“Play for Peace teaches these crucial values that help students become better stewards of the earth, better community members, and better leaders." -- Play for Peace volunteer Matt Cardoni
Last Thursday, April 14, more than 130 people gathered at Belvedere Banquets in Elk Grove Village, IL, for the third annual Feast for Peace. Guests enjoyed a delicious dinner and live music, and Play for Peace supporters helped us exceed our fundraising goal of $25,000. Our guests included many long-time friends of Play for Peace, and outstanding sponsors such as Integrity Sourcing and Avalon Risk Management, who purchased multiple tables for the event. Trainers and mentors from Play for Peace Clubs in Los Angeles and Denver came to Chicago for the event. Local representatives from our Chicago Clubs were in attendance, too, including some students from Highland Park High School, who joined their Play for Peace mentors and trainers. One of the highlights of the evening was Play for Peace volunteer Matt Cardoni’s testimonial about why he supports Play for Peace. Matt talked about how he came to understand that Play for Peace’s core value of Caring encompassed caring for the earth, in addition to caring for oneself and others. He said that because he is passionate about sustainability, it was important for him to learn that, in creating leaders for Peace, Play for Peace creates leaders for sustainability as well.
“Play for Peace teaches these crucial values that help students become better stewards of the earth, better community members, and better leaders,” he said. "This struck a chord with me because to me, creating leaders of sustainability is one of the most critical opportunities our society has to make change for our future. Play for Peace is doing exactly that! Their teachers educate on the core concepts of how to be a caring leader and a good citizen in an effective -- and FUN way — through play."
In Part 2 of our recap, we'll share other highlights from the evening's program and photos, including the presentation of the Michael J. Terrien Award to Loren Rubin and a special appeal from nine-year-old Aidan Hennessy and his mother, Play for Peace Vice Chair Lisa Gelsomino. Congratulations to all of our volunteers who made the Feast for Peace a wonderful success. Many guests mentioned that it was our best event yet!
