Tag Archives: Fellowships

by | August 6, 2012 · 7:22 pm

Catching Up With PPI Alum Harry Morra (NI ’08)

Congratulations to former PPI-NI Operations Manager Harry Morra and his fiancé, former PPI-NI Managing Director Kelly Lyons, who are getting married later this month! Kelly is now the Director of External Affairs for Up2Us, a national coalition of sport-for-good organizations for community-building and youth development. We wish you both all the best! In the interview below, Harry talks about his work leading a group project to evaluate the impact of PPI’s Fellowship program.

Harry (third from left) and Kelly (second from right) at a Belfast Giants hockey game with friends from PPI. On this visit to Northern Ireland in March 2011, Harry and Kelly got engaged!

You’re currently working on your graduate degree at Lehigh University. Has your experience with PPI influenced your path?

Working with PPI, you get a taste of both the education field and the nonprofit world. When I came back, I decided that I really believed in education. I wanted to continue with what I had started to build. The program I liked most was comparative international education, or Globalization and Educational Change. It involves using qualitative and quantitative methods to study differences in education programs all across the world.

I’m focusing on a project in Cambodia, where there was a mass genocide of the educated class in the 1970s under Pol Pot. Today, there are no educated 30- to 60-year-old people in Cambodia. Cambodians are thirty years into redesigning education. Out in rural communities, schools aren’t common, and it’s not natural for a family to send a 5-year old child to school. I’m working with Caring for Cambodia, an organization that tries to get kids to come to school.

Tell us more about the research project! What can you tell us about the information you gathered?

We qualitatively evaluated how the PPI experience impacted each of us, as well as the overall value of program, by looking through the eyes of the people who actually went through it. A significantly high number of alums participated in the study- I think that goes to show that PPI has a close-knit family.

We found that the fellowship program is extremely valuable to PPI and has a ton of potential to grow. We drew comparisons to Fulbright and Rhodes scholarships. People who aspire to work in public policy, international relations, international law, community development, or education can use PPI as a stepping stone.

I learned that everybody feels the same way I do- they loved the experience and thought it was just life-changing.

What are some of your best memories of your work in Northern Ireland?

I was hired to start a coach training program in Northern Ireland. At the first session I organized, only one person came. I was really disappointed. I felt like I had failed. But 18 months later when I left PPI, we had a fully functioning coach training program. We were meeting with 30 coaches at a time, both PPI people and coaches from the greater community.

A scene from the past: Harry leads a single ID session at Bunscoil Primary School

Another favorite memory is getting to do the leadership development program. We borrowed the model they were using in South Africa, analyzed it, and reshaped and remolded it for Northern Ireland. We worked it from something on paper to something real.

My third, hands-down favorite memory is running the weekly twinnings. We felt like we were doing something that was so new- the kids just gravitated toward us, and they were from such a historically divided community. There were so many structural reasons for them to stay apart. Schools across the street from each other would let the kids out a half hour apart so that they would never see each other. So many things were stacked up against integration. I loved building relationships with the kids week in and week out, and getting the kids going toward a shared future.

What were you hoping to get out of your experience with PPI? How did you grow over the course of the experience?

For me, I wanted to gain a strong sense of individuality and independence. One of the major reasons I think people should be involved with PPI is that PPI allows you to put your money where your mouth is. It’s a lost easier said than done to try to live in a foreign country, use your education to help out, and implement something you believe in. PPI puts fellows and program directors in situations where they are really responsible for making the program happen. I found the confidence to follow through with the things I say, and found out who I am and what I wanted to work on for the rest of my life.

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by | April 12, 2011 · 12:59 pm

PPI-SA Welcomes Back Former Program Director David Flynn (D-Fly)!

David with the mic at a City Wide Tournament held in 2008.

This week, PPI-SA catches up with former a Program Director, David Flynn, who served in Durban during 2007-2008. David is back in SA to attend The 2011 Social Enterprise World Forum, develop his consultancy business (Social Innovation Advocates – please “Like” their Facebook page) and re-connect with past colleagues and participants.

PPI-SA: Welcome back, D-Fly. How does it feel to be back?

DF: It feels wonderful to be back in the Durban sun. I’ve been gone for too long. I couldn’t wait to get off the plane and reconnect with my SA family. I’m so excited to hear how life has been treating everyone.

PPI-SA: What were some of your favorite memories while working for PPI-SA ? What were some of your responsibilities?

I loved so much about PPI-SA. The first thing that comes to mind is LDP Saturdays. Listening and participating in life skills discussions and debates was always a treat. I learned so much from the amazing young leaders who shared their insights, concerns, passions, and dreams every week. And is there any better way to top off a good debate than by watching and reffing hoops? I remember coming back home after the games and recalling each dynamic spin move and powerful drop step made at the different venues. I don’t think the LDP players realized how much we all loved being a part of it.

Another memory that sticks out is the Shongweni retreat with the whole PPI-SA staff (click here to see highlights from this year’s retreat). That was just good, clean fun.

As a Program Director in 2007, I was responsible for special events, including the City-Wide Tournaments and court launches, and overseeing expansion into the Chatsworth and Wentworth areas. As the organization grew, I also led the basketball committee, oversaw programs in Lamontville and provided fundraising support.

D-Fly at the Merry Hill Primary School Court Launch in Chatsworth.

PPI-SA: What did you miss most about Durban?

I missed the people – my SA family. It was the relationships I built with the PPI managers, coaches, and participants that kept me motivated as a PPI-SA employee, and it is what brought me back now. My life would be totally different if I had not met the people I did.

PPI-SA: Tell us a little bit about Social Innovation Advocates and what you have planned during the coming months.

Social Innovation Advocates (SIA) is a new social-mission business I am starting with another PPI legend: Sharan Singh. Through research and assesssment, capacity building, and advocacy, SIA’s mission is to increase the impact of the social sector. The first project will examine sport for social good in South Africa to better understand the collective challenges and opportunities that nonprofit organizations and other stakeholders have in doing this work, and finding solutions to overcome those challenges. Clearly, I am still inspired by the work going on here.

The next couple of months will be spent fundraising and building a strong business and strategic plan by involving stakeholders on every level. I have already learned so much by initiating this business. I can’t wait to see what is next.

PPI-SA: Thanks, David. It’s great to have you back! I hope you enjoy your time here in South Africa with the PPI family and best of luck with you new venture!


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by | August 16, 2010 · 1:38 pm

Meet PPI Fellow Shannon Brown

Shannon Brown is one of PeacePlayers International’s newest Fellows, joining fellow Fellow Meghan Houlihan, Program Coordinators Darryl Petticrew and Joanne Fitzpatrick and Managing Director Gareth Harper in Northern Ireland. Shannon’s already made a couple appearances here on the blog, so we wanted to take a quick minute to help you get to know her better. Below, Shannon shares the story of her journey to PeacePlayers International and her goals for the next two years.

Shannon D's up in a pickup game this Spring.

PPI: What drew you to PeacePlayers International and our work in Northern Ireland?

Shannon Brown: I found out about the organization from a good family friend, Matt Quinn, who worked for PPI in Belfast and the Middle East program when I was in high school. I thought it was such an awesome concept using sports to bring kids together. The idea always stuck in the back of my mind. Once I graduated from college and was working, I felt like I was finally at a point in my life where I could try to give it a shot. What specifically drew me to Northern Ireland was my family’s Irish heritage and personal ties to the country. When my mom was growing up, her family hosted a kid from Belfast for two summers during the Troubles when times were really hard. I actually got to meet up with him here a couple of weeks ago. Now he has a daughter my age.

PPI: What is your connection to basketball?

SB: I played basketball competitively in high school and continued to play in an intramural league in college. But my dad is a huge basketball guy. For him, the skills that you learn on the court, teamwork, discipline, and strength, reflect very easily in daily life and can equally be applied in the real world. So basketball for me is really a way a life.

PPI: What elements of your previous experience do you think will benefit you most in the field?

Shannon speaks to the U.S. Consulate General to Belfast, Kamala Lakhdhir, at this year's Spring Jam.

SB: My four years at Providence College in Rhode Island were very beneficial. I was a Public and Community Service Studies major and during college I did extensive volunteering in the community. Classtime was used almost as a reflection space for learning and dissecting what we had done in the community. The biggest thing that was stressed in my program is that it’s one thing to do a service and try to help out others, but it’s a whole other thing to sit, reflect and think about what you’re actually doing and the people you’re affecting. What it really comes down to is that someone can have a great idea for a program but if they are not able or willing to put in the time and effort within the affected community, it can never achieve the success it hoped.

I also worked specifically with at-risk adolescents in residential treatment for substance abuse at the Wallum Lake Academy where they would get rehab, counseling and go to school. The only problem with Wallum Lake was that they had no extra-curricular activities, so two fellow students and I ran [extracurricular] programming for them my entire senior year. We took them to hockey games, a haunted house, and the theater. We were just trying to get them out in the community doing things so that they could see that they were able to stay clean and lead a normal life without drugs or alcohol. It was a very eye-opening experience. The most important thing I learned is that you can never assume anything about anyone and that the lines of communication always need to be open in order to build relationships. So, there I learned a certain awareness and understanding that I will definitely use with PeacePlayers.

PPI: When did you arrive in Ireland? What have you been doing so far?

SB: We got here in mid-May, but it’s funny – of all the European cities I’ve been to I feel the most comfortable in Belfast. The people are just willing to help and they’re really friendly. As they say, they’re good craíc! But, we have been pretty lucky. Most of our programs run in line with the academic calendar, so we were able to participate in a few weeks of programming before everything winded down to an end for the summer. Now we’re working on administrative stuff, like grant writing and getting ready for the fall. I feel really pretty settled at this point.

PPI: So if the summer is slow, what are you most nervous about for the coming programming year?

SB: Yesterday [this interview was conducted in July] was the last day for the two Fellows who were here before. We still have our local staff here – Gareth and Darryl and Joanne – but it’s too bad the Fellows had to leave because they are two more people we could be using a resources. Personally, I think the fall will be a little bit of trial and error for me. But Joanne and Darryl really know what they’re doing. I know they will help me and show me how things are done.

PPI: What are you most excited about?

SB: I’m already excited from the few weeks of programming we got to experience. The little kids are just so enthusiastic, so excited to be there on the court. I was able to get to know the kids in our Community Centre League pretty well. So I’m excited and looking forward to building relationships with the kids and their teachers and principals as well.

PPI: What do you hope to accomplish at the end of your term on a professional level? And on a personal level?

SB: I am definitely interested in a director’s position in a non-profit organization. I would love to have Gareth’s job one day! But, I am also interested in going to graduate school. So, at this point I’m either going to go for an MBA or a Master’s in Nonprofit Management. Personally, travel always is an eye-opening experience. I think it’s incredibly beneficial to step outside of our small, narrow bubbles and actually see how other people live.  Likewise, I hope this experience helps me become more open-minded and more receptive to learning new things. Right now I can say so far so good!

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by | August 11, 2010 · 12:14 am

My First Two Weeks With PPI-South Africa

Taylor Brown, our newest PPI Fellow, just disembarked to help our local team in South Africa. Taylor’s a veteran of PPI’s Washington headquarters, with experience in basketball, finance and on the operations side of a professional basketball team in Australia. He’ll help keep us updated on all the latest from Durban in the future here on From the Field. Today, he offers a birds’ eye view of his first two weeks on the ground.

The LDP, a member of which is shown here leading a life skills presentation, is one of Taylor's focuses so far.

I’ve been in Durban for two weeks now and have been full steam ahead since Day 1! I was greeted at the airport on Monday, July 26th, by PPI-SA’s other International Fellow, Claire Perry (after 22 hours of flying!), who even baked a “Welcome to South Africa Cake” to celebrate my arrival. Since then, I’ve gotten to step right in and start learning everything PPI-SA.

During the past two weeks I’ve had the opportunity to participate in a 2-day Life Skills & Basketball training for PPI-SA’s coaches at the Chatsworth Youth Centre, coach Leadership Development Program (LDP) practices in Molweni, participate in Primary School practices in 3 City Schools, play in 2 basketball games with the PPI Doves in the EBA Men’s Premier League, participate in 3 PPI-SA Staff Meetings (the last of which I had the opportunity to chair) and much, much more!

This year, the LDP will be tasked with engaging the wider community even more in PPI-SA's activities and mission.

One of the highlights for me so far has been the chance to have input into the strengthening of PPI-SA’s Leadership Development Program through PPI-SA’s Basketball and LDP Committees. Beginning this semester, a new scoring system will be implemented, in which Boys and Girls LDP teams will have the opportunity to accumulate points not solely based on on-court performance, but also through a variety of community service and personal development activities. These include hosting basketball clinics for Primary School Program (PSP) participants in their respective areas, having high team attendance rates during basketball practices and life skills sessions, having high fan levels at LDP home games, and for fundraising efforts in and around each team’s community.

In addition, PPI-SA’s LDP Committee will be working on the development of an LDP Leadership Weekend, where LDP participants will spend a weekend together fostering leadership and life skills, receiving a higher level of HIV/AIDS education and socializing with peers from other areas. Following the first week of LDP practices, the teams are extremely excited and are looking forward to the first round of LDP Games, on Saturday, August 14th and the semester ahead.

Needless to say, I’m also very excited for the next two years of my Fellowship with PPI-SA. The opportunity to truly immerse myself in a new culture and have the opportunity to impact young lives daily through basketball and life skills is exhilarating. Thank you to PeacePlayers and to each one of its generous, selfless supporters for this extraordinary opportunity!

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by | June 24, 2010 · 4:19 pm

PPI – SA Says Goodbye to Tim Roche

PeacePlayers International Fellow Tim Roche leaves South Africa at the end of this month after two years of great work with our program. Our other PPI Fellow in South Africa, Claire Perry, asked various members of the PPI-SA community to help us say goodbye by sharing their experiences with Tim in a video. We would like to say thank you to Tim and we wish him the best of luck.

Check out the video below:

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by | April 5, 2010 · 1:56 pm

What Is a “PeacePlayers International Fellow”?

Mike, a former Fellow in the Middle East, draws up a play.

Ellen, a current Fellow in Northern Ireland, giving a young PeacePlayer a lift.

“From the Field” is primarily the work of a particular group within PeacePlayers International, the “PeacePlayers International Fellows,” a group of young scholar-athletes that volunteer with PPI all around the world. Most of the time, what you read here is written by a Fellow, and when it isn’t, they’ve usually gone out and done the leg work to recruit an alternate contributor.  But the Fellows’ importance to PPI goes far beyond a few hundred words and some pretty pictures each week – they form a key element in the partnership at the heart of PPI’s methodology.

The primary implementers of programs in all our sites are local coach-mentors drawn from the communities they serve, who report to, and receive ongoing professional training from, a diverse team of local managers, continually cultivating local capacity and expertise. To support these local leaders, PPI recruits and trains the Fellows – outstanding post-collegiate young adults, most often from the United States, who volunteer with PPI programs abroad for two-year terms. The Fellows are in the field to assist and support local staffs – serving as neutral facilitators, adding in-house basketball expertise, bringing an exotic element of excitement and fun, and lending a hand across all functional areas. This unique collaboration between young adults and community leaders abroad underlies all of PPI’s locally tailored, sustainable basketball and peacebuilding programs.

Tim (right), a Fellow in South Africa, with S'bo Vilakazi (center), PPI - SA's Managing Director, and Ryan Douwie (left), PPI - SA's Operations Manager.

Fellows typically come to PPI with a Bachelor’s degree and either a graduate degree or a few years of professional experience. Their background is diverse – right now PPI has Fellows with backgrounds in business, finance, sports, Middle East studies, nonprofit administration and more – but they’re all leaders, professionals, and devoted workers for peace. Previous Fellows have gone on to work for the NBA, the United Nations, and Division I NCAA basketball programs, or attend graduate schools like Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, just to name a few.

So to our current crop of Fellows – Tim, Claire, Ellen, Will, Julie, Rory, Gunnar, and Adam – thank you so much for your work! To our previous Fellows – too numerous to name here – know that your work is appreciated and extended continually by your successors. And if you think you might be a future Fellow, visit our website to learn more.

Teams from North Nicosia and the English School in Cyprus, with their Fellows, Rory (top row, far right), Gunnar (top row, far left), and Adam (bottom row, with basketball).

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by | March 26, 2010 · 1:31 pm

The New PeacePlayers International Fellows: Adam Hirsch and Gunnar Hagstrom

Gunnar (top far left) and Adam (first row center with the basketball) at last week's twinning between North Nicosia and the English School.

Just last week, PPI – CY received two fresh recruits from the United States: Adam Hirsch and Gunnar Hagstrom. Adam and Gunnar will be here for two years serving as PeacePlayers International Fellows.  The entire staff here is excited and already impressed with their attitude, hard work, and insatiable appetite for Cypriot cuisine. Below  are a few paragraphs from the Fellows themselves on their first week in Cyprus:

Adam and Demetra (wearing Adam's sunglasses) at Agios Antonios in Limassol this past week.

From Adam: Cyprus at last! I am so excited to be here and part of PeacePlayers International. From the moment I stepped off the plane, I knew I had a long journey ahead of me, full of new friends, crazy adventures and rewarding experiences. After deciding to move half-way around the world, I expected to make a few cultural faux pas. My first came when I ordered my first Frappe, Cyprus’ version of a Frappacino. As it was a typical hot Cypriot day, I quickly slurped down my drink, only to find my Cypriot compatriots sitting around me laughing at my social blunder. I later found out that Frappes, like many things on the island, are meant to be enjoyed slowly, taking careful sips over a 30-45 minute period.

Despite a rocky start ordering in the cafes, I have felt right at home on the basketball court. On my second day, Gunnar, Rory and I crossed the Green Line to help run our first practice in Lapta/Lapithos. It is a 30-minute drive to the north coast of the island, where we ran our practice at a local school. When we arrived we found 20 13-year-old Turkish-Cypriot girls running around. One girl liked my sunglasses, so I let her wear them during the practice. The court where we played was outside and the Pentadaktylos Mountains were right above us. It was an amazing backdrop. I found myself playing games with the girls and just staring at the mountains.

Getting to know the kids has been the best part of my experience so far. While it is great to see them having fun on the basketball court, I am constantly reminded of the conflict that they have to live with everyday. Even though I had read about the history of Cyprus’ conflict, nothing compares to being here, and seeing that faces of the people that it affects. Rory told me one story about a Greek-Cypriot family and a Turkish-Cypriot family that were forced to leave their respective homes after 1974 and travel to opposite sides of the island. After 30 years they were finally able to visit their old homes, when they realized that, completely by accident, the two families had moved into each other’s houses. After hearing the story I turned to Rory and said, “Wow, what are the odds of that?” Rory replied, “Impossible.”

From Gunnar:It’s hard to believe that just one week ago I was on a plane headed to the Larnaca Airport to become one of the two new Fellows for the PPI-CY program for the next two years.  Since I’ve landed, it has been a whirlwind of events, meetings, kebabs, frappes and personal introductions; I feel like I have already been on the island for months with all of the new faces I have met.

Gunnar with Mete (left) and everyones favorite, Orestive (right), stretching before last week's twinning.

My week was highlighted by my introductions to the various programs on both sides of the island, and the first program I visited was the girls team in Lapta/Lapithos with Coach Fatosh.  In Lapta, the girls ran me ragged in games of “21.” Part of this I could attribute to Jet Lag, but the other, more significant excuse was all of the cakes they had brought to celebrate the birthday of one of the Lapta girls.  There were at least four different cakes, and as I am learning, a true Cypriot never turns down a meal, so I had a slice from all four.

The most memorable experience of my week came on our visit to the Agios Antonios school in Limassol.  We arrived in the southern port and the sun was blaring down (I got my first Cypriot sunburn). At 1pm the practice started and the boys and girls of PPI-CY’s Limassol program came literally sprinting out of their classes over to the blacktop.  Coach Maria and Coach Ethimios got the kids stretching and loose, and soon there was a match to be had.  Adam, Rory and myself all had chances to participate in the match, and the most memorable thing happened when, after Rory air-balled a routine 15 foot jump shot, chants of “Rory, Rory, Rory” echoed from the sideline from a group of 3rd and 4th grade girls sitting on the fence that runs adjacent to the court.  I tried to convince them (via hand gestures and facial expressions) to chant “Gunnar, Gunnar, Gunnar”, but it was to no avail.

One week in and there are many more stories I could tell.  The people have been great and the kids have been incredible.  Can’t wait for the next 103 weeks!

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by | January 27, 2010 · 6:00 am

Welcome Claire Perry: PPI-SA’s Newest Fellow

Who better to introduce Claire Perry, our newest PeacePlayers International Fellow in South Africa, than herself?  Please read Claire’s entry on her journey through basketball and non-profit work, which culminated last week with a PPI Fellowship.

Claire on the court for Cornell.

Ask any one of my family or friends my goal in life and they will simply answer, “PeacePlayers.”  For what seems like the longest time, I have wanted to be, and worked to be, a PeacePlayers International Fellow, and I finally can say all my unlikely decisions and choices have paid off.  I am now a PPI Fellow for the next two years in Durban, South Africa.  And it feels good!

Basketball was introduced to me at age four by my many siblings (youngest of five) and parents.  Fortunately, after hundreds of hours of shooting and gaming in our backyard, and countless practices and tournaments within the nation (courtesy of my parents and siblings driving and supporting me during these endeavors), I played basketball throughout college at Cornell University.  As an economics and business major, when fellow classmates were searching for finance internships and analyst positions post-graduation, I searched for non-profit positions within the sport-for-social change sector.  PPI initially sparked my interest when my mom found an article in a national newspaper that highlighted PPI’s Northern Ireland program.  What I found most amazing about PPI, and subsequently the following programs I would work for, is how sport was taught as more than a game.  Since reading that article, my goal was to be involved in as many sport-for-social change programs as possible, leading eventually to a position within PPI.

Harlem RBI was my first introduction to this particular sector and my experiences only strengthened my desire to continue working with sport and youth.  RBI’s positive influence within their beautiful community has strengthened the area by teaching a baseball-, life skills-, and literacy-based curriculum to elementary, middle, and high school youth.  The results for RBI participants are clear: those involved in safe, stimulating activities during out-of-school and summer time score higher on tests, attend school more regularly, and matriculate high school on a higher percentage when compared to their classmates not involved in similar programs.

Claire (far right) and the Perry family.

After graduation, I continued my involvement with sports as a volunteer coach for Keene State, a Division III school, while working full time as a business analyst within the wholesale grocery business.  Always at the front of my mind, however, were my experiences at RBI and this constant desire to return to a similar RBI experience.  Next came the unusual decision of leaving a very secure and comfortable job to volunteer with AmeriCorps.  Similar to the RBI curriculum, I taught tennis, literacy, and life skills to Boston, Dorchester, and Roxbury middle school youth with Tenacity, another sport-for-social change non-profit organization.  After a brief time coaching area youth in my hometown after AmeriCorps year, I am now working for PPI.

I have talked and dreamt about PeacePlayers for so long now, of the program’s unmatched ability to bridge racial, religious, and ethnic barriers and teach awareness of HIV/AIDS and differing cultures through the medium of basketball, that to say I am actually working for PPI seems unreal. I used to read through this very blog, wondering what it would be like to be the one writing, to experience the Fellowship instead of just talking about the program. And now here I am, introducing myself as South Africa’s new PPI Fellow. Very surreal, indeed.

I am excited for the next two years as I serve under and with the most welcoming and amazing SA staff, coaches, and players.  I’m no longer hoping and wishing; I’m living my dream.  Thank you PeacePlayers!

P.S. Want to take a simple action to support Claire and PeacePlayers International?  PPI is now eligible for inclusion in the latest edition of CauseWorld, a mobile app that lets you earn “karmas” – badges backed up by donations from Citi and Kraft – for your favorite causes just by visiting your own local hangouts. Vote for PPI to be one of three new Causes included in this round. (You can find us fourth from the bottom of the list on the right.) There’s no registration required and, with just a few seconds of your time, you’ll help Claire and others like her continue working to improve the lives of children in divided communities all over the world!

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by | January 6, 2010 · 2:41 pm

The American Ireland Fund

For most children, sport conjures images of fun-filled pep-rallies, friendly school rivalries and team spirit—an experience that typically unifies children from diverse backgrounds. But, historically, for children in Northern Ireland this has not been the case.

The website even has a system set up to allow you to send PPI - NI photos like this one as e-cards.

While that may sound like the beginning of our next PSA, it wasn’t written by PeacePlayers International (We promise). Instead, that’s the beginning of a wonderful look at our work put together by The American Ireland Fund, one of PPI – Northern Ireland’s oldest and most generous funders. If you’d like a quick immersion in all that we do in Northern Ireland, there might not be any better place than the home they’ve set up for our work on their website.

A PPI-NI Fellow watching the kids at work.

It includes thoughts on PPI – NI from Matt Quinn, a young PPI Fellow at the time, as well as Dave Cullen, a former coach and Board Member who won an ESPY in 2007 with current PPI – NI Board Member Trevor Ringland for their work bridging divides in Belfast. Writes Cullen:

I can remember saying to myself, “What the hell do these Americans know about the troubles in NI! How dare they think they can use our problems and turn it into a romantic fundraiser in New York and D.C.!”

Five years later, he was working for PPI – NI.

The site also contains a live link to a short documentary produced by ESPN on Trevor and Dave’s journey, and a note from Page Tucker, a PPI – NI supporter based in Dallas, who visited our program in Febuary 2007.

The American Ireland Fund is the American branch of the Ireland Funds, “an international charitable organisation operating in 12 countries [that] has raised over $300 million for worthy causes in Ireland.” The organization aims to be the largest network of individuals of Irish ancestry and friends of Ireland in the world dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community development throughout the island of Ireland. The Ireland Funds have supported over 1,200 organizations in Ireland. PPI is extremely grateful for the generosity and support of the American Ireland Fund and its donors.

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