PeacePlayers International - Northern Ireland (PPI - NI) - 5.15.08

New York Dinner 2008
This year, the key beneficiary of the New York Dinner 2008 was the wonderful American not for profit – PeacePlayers International – which brings children in divided societies together through the neutral sport of basketball. 

PeacePlayers recently launched a program involving two schools in North Belfast.  This may not seem that monumental. 

However, these were the two schools at the center of the “Holy Cross Riots” of 2003 – the dreadful occasion when children going to Holy Cross School were jeered and hissed at by children from Wheatfield School. They had to endure a barrage of abuse and pipe bomb attacks. This incident represented sectarianism at its worst in Northern Ireland with children displaying hatred for children. Against this background, the fact that PeacePlayers now have established a basketball program between the two schools makes this news very special. 

- Kieran McLoughlin, President, The American Ireland Fund

Holy Cross and Wheatfield -- in North Belfast
PeacePlayers International - Northern Ireland (PPI - NI) recently conducted its first court launches at two primary schools -- Holy Cross and Wheatfield -- in North Belfast. PPI - NI has been coaching in North Belfast for nearly two years, yet until now the only hoops in the small halls have been netball hoops. As you will see in the attached photos, the new, portable PPI - NI-branded hoops were unveiled in front of a group of more than 50 children.

As many of you are aware, we have focused a great deal of effort on the Holy Cross and Wheatfield schools. The children will come together today for a day-long event at the Queens PEC. Last year, we had two separate buses transport the children despite the schools being directly across the street from each other. This year, children from both schools will ride together which is a small, but very significant step for the community of North Belfast.

On behalf of PeacePlayers International - Northern Ireland, we are grateful for your generous support of our work and The American Ireland Fund's outstanding investment in our program.

- Alexis Harrigan, PeacePlayers International

Info
Kieran McLoughlin
T - 212-689-3100
E - kmcloughlin@irlfunds.org