Ultimate Peace

Folks,

This was passed on by Rachel Abrams and I think that some of you would like to know about this, and possibly even donate. It sounds like a great cause.

Coach Heather

Hello,
I am writing about a very serious issue. Many places around the globe are at war with each other and it never seems to end. Well, a fellow Ultimate player has decided to do something about it -

David Barkan has led and played on The Jam (1979-1980: SF South Bay), Hostages (1980-84: Boston), East Bay Firestorm (1988-91: Oakland), Double Happiness (1992-1995: San Francisco), and Matza Balls (1995-present: SF Bay Area).

Last year David co-founded the Ultimate Peace organization whose mission is to bring youth in war torn areas around the globe together through Ultimate, and for their first project is working with the Peres Center for Peace in Israel. They are traveling to the area in April 2009 and will lead a youth Ultimate training and leadership program with hundreds of disadvantaged Israeli and Palestinian kids who would likely otherwise see the other only as an enemy. The American coaches will convene a clinic and tournament with all the kids and their respective coaches in Tel Aviv, then travel to the various communities and continue the work locally. The goal is let these young people play Ultimate with each other and learn they can all get along.

This will be a "first of its kind" and with David's experience from his Matza Balls team trip to Israel in 2005, he has the potential to sow the seeds of peace. If you have 5 minutes, this Peres Center for Peace video is amazing and makes it very easy to imagine how perfect Ultimate could be to promote understanding. If you love sport, this is a must see video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEGyHhZavYU

Personal donations are needed now to pay for the following:

• Equip each youth with full uniforms, including 2 jerseys, one pair of shorts, hat, and professional disc.
• Support local teachers/coaches to continue teaching Ultimate with official Ultimate Peace coaching manuals in Arabic and Hebrew.
• Help transport and house the volunteer coaches from the USA.
• Support the production of the event-insurance/licensing/site/medical/food.
• Send participants back home with gear (Ultimate field sets, discs for the community, dvds).

Please check out this amazing project and consider a donation. This could be the best investment any of us make in 2009. You can learn more and make a donation from their website: http://www.ultimatepeace.org

Many thanks and Happy and Healthy New Year,

Joe