Kori Ellis
03-03-2005, 04:39 PM
SAN ANTONIO SPURS PLEDGE SUPPORT TO PLAYING FOR PEACE
Donation Provides for Year of Basketball Diplomacy in South Africa
San Antonio – The San Antonio Spurs announced today they have donated $25,000 to Playing for Peace. Playing for Peace is a unique and widely recognized non-profit organization that utilizes basketball to bridge divides and develop future leaders. The Spurs donation will be used to fund the peace and reconciliation efforts of a post-collegiate scholar-athlete to work with Playing for Peace in South Africa.
Zach Leverenz, a 2001 graduate of Dickinson College, PA, has been selected to be the recipient of the Spurs donation. In January of 2005 he began his term as a South African Program Director. Stationed in Durban, a society plagued by poverty, racial divides, and a burgeoning HIV/AIDS epidemic, Leverenz will work closely with a staff of 80 local South Africans to break down barriers, train young adults to be mentors and to educate children about AIDS and other critical health issues. In 2005, the Playing for Peace program will engage over 20,000 black, white and Indian children from across community lines through the implementation of inclusive basketball leagues, clubs, tournaments and life skills clinics.
“Through this generous sponsorship of Playing for Peace, the San Antonio Spurs have clearly defined themselves as an organization committed to the education and the health of children both locally and abroad,” said Brendan Tuohey, Executive Director of Playing for Peace.
About Playing for Peace
Playing for Peace, www.playingforpeace.org, is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC with operations in South Africa, Northern Ireland and the Middle East that uses basketball as a vehicle to bridge divides and develop leaders. Playing for Peace assists thousands of children overcome legacies of fear, hopelessness, and disease. In addition to winning the 2002 Power of Good award, which honors an organization that is doing “great good” in the area of sport and education, Playing for Peace was also nominated for the 2002 Reebok Humans Rights award and was featured on CBS Sunday Morning last March.
Donation Provides for Year of Basketball Diplomacy in South Africa
San Antonio – The San Antonio Spurs announced today they have donated $25,000 to Playing for Peace. Playing for Peace is a unique and widely recognized non-profit organization that utilizes basketball to bridge divides and develop future leaders. The Spurs donation will be used to fund the peace and reconciliation efforts of a post-collegiate scholar-athlete to work with Playing for Peace in South Africa.
Zach Leverenz, a 2001 graduate of Dickinson College, PA, has been selected to be the recipient of the Spurs donation. In January of 2005 he began his term as a South African Program Director. Stationed in Durban, a society plagued by poverty, racial divides, and a burgeoning HIV/AIDS epidemic, Leverenz will work closely with a staff of 80 local South Africans to break down barriers, train young adults to be mentors and to educate children about AIDS and other critical health issues. In 2005, the Playing for Peace program will engage over 20,000 black, white and Indian children from across community lines through the implementation of inclusive basketball leagues, clubs, tournaments and life skills clinics.
“Through this generous sponsorship of Playing for Peace, the San Antonio Spurs have clearly defined themselves as an organization committed to the education and the health of children both locally and abroad,” said Brendan Tuohey, Executive Director of Playing for Peace.
About Playing for Peace
Playing for Peace, www.playingforpeace.org, is a non-profit organization based in Washington, DC with operations in South Africa, Northern Ireland and the Middle East that uses basketball as a vehicle to bridge divides and develop leaders. Playing for Peace assists thousands of children overcome legacies of fear, hopelessness, and disease. In addition to winning the 2002 Power of Good award, which honors an organization that is doing “great good” in the area of sport and education, Playing for Peace was also nominated for the 2002 Reebok Humans Rights award and was featured on CBS Sunday Morning last March.