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/

Copyright