International Peace Games

Peace Games is a nonprofit organization based in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded on the simple belief that violence is learned; and if violence can be learned, so can the skills of peacemaking. Peace Games works to teach children how to cooperate, communicate, and resolve conflicts without fighting by initiating a 3 year program for students in grades K-8. Peace Games currently serves 17 schools throughout Boston, New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles.

History and Founders

Peace Games was born from the vision of Dr. Francelia Butler, who brought together the power of play with the power of peace. She created a daylong festival that provided the opportunity for children to share games, laughter, communication, friendship and conflict resolution – the building blocks for a peaceful future. In 1992, Dr. Butler sought a long-term sponsor for her work. She chose Phillips Brooks House Association, Harvard University ’s Center for Social Service, as the new home for Peace Games. Students at Harvard University ran peace Games until 1996 when, under the leadership of Harvard graduate and Echoing Green and Ashoka fellow Eric D. Dawson, Peace Games became an independent nonprofit organization and proud member of the AmeriCorps National Service Network In 2000, Peace Games opened its second office in Los Angeles. After great bicoastal success, Peace Games became a national organization in 2005, doubling in size by partnering with schools in both New York City and Chicago. To date, Peace Games celebrates having worked with over 40,000 elementary and middle school students, recruiting and training over 3,000 college and community volunteers, and working with nearly 10,000 family members to encourage peacemaking at home.

The Peace Games Mission

Peace Games empowers students to create their own safe classrooms and communities by forming partnerships with elementary schools, families, and young adult volunteers.

Partner Schools

Peace Games currently operates in 17 schools across 4 cities. Boston, Peace Games birthplace and National Headquarters, is partnered with the following schools: Oliver W. Holmes School, Cathedral Grammar School, St. Patrick's Grammar School, Maurice J. Tobin Elementary School, James J. Chittick Elementary School, Nathan Hale Elementary School, Thomas J. Kenny Elementary School, The Fletcher-Maynard Academy, and Mission Grammar School.

New York partner schools include: Hudson Honors Middle School, PS 191, PS 208, and PS 185.

In Los Angeles, Peace Games partners are: Norwood Elementary School, Tom Bradley Environmental Science and Humanities Magnet Charter School, and 186th Street School. In Chicago, Peace Games operates in The Lowell School.

Results and Statistics

The Peace Games Institute Evaluation findings from 2006-2007 school year show that students feel safe in their schools and that they continue to act as peacemakers in their daily interactions with peers. Specifically:

*47 percent of students in 3rd-8th grades reported that Peace Games helped reduce levels of fighting and 66 percent reported that Peace Games helped to increase levels of peacemaking

*Approximately 50 percent of students reported frequent examples of peacemaking citing that they always or often:
**Offered to help other students in class (52%)
**Shared school materials with other students (55%)
**Invited other students into recess games (48%)
**Got involved in community service projects (59%)
**Students reported that they seldom or never observed or engaged in the following peace breaking behaviors
**Students refuse to play with me (75%)
**Students push or shove me (75%)
**Students try to hurt or hit me (61%)
**Students try to hurt my feelings (61%)

*Most students (72 percent) reported that they can walk away from a fight without feeling like a coward

Funding Sources

Since the beginning in 1992, Peace Games has relied on a blend of individual, foundation, corporation, and public support. In the 2006-2007 Fiscal Year, 34 percent of funding came from foundations, 32 percent from individuals, 11 percent from events, 9 percent from earned income, 9 percent from corporations, 3 percent miscellaneous, and 2 percent from government.

Corporate Sponsorship

Peace Games has been able to grow thanks to numerous corporate partnerships. The following are a list of sponsors that have helped turn Peace Games into a successful organization.

Allido Records • Aston Martin • Bank of America • Bacardi • Benchmark Studio Group • Blue Cross Blue Shield • Boston Red Sox • Calvin Klein • Children’s Hospital Boston • Comcast • Citizens Bank • Coach • Coca-Cola • Eastern Bank • Elie Tahari • EMC Corporation • GQ Magazine • Greater Boston Chamber • Grey Goose • Hard Rock Café • Harvard Pilgrim Health Care • JetBlue Airways • J.P Morgan Chase• Kasina • Loomis Sayles • MasterCard • New Balance • Olivia’s Organics Reebok Human Rights Foundation • Roc-A-Wear • Sovereign Bank • Staples State Street • Stride Rite Foundation Student Advantage • TJX Foundation • Third Millennium Foundation • Vanity Fair Verizon Foundation • Wainwright Bank

Celebrity Supporters

Peace Games is widely supported by a multitude of celebrities including Jack Black, Orlando Bloom, Bono, Helena Christensen, Matt Damon, Ellen DeGeneres, Heather Graham, Lukas Haas, Quincy Jones and Rashida Jones.

External Links and References

*http://www.peacegames.org (official site)
*http://www.peacerocksny.com (2008 Peace Rocks event site)
*http://dspace.lib.utexas.edu/bitstream/2152/389/1/laseurm26039.pdf (2005 University of Texas dissertation)
*http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CE6D8163FF933A15756C0A966958260 (New York Times article on first Peace Games event. May 20, 1990)
*http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C02EED71739F936A1575AC0A96E958260 (New York Times obituary for Francelia Butler)
*http://media.www.nunews.com/media/storage/paper600/news/2007/01/24/CampusLife/Huskies.With.Heart.Student.Hopes.Peace.Games.Bring.Future.Social.Change2671316.shtml?sourcedomain=www.nunews.com&MIIHost=media.collegepublisher.com (Northeastern University article on Peace Games volunteers)
*http://www.peacegames.org/uploadDocs/South%20End%20News_12_14_06_Cathedral.pdf (Boston’s South End News article on Cathedral Grammar School Peace Games Program)