PeacePlayers International would like to thank Donnie Walter and Gonzaga College High School for hosting a benefit tournament for PeacePlayers International – Northern Ireland. Donnie, one of the first official PeacePlayers International Sixth Men and Women, did an outstanding job organizing the tournament from start to finish, securing t-shirts, (delicious) pizza for the players, a snack bar, support from the Gonzaga Mothers’ Club, a DJ, and professional referees.
The event was a huge success, raising over $500 with 14 teams participating. As the event was held in Gonzaga’s gym, only a few miles from PPI’s headquarters in Washington, DC, PPI’s Executive Director Brendan Tuohey, himself a Gonzaga alum, stopped by to thank the players and say a few words. Most importantly, the event energized the entire Gonzaga school community, featuring players from all grades and even one player from Gonzaga’s perennial powerhouse varsity basketball team (ranked the 20th best high school basketball team in the country by USA Today).
Donnie had a camera on hand to film the event, and he and his friends are working on putting together a highlight reel to show off their work – we’ll be sure to post it here on The Sixth Man when completed.
PeacePlayers International would like to thank all the players, Gonzaga’s Athletic Director Joe Reyda, The Tramonte Family and the Italian Store, Lee Walter and the Gonzaga College High School Mother’s Club, the referees, and the entire Gonzaga community. We would also like to wish Gonzaga the best of luck in its basketball and hockey seasons.
