Hall of Famer Betsy King's New Passion: Helping AIDS Children in Africa

This is the time of year to appreciate angels.

Like Betsy King.

King played 28 seasons on the LPGA, winning 34 tournaments, including six major championships. She was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1995.

But during weeks like this all that does not seem so important.

King's special gift to mankind is Golf Fore Africa, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support to children in Africa who have been orphaned or made vulnerable by AIDS.

She founded the group in early 2007 following a trip to Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Zambia. Since then, teaming with Christian humanitarian group World Vision, Habitat for Humanity and a number of fellow LPGA players, King has helped make some pretty amazing things happen.

"There is such a need there," King said. "When you go to Africa and see the need, you can't come back and do nothing. Obviously, it's a problem that's too big for us to solve, but any help makes a difference in people's lives.

"I know the whole world is struggling but you find a place where you can help. That's Africa for me."

"There is such a need there. When you go to Africa and see the need, you can't come back and do nothing. Obviously, it's a problem that's too big for us to solve, but any help makes a difference in people's lives."
- Betsy King In the past 2½ years, Golf Fore Africa has raised more than $700,000. The money is being used to build a medical center (below) in Rwanda that is scheduled to open this spring. Another project is the construction of 45 homes for AIDS orphans within the next three years.

"I know one family we visited in Rwanda," King said. "The mother had AIDS but was not on the anti-viral drugs. She was thin and moving slowly. We went with a caregiver. The woman said without the caregiver she would not be alive. She had five children and she thought three of them had AIDS, but had never had them tested.

"When we arrived at their house, it was two rooms with a dirt floor. They were cooking one egg outside for the whole family to share.

"When we went back a year later, that woman had become a volunteer care giver, helping others. She had put weight on. She was lively. She had her children tested and they were all negative. It was a happy ending to her story."

King has been making a trip back each year to see the result of her organization's efforts.

The visits take her deep into the backlands of a struggling continent. Highways turn into dirt roads that turn into potholed paths. Word of coming visitors spreads. During King's last visit, children on burros greeted the slow-moving Jeeps outside the village.

Once the visitors arrived, they were welcomed with a dance known to the local area.

"The people have great spirit," King said. "Obviously, we don't speak their language, so we have to work with the staff of World Vision.



"That's why we believe in how World Vision works. They come in with a five-fingered approach to provide a food source, clean water, education, basic health care and micro finance.

"You can't do one without the other. If there are no jobs, the kinds can't stay in school. If the parents can't support them, the kids end up having to help. You can't build a school if all are sick because they will not be able to come. You have to address those needs."

That's how King is keeping busy these days. Putting her competitive spirit to work on a cause.

"She has such a huge heart," said friend Debbie Quesada, who serves as director of Golf Fore Africa. "I think sometimes people in the golf industry don't see that about here. Because of the passion she had when she was playing golf, she was so focused.

"But now imagine someone with that passion on the golf course taking it into another aspect of life, and saying this is how I'm going to make a difference."