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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Masters Basketball Madness

December 29, 2009

PPI would like to thank David Adelman, the coach of the USA Maccabiah Masters Basketball team and the President of Play Hard Hoops, for organizing Masters Basketball Madness, a tournament in Milwaukee this March that will benefit PPI. Twelve lucky teams can sign up to travel to the site of first- and second-round NCAA tournament games and take part in a competitive amateur basketball tournament. Slots are $7,500 per team, and David expects them to fill up quickly. If you’re interested, contact David directly at adelhoopsedu[at]hotmail[dot]com or 847-420-8115. See the flyer below for more information.

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Thank You to Donnie Walter and Gonzaga College High School

December 4, 2009

Gonzaga College High School, near Union Station, in Washington, DC.

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.

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Jenna Weinberg, Sports to Support, and the University of Michigan

October 15, 2009

university-of-michigan_logoPeacePlayers would like to thank Jenna Weinberg, Sports to Support, and the entire University of Michigan community for their recent work organizing a tournament to benefit PPI. Jenna, a veteran PPI volunteer and organizer, began planning the tournament months ago, while she was actually assisting another student group, University of Michigan Learning Communities, with their own event.

This semester, Jenna worked independently but enlisted the help of Eric Spector and Sports to Support, a University of Michigan club that organizes sporting events to raise funds for various causes.  Together, Jenna and Sports to Support recruited ten teams of three, with each participant making a small donation. They successfully lobbied the University of Michigan Student Assembly for start-up funds, and also secured gift card donations from Chipotle, Noodles & Co., and Buffalo Wild Wings for the winners. In all, Jenna and Sports to Support successfully raised $400 for PeacePlayers International, and a great time was had at the event by all.

PeacePlayers International would like to thank everyone involved for their help. Go Wolverines!

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University of Michigan Learning Communities

April 17, 2009

university-of-michigan_logoPeacePlayers International would like to thank Jenna Weinberg and the University of Michigan Learning Communities for their recent tournament to benefit PeacePlayers International. The student group secured funds from the school to help fund food and t-shirts at their event, which ultimately raised nearly $200 for PPI. A special thanks foes to MCSP, Anne West, Heather Patterson, and Alex Ocampo, who helped with the event.

About PeacePlayers International: PeacePlayers International is an international nonprofit that uses basketball to unite and educate young people and their communities. To learn more, please visit www.peaceplayersintl.org.

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Ethan Bettinger and Keene Middle School

April 13, 2009

keene1PeacePlayers International would like to thank Ethan Bettinger, Mrs. Grove and the Eighth Grade class at Keene Middle School, in Keene, New Hampshire. When the class was searching for a community service project they could all do together, Ethan introduced them to PeacePlayers International, to whom he had previously donated a portion of the gifts he received for his Bar Mitzvah. Led by Mrs. Grove, the class organized an intramural tournament that raised $170 for PeacePlayers International, and was spotlighted by the local newspaper, The Keene Sentinel.

About PeacePlayers International: PeacePlayers International is an international nonprofit that uses basketball to unite and educate young people and their communities. To learn more, please visit www.peaceplayersintl.org.

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St. Thomas More High School

January 8, 2009

b5PeacePlayers International would like to thank Jere and Matt Quinn, and St. Thomas More High School of Oakdale, Connecticut. For the second year in a row, Jere Quinn organized a fundraiser at St. Thomas More, an elite boarding school, donating over $1,000 to PeacePlayers International. Matt is a former PeacePlayers International Fellow who now teaches Math at St. Thomas More, where Jere, his father, has long been the varsity basketball coach.

About PeacePlayers International: PeacePlayers International is an international nonprofit that uses basketball to unite and educate young people and their communities. To learn more, please visit www.peaceplayersintl.org.

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