2009-11-18 11:06:34
WAM Dubai, Nov 18th, 2009 (WAM) -- An exclusive charity auction launched by global marine terminal operator DP World in conjunction with the Dubai World Championship has collected AED 150,000 for charity.

The funds were raised through an online auction in which golf enthusiasts bid for the chance to play with three-time Major winner Ernie Els in the Dubai World Championship Pro-Am on the stunning new Earth course at Jumeirah Golf Estates.

The proceeds from the auction were presented by DP World and South Africa's Els to the Dubai Autism Centre and �Els for Autism' before the Pro-Am Championship got underway.

Abdullah Al Naboodah, an avid golf fan and charity supporter, was the winning bidder, revelling in the opportunity to raise money for good causes while playing 18 holes of the stunning Greg Norman-designed Earth course alongside Els who is known as �The Big Easy'.

The Pro-Am Championship is part of the build-up to the Dubai World Championship presented by DP World which takes place from November 19-22 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Sports Council.

The tournament is the grand finale to The Race to Dubai and will feature 60 of the world's leading players, including England's Lee Westwood, Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy, Spain's Sergio Garcia, Colombia's Camilo Villegas, and Sweden's Henrik Stenson.

Chairman of Dubai World, Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem, said: "DP World is proud to become part of the initiative. It is heartening to see golf fans coming forward wholeheartedly for a worthy cause. Autism is close to Ernie's heart and in great fellowship golf fans have stepped forward to stand alongside him to help raise awareness and much needed funds." Els has devoted much time to raise awareness of autism spectrum disorders since he discovered his son Ben was affected by the condition. The champion has since been working towards building a research facility and school close to his home in Florida in USA.

Mr. Mohammad Al Emadi Board Member and Director General of the Dubai Autism Centre, said:"We express our immense gratitude to Ernie Els and DP World for taking the initiative to create awareness and raise the much needed funds to provide the necessary intervention programs and spread awareness. We depend entirely on philanthropic activities of organizations and individuals to meet our running expenses." WAM/AMIR