PeacePlayers International Leaders Receive Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2007 ESPYs
16 Luglio 2007 - 4:36PM
PR Newswire (US)
NEW YORK, July 16 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Ireland Fund
announced today that Trevor Ringland and David Cullen - volunteers
with PeacePlayers International - received the prestigious Arthur
Ashe Courage Award at The 2007 ESPYs. PeacePlayers International -
Northern Ireland is among the American Ireland Fund's leading
philanthropic causes in Northern Ireland. The awards ceremony was
held at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre and was televised on Sunday, July
15, 2007 on ESPN. In Northern Ireland, the sport a child plays
indicates from which side of the community they come. Sport is a
major cause of division there. PeacePlayers International
introduced basketball - an American import - as a neutral sport
that could be embraced by all. Today, over 4,000 Catholic and
Protestant children participate in the PeacePlayers International
program. The American Ireland Fund is a lead supporter, having
contributed over $500,000 since 2003. The Arthur Ashe Courage Award
was accepted by Trevor Ringland, a Protestant, who is a former
rugby star and an American Ireland Fund member, and Dave Cullen, a
Catholic who grew up playing basketball to escape the realities of
terror in Northern Ireland. "We are delighted that Trevor Ringland
and Dave Cullen, two of PPI - Northern Ireland's key leaders, were
honored with this humanitarian award. It is wonderful that their
work with PeacePlayers International, an organization with which we
are so closely involved, is being recognized," said Bob McCann,
President, Global Private Client Group, Merrill Lynch & Co.,
Inc. and Board Member of The American Ireland Fund. "Growing up
surrounded by the turmoil in Northern Ireland, Trevor and Dave rose
above it all, dedicating their time to bringing children together
at a young age through a sport that has no religious affiliation.
They were inspired to do so by PeacePlayers International and we
salute them for this much deserved honor." About The Arthur Ashe
Courage Award: The award is presented each year to sports men and
women whose achievements transcend sports. Additional past
recipients include: Jim Valvano (1993), Steve Palermo (1994),
Howard Cosell (1995), Loretta Claiborne (1996), Muhammad Ali
(1997), Dean Smith (1998), Billie Jean King (1999), Dave Sanders
(2000), Olympian Cathy Freeman (2001), Todd Beamer, Mark Bingham,
Tom Burnett and Jeremy Glick, four passengers who lost their lives
September 11 on United Flight 93 (2002), Pat and Kevin Tillman
(2003) and Liberian-born soccer legend George Weah (2004). About
The American Ireland Fund: The American Ireland Fund is the leading
worldwide network of people of Irish ancestry and friends of
Ireland dedicated to raising funds to support programs of peace and
reconciliation, arts and culture, education and community
development for the island of Ireland. With operations in 11
countries, the Ireland Funds have created a unique global network
of people with an interest in Ireland and have to date raised over
$300 million for more than 1,200 non-profit organizations in
Ireland. About Peace Players International: PeacePlayers
International (http://www.peaceplayersintl.org/) was founded in
2001 by brothers, Sean and Brendan Tuohey, on the premise that
"children who play together can learn to live together."
PeacePlayers International's mission is to use basketball to unite
and educate young people in divided regions. The organization
currently operates year-round basketball and educational programs
in Northern Ireland; South Africa; Israel/West Bank; and Cyprus,
reaching more than 45,000 children. In September 2007, PeacePlayers
International plans to launch its first domestic program in New
Orleans. PeacePlayers International is led by young adults from the
United States and around the globe who serve as coaches, mentors
and leaders. DATASOURCE: The American Ireland Fund CONTACT: Theresa
Kelleher of FD, +1-212-850-5663, for The American Ireland Fund; or
Keri Potts of ESPN, +1-212-916-9243 Web site:
http://www.peaceplayersintl.org/
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