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In September of 2009, our PfP family was saddened by the loss of a vibrant member of our community, Mrs. Hilda Barakat. We join the many voices in expressing our condolences to her family.
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From all of us at PfP we would like say a
huge thanks to the Bike-A-Thon children at Lake Shore Baptist Church for raising $730!! We so appreciate all the gifts and donations we receive, but when it involves kids and the kind of service project, education and generosity that were described in their letter to us......
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Palestinian Olive OilPlaygrounds for Palestine is pleased to sell fair trade Palestinian olive oil from Jerusalem and the West Bank. To learn more about this year's batch,
click here
If you would like to purchase oil, please
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As PfP's small enterprise of selling Fair Trade, organic, Palestinian olive oil continues to grow thanks to word of mouth and the wonderful volunteers who host olive oil parties for their friends and families. We would like to recognize the contributions of Houda and Dr. Ali Anaim in Philadelphia; and Stacy Grosssman in
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Saturday September 12 was no ordinary day for the kids of Nahr El Bared Camp. Over 200 children gathered in the Mazen Afifi Playground for a fun day organized by PfP partners Bait Atfal Assoumoud and ANERA.
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On Thursday July 30, 2009, as part of an UN initiative to restore hope to Gazans, a reported 3,000 or more kites took to the sky over a beach in the northern Gaza Strip.
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In June 2009, an international aid ship "Spirit of Humanity" on its way to deliver aid to Gaza was stopped and boarded by the Israeli navy.
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Please support PfP by hosting an olive oil party for your friends and family. This is a great way to support our organization and Palestinian farmers, and everyone will have a lot of fun doing it!
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This August, PfP will be screening two Palestinian films. Each film will be followed by a short audience discussion.
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Thanks to all of you, our gala dinner and concert proved to be a wonderful evening and a successful fundraiser!
We raised over $17,000 and still counting.
To read all of the sordid details, click
here ... more
On May 3, 2009, PfP will host a wonderful evening with friends and supporters for the benefit of the children of Gaza.
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Dear PfPers,
Some good news!
The two playgrounds that we installed in Gaza, one in Rafah and one in Khan Younis, a few years ago have been spared and they're getting good use. We added some pictures of the playground in Rafah and expect more pictures from Khan Younis soon.
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We will not go down ... more
Israeli warplanes continue to pound defenseless civilians in the Gaza strip with massive air strikes. Of the at least 227 dead and more than 800 wounded, preliminary reports indicate the overwhelming majority of the casualties are civilians. Video footage throughout the world, with the exception of the US, showed the
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When I first learned of Playgrounds for Palestine’s incredible mission and gifts to children in need of hope, the obvious reaction was “how can I help”? After a few conversations, I found out about the wonderful olive oil that comes from this holy land and how the purchase of it brings goodness to so many. I had no idea
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JC Boushh, a supporter and volunteer at PfP, traveled to Beirut on November 26th to install a playground in the refugee camp of Nahr el Bared, and to train local workers to install our second playground at Ein el Hilweh, two playgrounds we're putting up in partnership with Middle East Children's Alliance (MECA)
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PfP partnered with Little Feet to send over 150 soccer balls to various refugee communities in Lebanon.
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Susie and Ramzy ran and finished the Philadelphia Marathon on November 23rd in freezing cold weather, raising over $12,000 for a playground for Maysoon's Kids in Silwad.
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Dear friends, family, and supporters of PfP -
Please Sponsor Us!
As many of you know,
Ramzy Baroud and I are teaming up this year to run the Philadelphia Marathon in November to raise money and awareness of PfP. Toward that goal,
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We saw you tear off your limbs
To pass through the narrow passage.
Now you know...
Where birds fly after the last sky.
What color is the last beat of a poet's heart?
What word is it?
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Thanks to seed money from Dr Nabil Qaddumi, PfP was able to partner with MECA and ANERA to initiate playground projects in Lebanon. On September 30th, three playgrounds will arrive for installation in Ein el Hilweh and Nahr el Bared refugee camps.
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Playgrounds for Palestine (PfP) is always looking for exciting new ways to raise much needed funds to build playgrounds for children in Palestine. This year is no exception, several PfPers will put on their racing shoes and run this year's Philadelphia Half Marathon on September 21st and full Marathon on November 23rd.
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When my dear friend and founder of Playgrounds for Palestine, Susan Abulhawa, asked me to write an article for the newsletter, I was certainly honored. Now that I am completing this task at the eleventh hour, I guess I underestimated the thought and emotion that would swell in me as I attempted to explain my motivation and
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Ramzy Baroud joins PfP Board members susan abulhawa and Dennis Parrish as they train to run the Philadelphia Marathon in the Fall in support of PfP. Would you like to join us?
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We're very excited to report to our supporters that PfP will build two playground in Lebanon late this summer. In cooperation with MECA and ANERA, the first system has already been purchased for a preschool and it includes two separate units, a "hide-away hut" and a full play module for ages 2-5 years.
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Playgrounds for Palestine would like to extend special gratitude to the following individuals:
Lowell Hartzell
Mariam Rajab and her friends in Ottowa
Sofwat Omar and his friends
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Dear PfP Supporters -
As you all know, susan abulhawa and Sonia Rosen traveled to Palestine at their own expense to install the new playgrounds. Susie was there from Feb 14 until March 1st and Sonia from Feb 29 until March 14.
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PfP is proud to announce that the installation of our two new playgrounds has officially begun. Susan Abulhawa arrived in the West Bank last week and has been scrambling to take care of some unforseen problems before installation can begin. For more information about her trip, go to
http://pfp2008trip.blogspot.com/ ... more
by Issa Khalaf
The one state solution is a massive fantasy, not because its political analysis and moral assumptions are necessarily wrong, but because these assumptions necessarily ascribe rational motives and behavior to Zionism. ... more
The cycle ride from London to Paris raised over $22,000 for Playgrounds for Palestine
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Instead of gifts, Heather and Armen are asking guests to contribute to PfP in honor of their wedding.
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Support PfP by...
- Supporting Palestinian Farmers by purchasing Fair-Trade olive oil from small farm cooperatives in the West Bank
- Supporting tree-planting and other development projects in Palestine
...and enjoy delicious extra-virgin, first-cold-pressed olive oil, produced without pesticides or sprays
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The Philadelphia chapter of the Arab-American Anti-Discrimination Committee honored Playgrounds for Palestine at its 25th anniversary banquet on April 28, 2007 at the Renaissance Hotel Philadelphia Airport.
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Instead of asking for gifts on her 10th birthday, Julia Gambell of Yardley, PA, asked her guest to make a charitable donation.
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We did it! We raised money for at least one more playground in one evening!
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We love these guys!! They just keep coming up with new and fabulous events which raise funds for Playgrounds for Palestine, while fulfilling their own mission of encouraging students from all backgrounds, to break down cultural barriers through language, food and dance!! So far they have raised over $1000 for PfP!
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The letter below is from the Jenin camp. They are thanking us for the playground, now up and running! and telling us how much it means to the kids. Our board member Abeer translated it into English and sent it back to us, with this heartfelt note.....
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Susie's recent book tour took her to Lebanon - the perfect opportunity to stop off in Nahr el Bared where she visited the playground and some of it's best friends!!
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We did it again. Another fantastic dinner fundraiser at UPenn Houston Hall, Hall of Flags, Philadelphia, PA! What a night!
As many of you were leaving on we heard comments like.....
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We are excited to announce details for our next annual fundraiser. This year's event will be held at a PfP favourite on the evening of Saturday 3 April at Houston Hall, University of Pennsylvania campus.
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We are thrilled to announce that Arroub playground is finally up and running thanks to the generosity of two special PfP supporters. Heather and Arman requested that monetary gifts be made to PfP in lieu of presents for their wedding so huge thanks also go, of course, to their family and friends who made this possible.
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This Fall, PfP will install this playround in a children's center in the Palestinian town of Silwad.
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Corey Parrish
1987 - 2008
My brother Corey Parrish was one of a kind if simply put. His passion for music, songwriting and playing was contagious at times. You couldn't help but want to jam with him knowing he would take your ears to a place you'd never been and would always want to return to. Growing up in a musical
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PfP Board members susan abulhawa and Linda Hanna will hold two workshops at this years Friends of Sabeel Confernece in Villanova, April 25-26.
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As part of his ministry, Nathan Dannison plans to raise money to build a playground in Bethlehem. Read what he has to say...
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On 18th July 2007, Playgrounds for Palestine Ltd was registered in London with Companies House. And tomorrow, September 14th, they set off on their first fundraiser - A bike ride from London to Paris!
http://playgroundsforpalestine.org.uk/ ... more
In June, Tommy Lodge became the newest member of PfP's young donors when he donated $150 that he saved from his allowance.
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It's that time of year again!
Thanks to the generous donations of our supporters, PfP will be installing two fun-filled, colorful, state-of-the-art playgrounds in the West Bank!
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Anan Zahr, a member of PfP's Board of Directors, happens to be an amazing cook! On Saturday, August 4th she used her talent and hard work to hold a cooking class at her home, with all proceeds going to PfP.
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Don't miss our screenings of the newly released Occupation 101, an award-winning documentary film (90 min) that provides an objective and basic overview of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict for anyone wanting a better understanding of the Middle East tragedy and why it's important to Americans in the U.S.!
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Author and founder of Playgrounds for Palestine, Susan Abulhawa, announced that a portion of the proceeds from the sale of her first novel, The Scar of David, will go to PfP. Journey Publications
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Our friend, Karen Kovalcik, held her annual olive oil fundraiser to benefit Playgrounds for Palestine on November 16th and 17th, 2006. Once again, she prepared a spectacular party, with delicious Middle Eastern food and
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On September 17th, 2005, ANERA honored Playgrounds for Palestine and the multitude of loyal ANERA donors who consistently support our work. The awards were presented at ANERA's Annual Dinner. The theme for this year's dinner was "Education Creates the Future."
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Instead of gifts for her 7th birthday, Natalie Hackett asked her friends to make donations to one of 4 charities. These included three Native American charities and Playgrounds for Palestine.
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Playgrounds for Palestine was the featured in Today's Playground, a leading industry magazine, in their
March, 2003 issue.
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Philadelphia Fox News featured a story on its news programming about Playgrounds for Palestine on
May 2002, after founder susan abulhawa traveled to Jenin
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