October 28, 2014
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PEACE FIRST AWARDS PRIZE TO 5 YOUTH WINNERS
Media Center
 PEACE FIRST AWARDS PRIZE TO 5 YOUTH WINNERSWinners Ages 12-22 Receive $25,000 Fellowship to Further Peacemaking Work
Washington D.C. – Peace First, a national
nonprofit dedicated to creating the next generation of peacemakers, today
announced the five winners of the 2nd annual Peace First Prize at a
press conference at the National Press Club. The Peace First Prize is a national
award recognizing youth peacemakers, ages 8-22, who are leaders focused on
making lasting social change in their communities. The winners will receive a
2-year, $25,000 Fellowship to further their peacemaking work.
“We have been teaching peacemaking in schools for 20 years
and know first-hand that young people can make a real difference in their
communities. The Peace First Prize is our way of celebrating youth peacemaking
in action,” stated Eric D. Dawson, President and co-founder of Peace First. “We
are proud to recognize our extraordinary Prize winners and are excited for them
to join our growing number of young peacemakers and to invest in them as
national peace leaders.”
At a time when violence among youth permeates the news, the
Peace First Prize celebrates young people’s achievements and shares their
impressive work with the nation. “I commend these extraordinary young people who
are doing great work and making a real difference in their schools and
communities. They inspire hope in all of us,” U.S. Secretary of Education of
Arne Duncan said. “As we can see from Malala Yousafzai, the youngest Nobel Peace
Prize winner, efforts to lead social change can begin at any age. The work of
these students has far-reaching effects. Through their service to others, they
are not only changing their schools and communities, they are helping to change
this nation and the world.”
The five inspiring young people were selected as 2014 Peace
First Fellows because through their compassion, courage and ability to
collaborate with others, they have been the driving force behind positive
changes in their communities. Some winners are evolving their projects into
nonprofit organizations, while others are cultivating change through campaigns
and grassroots efforts. The five winners are listed here:
###
PEACE
FIRST
Peace
First, www.peacefirst.org, is a nonprofit (501(c)(3)) public benefit corporation
that exists to create the next generation of peacemakers by teaching, modeling
and valuing youth peacemaking.
PEACE
FIRST PRIZE PARTNERS
Prize
partners include: lead investor, The Pershing Square Foundation; media partners
USA Network and CNN; Presenting Nominators: American Association of School
Administrators, America’s Promise Alliance, American Federation of Teachers, Big
Brothers Big Sisters, Boys and Girl Clubs of America, The Bully Project, Campus
Compact, City Year, Communities in Schools, generationOn, Girl Scouts, Mentor,
Teach for America, Young Women’s Christian Association and the 4-H Council;
legal partner: Goodwin Procter; general partners Drew A. Katz Foundation, 1440
Foundation, Babson Capital, and NTT Data; and celebrity ambassadors: National
Spokesperson America Ferrera, Board member Rashida Jones, Monique Coleman,
Rachel Crow, Vera Farmiga, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Kat Graham, Ian Harding, Avan
Jogia, Debra Messing, Daniella Monet, Rosie Perez, Amy Poehler, Mark Ruffalo,
Andy Samberg, Peter Sarsgaard, Cody Simpson, and Sofia
Vergara.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 27, 2014 Contact: Karen Grant, (617) 261-3883 x310 kgrant@peacefirst.org Melissa McNamara (917) 374-3084 m mcnamara@globalstrategygroup.com ### |
Peace First National Office
25 Kingston Street; 6th Floor Boston, MA 02111 (w) 617-261-3833 |
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