Thank you, Danny Holdsman!

February 14, 2012

Many students in the US have chosen to support PeacePlayers International for their bar and bat mitzvahs, asking family and friends to donate to the organization in honor of their special day. This winter, Danny Holdsman organized and executed a successful mitzvah project supporting PPI.

Danny Holdsman, a 13 year old who attends William Penn Charter School in Philadelphia,  organized a 3 v 3 tournament after being inspired by a similar event he had seen online through our website. With over 75 participants from local high schools and middle schools, Danny’s fundraising event was a success; he raised more than $3,000! Having worked in conjunction with PPI staff, Danny understands the importance of peace building projects, stating in his Torah portion:

“These kids learn to accept their peers when society is telling them otherwise. They learn about friendship and teamwork, which has helped me so much throughout my life. They started to work with kids as young as six, staying with them all the way through high school, so they learn co-existence as a way of life.”

The total amount from Danny’s event will go to our Middle East program, which develops leaders from both the Arab and Jewish communities who participate in our programs.

If you would like to start your own mitzvah project supporting PPI, please contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org or at 202 408 5111.

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RJ Goldberg’s Mitzvah Tournament Raises More Than $5,000 for PPI – Middle East

December 5, 2011

On Sunday, October 2nd, 13-year-old RJ Goldberg hosted his 3 on 3 Mitzvah Basketball Tournament in Bridgewater, New Jersey. RJ hosted the event to raise awareness about PeacePlayers International – Middle East’s work in Israel and the West Bank, and it was a great success! RJ brought together 18 of his friends to participate in the tournament and the first place team was awarded with a $25 dollar gift card and second place, a $10 gift card to gaming store.

When asked why he chose to support PeacePlayers, RJ said:

“I was looking for a cool fun sports mitzvah project and I read about [PeacePlayers] and it sounded really interesting. My project was unique to me because it supported a cause that shared my love of basketball.”

RJ used his Mitzvah Tournament as a fun way to spread the word concerning PeacePlayers and the work the organization does in using sport as a vehicle to bridge divides between Jewish and Arab youth in the Israel and the West Bank. He urged friends and family members to make donations to PeacePlayers in honor of his bar mitzvah via Razoo.com.

PPI would like to thank RJ for organizing such a wonderful event! We would also like to thank all the friends and family members who supported RJ and his interest in PeacePlayers International. In total, RJ raised more than $5,000 to support the organization! Thank you RJ!

If you would like to support PeacePlayers International for your bar or bat mitzvah, please contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org.

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Emma from Ellicott City, Maryland supported PPI in honor of her friends’ bat mitzvahs

October 17, 2011

Emma (left) at her friend Brooke's (right) bat mitzvah.

Many students in the US have chosen to support PPI for their bar and bat mitzvahs, asking family and friends to donate to the organization in honor of their special day. However, as Emma from Ellicott City, Maryland proves, you don’t have to be a bar or bat mitzvah to commemorate the event with PPI. Emma, a Quaker Christian,  made a donation to PeacePlayers as gifts to three of her friends in honor of their bat mitzvahs. To learn a bit more about Emma’s project, please read the interview below:

Hi Emma, please tell our readers a little bit about yourself:

I am a 13 year old Middle School student in the 8th grade.  In my spare time, I love to read, act in plays when I have the opportunity, and hang out with my friends.

How did you find out about PeacePlayers International (PPI)?

I found out about PeacePlayers through my Quaker Meeting when one of the founders (Brendan Tuohey) came to talk to the first day (Sunday school) school students.

Why did you decide to give donations to PPI for your friends’ bat mitzvahs?

I decided to donate to PeacePlayers as a gift for my friends’ bat mitzvahs because of their work in Israel and Palestine. I thought it was a great charity that directly related to the event. I hoped it would interest my friends and make them more aware about ways they can help other children to have a more peaceful and happy life.

What have been your friends’ reactions to their presents?

Many girls my age a really into material things, such as clothes and jewelry, so I was surprised at how many girls came up to me after their bat mitzvah and said how cool they thought my gift was. I don’t think many of them knew much about the conflict in Israel and Palestine, and they really appreciated getting to learn about it and what people are doing to help.  They were able to relate to the situation after learning some about Israel in preparation for their bat mitzvah.

Do you have any advice for others that want to do what you have done?

Donating to PeacePlayers was very easy. My parents were able to donate online. The staff of PeacePlayers was very nice and put together amazing packets explaining what they do, and I was able to give them to my friends. The gift was stress free and I didn’t have to worry about getting a different present for each girl.

PPI would like to thank Emma for her support! We truly appreciate the creative way Emma found to celebrate this important rite of passage with her Jewish friends.

If you would like to donate to PeacePlayers International in honor of your friend’s upcoming event, please click here and designate your gift in the comments section. You may also contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org.

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Deal Middle School’s Give Back Day Supports PPI

June 28, 2011

On June 7th, Alice Deal Middle School in Washington, DC held their annual “Give Back Day,” a day to raise awareness about service and support student-selected causes. Deal’s 6th grade students voted to support PeacePlayers International as one of the projects for Give Back Day by holding a basketball tournament. The 6th graders held the tournament in their school’s gym and invited radio DJ Aladdin to emcee the event; ultimately raising close to $500 for PPI. The event was so successsful, Deal plans to partner with PPI again for a school-wide fundraiser this fall. We would like to commend Deal Middle School’s incredible culture of service and thank the 6th graders for supporting our mission of using basketball to bridge divide, develop leaders, and change perceptions around the world. Thank you!

If you would like to get involved and support PPI by hosting an event at your school, please contact Hannah Sloss at hsloss@peaceplayersintl.org.

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PPI Would Like to Thank Alex Myers!

February 22, 2011

PPI would like to thank Alex Myers, a boy from Gaithersburg, Maryland, who demonstrated both his love for basketball and his desire to help bring peace to children in divided communities all around the world by dedicating his Bar Mitzvah project to PeacePlayers International!

Alex (far right) speaks to attendees before his event begins.

Inspired by the project of a family friend, Alex recently held a 3×3 basketball tournament to help raise money and awareness for PeacePlayers International, with proceeds benefiting PPI’s sites in South Africa and the Middle East. The tournament was complemented by games of Knockout, Champions, a Challenge Course and more, and Alex also raffled off several gift cards donated by local businesses.

The sponsors who helped Alex reach his goals.

Due to support from his friends and family, he exceeded his attendance goal of 30 people and his fundraising goal of $400, netting a total of $751, which he elected to donate to PPI-ME and PPI-SA.

Said Alex:

“I would recommend this experience to a friend because it was a lot of fun to have the tournament with all my friends and give back to other kids at the same time.”

Thanks to Alex, the Myers family, the Fink family and all the community members who turned out in Gaithersburg for a great event!

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Thanks to Zac Emanuel and the Emanuel Family!

January 18, 2011

If you’ve been watching this space much recently, you’ve probably read about one of several recent Bar or Bat Mitzvah projects that children across the U.S. and Canada have organized to benefit PeacePlayers International.

Zac Emanuel

Today, we’d like to highlight one of the most successful such initiatives that PPI has seen to date, organized by Zac Emanuel of Providence, Rhode Island. Seeking an opportunity to combine several of his passions, Zac and his parents learned about PPI through a website called The Mitzvah Bowl, which highlights all kinds of potential Bar and Bat Mitzvah projects for socially minded young people.

Zac’s now in the process of organizing a 3-on-3 tournament in his hometown to raise funds and awareness for PPI. In preparation for the event, he set up his own fundraising page on Razoo.com, and pointed his friends and family there to give them an opportunity to support PPI’s work.

“As Golda Meir said, ‘We will have peace with the Arabs when they love their children more than they hate us.’ That works for both sides…It is this effort – to educate and get rid of hatred through basketball - that lead me to choose [PPI] as my Mitzvah project. Your donations will help bring these kids together to show them that fighting is not the answer. Your donations will help bring peace to these areas, perhaps now, and definitely in the future, when the kids that have experienced PeacePlayers International teach their kids.”

- Zac Emanuel, on his Razoo fundraising page

After only a few weeks, the response has been truly overwhelming. After launching just after the New Year, by January 18th Zac has raised well $4,859 for PPI! That’s a fantastic contribution, nearly enough to support one team for an entire semester – and with his tournament scheduled for the Spring, he’s not done yet.

The video Zac chose to embed on his project page.

PPI is deeply grateful to Zac, his parents, his family – which generously agreed to sign on as a “Title Sponsor” for the project – and all those who have decided to help this amazing young leader realize his vision.

We look forward to updating you again on this project as it continues to progress!

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From a Project to a Passion

January 5, 2011

The Shane Family (Photo: Canadian Jewish News)

Due to his love for basketball and desire for world peace, Daniel Shane, a boy from Toronto, Ontario, chose to team up with PeacePlayers International for a project to accompany his Bar Miztvah.

Reports the Canadian Jewish News:

“I was trying to find an organization that combines my favourite thing to do, which is basketball, and create a difference in the world in some way,” he said. “I did a bunch of research with my dad, and after a few weeks of searching, we found Peace Players International.”

Since beginning his relationship with PPI, Daniel has collected $2,000 and 80 basketballs, which he wishes to send directly to the Middle East.

Daniel has been involved with PPI in more than one way. When PPI heard about his interest, they put him in touch with three children in the program in the Middle East, which Daniel has been in close contact with through e-mail. He’ll travel to Israel later this year to meet his new friends.

Daniel also made a presentation to his school about PPI’s work, which you can see here.

For more on his story, visit the Canadian Jewish News.

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Thanks to Vance Walter and Gonzaga College High School!

October 25, 2010

This Saturday, October 23rd, Vance Walter, a junior at Gonzaga College High School, organized a three-on-three tournament to benefit PeacePlayers International. This year is the tournament’s second annual installment, after Vance’s older brother, Donnie, pioneered the event last year.

Gonzaga College High School is a Jesuit-administered private school just a few blocks from the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

Vance pulled together 14 teams of three or four players each from throughout Gonzaga, freshmen through seniors, each making a donation of $15 per head. Community businesses chipped in with food and drinks, t-shirts and more. At the end of the day, all proceeds went to support PeacePlayers International’s programs around the world using basketball to unite and educate children in divided communities.

Gonzaga reliably has one of the best high school basketball programs in the country, and it showed in the quality of play on Saturday.

In all, the event raised $910 for PPI, surpassing last year’s total of $526. That’s almost enough to support two children in our program for an entire year!

For photos from the event, check out our Sixthman page on Picasa.

PPI is extremely grateful to Vance, Gonzaga College High School and everyone who helped out with the event: Patrick and Jack McCarty, Curt Gupton, the Walter Family, the Gupton Family, the McCarty Family, the Gonzaga Mothers Club, Adventures in Advertising, Gupton Associates, and The Italian Store.


The group entering the quarterfinals. In all, nearly 50 players came out to support PPI.

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Thank You to the Maryland School for Jewish Education’s 5th Grade!

June 25, 2010

The Maryland School for Jewish Education is located in Rockville, Maryland.  MSJE is a private organization whose principal purpose is to provide a Jewish education for children.

In 5th grade at MSJE, students learn about Jewish Holidays and blessings.  They also study Israel – it’s geography, history, culture, the Arab-Israeli conflict, and about the peace process.  Throughout the year, the students also bring in money for tzedakah, charity, and vote on where they would like to donate what was collected.

The 5th grade teacher, Jennifer Schwarz, used to volunteer for PPI at practices and tournaments in Jaffa while she was living in Israel for a gap-year between high school and college.  At the end of the year, Jennifer gave the class several Israeli organizations as options to donate the money to.  The kids chose PPI.

Felice Kobilinsky, the School Director, said that the kids found a connection to PeacePlayers International since they had been learning about the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the organization directly served youth.

PeacePlayers International sincerely thanks the 5th grade class at MSJE for their generous donation!.

If you would like to learn about the Maryland School for Jewish Education, take a look at their website.

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Thank You to Leah Haberman!

March 17, 2010

Leah Haberman - a true believer in the power of sports to change the world.

PeacePlayers International was recently thrilled to learn that Leah Haberman, an extraordinary girl from Poway, California, will be supporting the organization as her service project for her upcoming Bat Mitzvah. Thank you very much, Leah!

In addition to her work on behalf of PeacePlayers International, Leah is a basketball and track coach for her local chapter of the Special Olympics. She’s clearly a true believer in the power of sports to change the world for the better, and PPI would like to salute her for her commitment.

The event’s still several months away, but Leah’s set up a fundraising page on Firstgiving to keep others up-to-date on her efforts as it nears. PeacePlayers International would like to thank Leah, and wish her the best of luck as she finishes her preparations for the big day!

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