bank in Springfield

philanthropy should be independent of race, religion and geography. When God gives you something, you have to give part of it to people in need without differentiation. You have to help everyone. I am also deeply grateful to Paul Findley for his vision and the commitments he has made as a tireless public servant in retirement. I would also like to thank the Central Illinois Food Bank for its diligent pursuit of its mission to to end hunger.

Pam Molitoris, executive director of Central Illinois Foodbank, said: “children have always been a mission-based focus for the food bank. Revenues earned from the fund will feed nearly 4,000 children annually”.