World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk 2016

Saturday, September 24, 2016 | 11 AM to 3 PMBartlett Nature Center | Bartlett, IL

Every dollar we raise helps bring laughter, compassion and peace to kids in Chicago

and around the world.

SponsorshipOpportunities

Play for Peace is a global 501(c)3 nonprofit organization based in Chicago, IL. The organization aims at training and supporting young leaders who inspire compassion in action and build friendships with peers across ethnic, social, economic and religious backgrounds. Aiming to eradicate division and violence by sowing seeds of peace in society, youth associated with Play for Peace lead peace education programs for children and organize community service projects.

The OrganizationMission

To bring together children, youth and organizations from communities in conflict, using

cooperative play to create laughter, compassion

and peace.

VisionTo ignite learning initiatives in regions around the globe, networking as one unified

community that contributes to a more peaceful world.

Our Global Presence

With more than 2,200 members, we have 56 Play for Peace Clubs at workin 20 countries and dedicated volunteers working in 30 countries.Where Play for Peace exists, peace itself grows. In the rough neighborhoods of Chicago, Denver, and Los Angeles, we help young people become peacebuilders. In areas of conflict or tragedy, such as Guatemala, India, Israel, Nepal, the Philippines and South Sudan, we bring the joy of play that helps people form friendships across divides.With a small staff and global network of volunteers, this vibrant global learning community dedicates more than 86% of funds raised to its transformative local and global programs.

Play for Peace is spread across the globe in the form of Play for Peace Clubs. Each club functions primarily to unite communities experiencing division, fear and hostility. Through community service activities and our signature Practice Peace Sessions, these clubs have helped bring experiences of peace to their communities among people of all age groups.

Where Are We Located?

CanadaChinaChileEl SalvadorGuatemalaHaitiIndiaIsraelKenyaMexicoMoroccoNepalNorwayPakistanPalestinePhilippinesSenegalSouth AfricaSouth SudanSri LankaVietnamUnited States

Countries

Practice Peace SessionsPlay for Peace Club activities primarily include Practice Peace Sessions, which encourage laughter, connection and compassion among young children. This comes at a time when children are forming a sense of self, an awareness of others, and basic ideas about interactions with people whom they perceive as different. In Practice Peace Sessions, young leaders use educational play tactics that foster teamwork, inclusion, and fun. By providing a safe environment, we ensure that children have the opportunity to play with peers from diverse cultures. They form new friendships and realize that the so-called “enemy” is a worthy of being a “friend.” Play becomes a powerful ingredient in building and sustaining peace.

What Do We Do?

A Play for Peace GameOne example of a Play for Peace game involves a hula hoop, in which the group stands in a circle and holds hands. The facilitator hooks the hula hoop over his or her arm and closes the circle by joining hands with everyone. The aim of the game is to step through the hula hoop and pass it along to the person to the left or right without letting go of anyone’s hands. The hula hoop can be passed around the circle quickly or slowly. This simple exercise brings the group together and gets everyone laughing and having fun. There is no winner or loser of this simple game, and people enjoy cheering each other on. Participants learn to be part of a team and enjoy accomplishing something together.

Our clubs are also involved in community service. This involves activities ranging from developing artwork that encourages people to consider the meaning of peace to visiting nursing homes, orphanages or other organizations that serve marginalized people.

Involving the CommunityOur clubs have also demonstrated leadership in communities, and have involved local families and community leaders in their activities. One such example involves reclaiming a mountain in the town of Palencia, Guatemala. For many years during the civil war, soldiers and rebel fighters hid in the mountains. Once the war was over, drug lords often occupied these remote areas. People feared visiting these mountains, so the simple act of hiking in the wilderness as a group was empowering. Supported by businesses and the local municipality, our club reclaimed the beautiful space for families to enjoy by making trails and posting signs that would help families feel safe hiking. This was an important community activity that brought people together in the name of peace.

Here are just a few of the testimonials we’ve heard from the young children, youth facilitators and adult mentors who are part of our global community:

The positive change we aim to achieve is not only within the children and youth participating in the play sessions, but also within any member or community associated with Play for Peace.

Changing the Life of a Child“Play for Peace showed me that everybody can play, not just people from one color...every color, and you can just have fun.”

Saving a Young Life“I was ditching school, now I’m finally passing... I was doing bad things but Play for Peace has set me on the right path.”

Transforming a Community“I asked the children what they wanted to be when they grew up and a 10 year old said he will be a terrorist. I was shocked. Then I spoke about peace.”

Supporting Local Leaders of Peace“I have been able to make changes in children by using what I learned with Play for Peace. It took us time to see that these are not just games, but ways to change children.”

Our Intangible Impacts

Play for Peace Successes

Funds raised throughout our event in 2015 contributed to some great successes for Play for Peace during the past year. Thanks in part to our participants and sponsors, we accomplished the following:• Formed new Play for Peace Clubs in Chicago, Denver, Israel and Myanmar• Implemented the Inquiry Into Impact Project, to measure our impact in communities around the

world• Conducted programs that helped prevent bullying and gang violence, while developing nearly

1,700 youth leaders• Helped our members respond to a terrorist attack in Pakistan and major earthquakes in Nepal• Traveled to Baltimore, India, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and South Sudan to help build our

programs• Formed a new collaboration with Compassion Games International, which has

helped to inspire and engage our young leaders. In 2015, the Play for Peace Community mobilized more than 3,650 people for activities that demonstrated compassion in Canada, Guatemala, India, Mexico, Pakistan and the USA.

Future PlansThrough our global network of volunteers, sponsors and trainers, we are always creating opportunities to expand our work into new areas, both locally and globally. During the coming year, we have several exciting plans in development. With your help, we will be able to extend Play for Peace to many new communities in Chicago and around the world.

Event DetailsThis year’s Fall Run/Walk takes place at the Bartlett Nature Center on Saturday, September 24. The event honors World Peace Day, which is officially recognized by the United Nations and is celebrated globally. We will host a new 5k Fall Run, along with a 1k Nature Walk that is family- and child-friendly. Festivities include an international food festival, silent auction, face painting and cooperative games.This event is a fun, healthy way to celebrate World Peace Day and kick off the Fall season. More importantly, it is also the largest fundraiser for Play for Peace, providing support for our efforts to help children in Chicagoland and in areas of conflict all over the world.In 2016, participants are encouraged to form teams with their coworkers, friends and families to raise funds, with their choice of either the 5k Run or 1k Nature Walk. This year’s event is expected to increase participation by 50%.

Play for Peace will host its annual 5k World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk at the Bartlett Nature Center. The family-friendly event brings children, youth and adults together for a fundraising run/walk that helps support Play for Peace Clubs in Chicago and around the world.

HistoryThe core of our Run/Walk was created four years ago when a young boy, Aidan Hennessy, was inspired by seeing youth from Play for Peace in Guatemala on a Skype exchange with employees of his mother’s company. In his kindergarten class, he wrote that if he had $100, he would give it to his mom’s company to raise money for the kids he saw in Play for Peace. Based on Aidan’s moving statement, Lisa Gelsomino decided to honor her son’s wishes and helped create what is now the Fall Run/Walk as a fundraising component of Play for Peace’s existing World Peace Day Celebration in Bartlett, Illinois.

World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk

• Arlington Heights• Aurora• Bartlett• Bensenville• Bolingbrook• Buffalo Grove• Chicago• Des Plaines

• Downers Grove• Elk Grove Village• Frankfort• Griffith• Itasca• Niles• Patna• Prospect Heights

• Rockford• Rolling Meadows• Sycamore• Wayne • West Chicago• West Dundee

Communities Represented at the World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk:

Participant DemographicsIn 2015, 150 children and adults raised $35,000 through the Walk for Peace. Nearly half of the participants were school-age children from 4 to 14, and were actively involved in all of the activities hosted at the Bartlett Nature Center. The majority of walkers were adults ages 25-55 from Bartlett and surrounding communities.More than 50 businesses and community organizations participated last year as in-kind donors to the silent auction, food festival, activities and as sponsors.

World Peace Day Fall Run/

Walk Goal:250 participants and

event sponsors raise $50,000

With participation growing each year since our inaugural year in 2011, the World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk provides an excellent opportunity for local businesses to reach an affluent community of walkers who are concerned about making a difference locally and globally. Participants spend four hours on the grounds of the Bartlett Nature Center, participating in interactive activities, bidding on silent auction items and viewing displays. Event sponsors have ample opportunities for product promotion and visibility both in the Start/Finish area and along the routes.There are two types of sponsorships available for the Run/Walk: Premium Sponsorships and Route Sponsorships.

Premium sponsors make donations and receive visibility both at the World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk and with the Play for Peace global community.

Gold Sponsor - $1,000Benefits• Premium space to display a large logo on website, banners and walkers t-shirts • Opportunity to distribute flyers or coupons at Registration• Mentions in up to twelve World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk e-newsletters and four Play for Peace

blog posts• Display booth at Start/Finish area

Purple Sponsor - $500Benefits• Logo placement on website, banners and t-shirts• Mentions in up to six World Peace Day Fall Run/

Walk e-newsletters and four Play for Peace blog posts

• Display booth at Start/Finish area

Premium Sponsorships

Sponsorship Packages

Green Sponsor - $250Benefits• Logo placement on website• Mention in up to six World Peace

Day Fall Run/Walk e-newsletters and four Play for Peace blog posts

• Display at Start/Finish area

Route sponsors make cash and in-kind donations that add to the festivities of the World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk. They receive visibility opportunities at the Run/Walk and in event-related communications.

Start/Finish Sponsor - $750 (one available)The Start/Finish sponsor provides entertainment for runners and walkers before and after the 5k run and 1k walk, which can include musicians, inflatables, characters, walker goodie bags and product giveaways.Benefits• Logo placement on event website, banners, and event t-shirts• Opportunity to provide goodie bags to participants with your corporate logo• Opportunity to distribute promotional items to participants at Registration• Mention in up six World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk e-newsletters and four Play for Peace blog posts• Display booth at Start/Finish area

Water Station Sponsor Finish Line - $500 (one available); Run & Walk Routes - $350 (three available)Water Station sponsors provide volunteers, water, snacks, and entertainment at designated stations along the routes.Benefits• Opportunity to display corporate banner and signage at water station• Opportunity for product and promotional giveaways• Logo placement on event website• Mention in up to six World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk e-newsletters and four Play for Peace blog posts

Mission Sign - $100 (ten available)Mission signs are displayed along the 5k walk route and help educate participants about the work of Play for Peace around the world.Benefits• Logo placement on one Play for Peace mission sign along

walk route• Mention in three World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk

e-newsletters and two Play for Peace blog posts

Exclusive Route Sponsorships

Play for Peace is willing to negotiate additional sponsorship opportunities with potential sponsors. Please call (312) 675-8568 or email us at info@playforpeace.org for more information.

Walk for Peace CommitteeLisa Gelsomino, Play for Peace Board Vice ChairJohn Guarrine, Play for Peace Board ChairRon Kovich, Board MemberSarah Gough, Executive DirectorImroz Shah, Global Operations ManagerKatie BaumannDenise ChipmanMaria Dell’IsolaBianca GarciaAnbern Rodis GuarrineManan JunejaHeather Lee

Play for Peace500 N. Michigan Avenue,

Suite 600Chicago, IL 60611 USA

(312) 675-8568

Sarah Gough, Executive Director

For more information about local and global programs, visit

www.playforpeace.org

World Peace Day Fall Run/Walk 2016:

http://www.crowdrise.com/PeaceDayRunWalk2016

For more information about Fall Run/Walk sponsorships, please call (312) 675-8568 or email us at

info@playforpeace.org.