29 on the 29th!

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Kristin Bird-Norman and FamilyEmanating creativity at its’ finest, Kristin Bird-Norman is turning 29 years-old on December 29th, 2008.  Welcoming in her 29th year in a rightful way, Kristin is yet another example of someone who recognizes the joy found in giving.

In place of typical birthday gifts, guests were invited to the celebration and encouraged to bring 29 soccer equipment donations to support PeacePassers.

We would like to thank the Norman family & all the b-day friends for their support! The PeacePassers team wishes Kristin a very happy birthday, and may your 29th year in 2009 be filled with continued blessings.

party and presents

“We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.” – Winston Churchill

Con buenas ondas (“With good vibes”)
Candace & The PeacePassers Team

A Special Message: The Gift of Giving

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Wishing everyone around the world a Merry Christmas and Happy Holiday Season.

This is a special message for Sam, Ben and Hannah Lepordo.

The words of your Aunt ‘Barbara’:

The gift is in honor of our nephews and niece (Sam,
Ben & Hannah). They are amazing athletes and team sports, especially
soccer, are a big part of their family life. Our family made a mutual
decision this Christmas to support charitable organizations whose
mission resonated with us and the friends and family we were making
“gifts” to. Social justice, community engagement and giving are
important to our immediate family, and my hope is that as my two young
sons grow and mature that they see they are responsible to others, can
make a difference both locally and globally, and be grateful for the
resources that we have. Consequently, a gift to PeacePassers was a
natural extenstion of our hopes for this Christmas and those in the
future.

Peace,

Barbara Ginley & Brad MacCachran

*A donation has been made to the PeacePassers fund

NORTH MECK SOCCER CLUB HONORS COACH KEVIN FLANAGAN THROUGH A SPECIAL COACHING SPONSORSHIP

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Coach Kevin Flanagan

Thanks to a donation by Flanagan’s very own U-13 boys team at North Meck Soccer Club (NMSC), PeacePassers will be able to support future training of coaches in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua. Fostered through ComunidadConnect.org, and in honor of Coach Kevin Flanagan we appreciate the unique opportunity to sponsor development of their local coaches. The charisma of Flanagan is one to model, and by his representation of the variety of aspects it takes to be a first-class coach, we hope to cultivate learning & skills in the coaches of the San Juan del Sur community who share that same passion & love for the game. Many thanks to Flanagan for his participation and coaching guidance during the “La Vida Deportiva” clinics held in Nicaragua last month. To read the official dedication letter click here

This is HUGE!!!

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This is HUGE!! Peace Passers finally has official 501(c)(3) status with the IRS!! This means donations are now tax deductible! We can qualify for nonprofit discounts, grants and funding!

La Vida Deportiva 2008

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La Deportiva 2008 Soccer Clinic
Photo: Nicaragua Surf Report

Excerpt taken from nicaraguasurfreport.com – 11/21/2008

“Hi folks, today in the morning the Peace Passers crew organized a soccer clinic for the local kids at the “The Comunidad Connect” court to give them some pointers on how they can improve their soccer skills. All the kids were super stoked because Peace Passers gave them some new soccer uniforms and now they are able to play on the next contest. Here in Nicaragua not many people want to support the young kids and keep them away from bad habits. We here at NSR want to thank these guys for helping these kids out. It is nice when people take the time to help out our community, again thank you very much.”

New Jersey Teen Collects Over 400 Soccer Items

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Suzy SoccerPeace Passers would like to thank Suzy Nazimek. Suzy is an 11th grade student at Bishop Ahr High School in Edison, New Jersey and has played soccer for over 8 years.  She serves as an excellent example to all of us, as a young athlete who has a natural passion for servant leadership.  On her own will she contacted us with a desire to help the mission of Peace Passers.  Since her link to Peace Passers Suzy has collected soccer gear and equipment from her teammates & friends as well as connecting with the Woodbridge Township Youth Soccer Association & Old Bridge Soccer Association in which she is able to reach out to her entire community.

The latest soccer gear donation received by the Peace Passers (on behalf of Suzy’s efforts) includes eight boxes filled with 259 jerseys, 38 shorts, 14pairs of socks, 38 pairs of shoes/boots, and 34 pairs of shin guards.  This type of example represents how one persons’ initiative within a community can make such an amazing impact.  Suzy’s work service sets the stage that others can follow.

Nazimek Team Photo

Suzy, we thank you and your teammates for the donations you continue to share with the Peace Passers!

GRACIAS a TODAS

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Many thanks all around to everyone that came out Nov. 1st to support the PeacePassers event @ Dolce Vita in Charlotte, NC.  The “Buena Onda” (good vibes!) were bestowed upon us all Saturday afternoon!

On behalf of the PeacePassers, special thanks is given to the following ‘good people’ for making the Nov 1st event a success:

Event location:
Dolce Vita (cheers to the chillest spot in town):
Owners Alexis Batista & Irma Wolfe – www.dolcevitawines.com

Saweeeet Raffle donations made possible by:
Alejandra Buchanan – Adidas America
Nick “International” Bruno – Heineken
Zach – The Neighborhood theatre

VIP Volunteers/Sporting Charlotte Chicas:
Kate “KK” Mulally (event planning)
Natasha “Sneaky Monkey” Walker (marketing)
Heather “PBR-deliverer” Sakuduski (raffle girl & t-shirt sales)
Nicole “Hot Pants” Baird (whistling referee raffle girl)
Marissa “Peaches” Baird (whistiling referee raffle girl)
Cori “Big Planner” Reese (sunshine forecaster)

Event Photography:
Kevin “Bizzle” Mchugh (“you have alot of people working for you”)

Last minute details & genuine moral support:
Will “the thrill” Murray
Donna & Cleve Cooper, better known as “The Coops”!

The PeacePassers team would like to thank everyone who made donations on Saturday, as together we raised almost $900! Your participation @ this event will help us in keeping the future horizon bright for so many kids and youth who love the game of soccer!

We look forward to November and the upcoming “La Vida Deportiva” Clinic sponsored by PeacePassers & Communidad Connect; to be held in San Juan del Sur, Nicaragua!
Stay tuned for more details…on the way!

Keepin On,
Candace & the Peace Passers Team

Peace Passers Event Photos

We’ve been ‘TAGGED’

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Peace Passers Wall

Peace Passers is honored to be officially ‘Tagged’ on the walls of the Futbol Sala court in San Juan Del Sur, Nicaragua. We began our relationship with the local kids leagues back in March 2008. Most recently we have sponsored the first-ever Futbol Sala league for girls in SJDS. Without your donations, none of this would have been accomplished … a big thank you from the Peace Passers Team.

Buena Onda

Central American Peace Passage a huge success

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The Peace Passers have completed their trek through central america by arriving in san juan del sur, Nicaragua. Travelling over 5500 miles and giving out more than 300 soccer balls, 400 team jerseys, 100 pairs of soccer shoes, and other organizational equipment associated with the game of soccer. After being stopped by nearly every local police, army, and transito policia hombre for the typical ‘gringo infraccion” associated with just having surf boards on top of the truck and being from the states, the Peace Passers finally arrived at their destination. Often, the gesture of giving away a soccer ball or a pair of soccer cleats to the policemen would be enough to put a smile on their face and let the peace passers continue on.

When they arrived in San Juan Del Sur, the rest of the soccer gear was given to the local futbol sala league at comunidad connect. Once again working with the expat Jon Thompson, they discovered that there had never been an all girls soccer league in town. Needless to say, it was an easy choice to once again sponsor a soccer league in Nicaragua. This time, it was so that the girls could have a league of their own. The Peace Passers would like to thank everyone who supported and tuned into the journey through central america.