How does a game of basketball turn into a Hurricane
relief effort? Put Kevin Williams on the court
in Switzerland and you would be amazed at what
happens.
In 2003 Kevin Williams traveled as a People
to People Sports Ambassador to the Swiss Invitational.
One of the things Kevin did to be able to take
part was speak to different groups that would
help support him financially. So, after having
a great experience in Europe, he shared his
experience with those supporters. While doing
this he realized that he not only enjoyed the
program, but he wanted to be even more involved
with PTPI’s mission of Peace through Understanding.
He decided that starting a student chapter in
the Secaucus, NJ area was the best way to accomplish
this goal.
With support from his mother, Cathy Sofjan-Wolf,
as the adult advisor and enough other young
people who wanted to join the chapter PTPI’s
Go International For Tomorrow (GIFT) Student
Chapter was chartered on October 12, 2003. The
chapter has done a fantastic job of learning
about other cultures and working on humanitarian
projects that benefit people.
In the past two years, GIFT has sponsored more
than $ 16,000.00 into various educational, cultural,
humanitarian activities and scholarship, completed
more than 10,000 hours of community service,
and donated items in retail value in excess
of $20,000.00. Today, GIFT has more than 100
members, both students and their family members.
GIFT Chapter programs have covered 21different
countries on 4 continents, and have worked with
more than 20 other organizations. They were
also instrumental in helping the Indonesia Chapter
(Go International For Indonesia) get chartered.
The chapter’s cultural activities have included
cultural and educational events where they have
learned about China through a Chinese New Year
Celebration, Cambodia with workshops that included
guest speakers from Global Youth Connect and
the HALO Trust among others, India through the
Deepavali celebration, and directly hosting
Italian students while they were in the United
States. They also learned extensively about
Sri Lanka and Indonesia during their tsunami
relief humanitarian project.
For the past two years the chapter has been
recognized by PTPI as the Chapter Award Winner
for Creative Activities and in 2004 was awarded
the CEO’s Award by Mary Jean Eisenhower.
Over this past weekend they were busy implementing
their Hurricane Hug program, gathering supplies
for Katrina Relief. They are working directly
with PTPI’s LIFE Student Chapter in Texas who
will facilitate the distribution of goods. The
group even had a visit from Secaucus Mayor Elwell
and Deputy Mayor O’Reilly who came by to help
and wish them luck.
The success of the PTPI Student Chapter relies
on students being engaged. The Gift Chapter
started because one young man went international
to play basketball and has come home to start
something so much more. “GO” is a perfect word
to have in their chapter title; since this chapter
started to GO, they have not stopped.
