Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Tour Stars And Westwood Lead Charity Drive

Jakarta, April 20: The Asian Tour stars and world number two Lee Westwood were the pillars in the Indonesian Masters Charity Dinner as they helped raise funds to build nine homes for the underprivileged in Indonesia.

The Indonesian Masters Gala Charity Dinner was held on Tuesday night through the event’s partnership with Habitat for Humanity, a non-profit organisation which helps raise funds to build homes for the poor in the country.

Thai duo Thongchai Jaidee and Chapchai Nirat and Gaganjeet Bhullar of India were in attendance with Englishman Westwood at the Four Seasons Hotel where approximately US$22,400 were raised through auctions and direct donations.

A golf clinic with Westwood was sold for US$7,000 (60 million rupiah) while a signed putter from Thongchai, autographed shirt from Westwood and a chance to have a photo with the duo and Chapchai went for US$2,900 (25 million rupiah).

Formed in 1997, Habitat for Humanity Indonesia has housed approximately 30,000 families in the country through various activities and sponsorship drives to raise funds for the needy.

Habitat for Humanity are present in over 100 countries worldwide and in more than 20 countries in the Asia Pacific region such as Thailand, Philippines, India, China, Cambodia and Indonesia.

Jimmy Masrin, the chairman for Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, was delighted to tie-up with the Indonesian Masters.

“It costs US$2,500 to build a proper home for a family and I’m sincerely grateful to the Indonesian Masters and the Asian Tour for this opportunity to work with Habitat for Humanity as it will help us raise funds even further,” said Masrin.

“It has always been a dream of mine that, through golf, we can still somehow give back to the country,” he added.

Kyi Hla Han, the Asian Tour Executive Chairman said it was the Tour’s social commitment to actively participate in improving the lives of the less fortunate in Asia.

“The Asian Tour and our players will lend our fullest support through the Indonesian Masters and help Habitat for Humanity Indonesia with their mission and objectives,” said Han.

Vikram Reddy, General Manager of Four Seasons Hotel, the official hotel for the Indonesian Masters saluted the efforts to raise funds for the needy in the country.

“It is our honour to host the Indonesian Masters Gala Charity Dinner. It is part of our objective to help with the initiative of Habitat for Humanity Indonesia and through last night’s charity drive we hope more lives will be changed for the better,” said Reddy.

Westwood, who will headline the Indonesian Masters at the Royale Jakarta Golf Club on Thursday said he was excited to return to Indonesia.

“I’m looking forward to playing in the Indonesian Masters this week. It has been quite a while since I played in Indonesia. This is a big tournament in Asia. I’m very excited looking ahead of this week,” said Westwood.

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