What:
Two-week overnight youth enrichment camp offering sports, arts, music, dance, field trips, life skills, and personal growth & team-building activities.

Who:
200 Boys & Girls, ages 8 – 18, from the Greater Port-au-Prince area affected by the January 12th earthquake, who are currently living in tent villages & other compromised conditions.

When:
Sunday, August 15 to Sunday, August 29, 2010

Where:
*The Haitian Academy (L’Academie Haitienne) Route Nationale #1, Km 25, Cache Cache Douge, Haiti
[*The Haitian Academy is equipped with a full-service medical clinic on-site. We plan to assist in its expansion to serve the general public by building temporary housing, donating medical supplies & equipment, and through recruitment of additional volunteer medical personnel who will offer their professional services during the camp.]

Why:
To offer Haiti’s youth a positive, educational, healthy, and fun environment where confidence, creativity, and hope can be unleashed.

How:
-The youth camp will be organized and financed through United Initiatives for Peace, a 501©(3) tax exempt international public charity (registered in New Jersey, USA).
-30 to 35 qualified international (USA & Caribbean) and local (Haitian) volunteers will be screened and selected to run talent specific camp sessions for the duration of the two-week program (1 to 7 staff to camper ratio). Additional staff will be onsite to assist with cooking, site maintenance, security, and transportation.
-Creating partnerships with other relief organizations to assist with in-kind donations (food, tents, sleeping bags, hygiene products, clothing, etc.) will be a critical component for the success of the program.

UIP is searching for VOLUNTEERS!
Do you speak CREOLE or FRENCH?
And/Or
Do you have a SKILL (art, music, sports, dance, etc.) that can be translated into a daily camp session?
Then email us at info@unitedinitiatives.org to VOLUNTEER this August!
[Please note that all volunteers are responsible for their own travel, room & board expenses]

Dear Friends,

On June 6, 2010 at 6:00 AM, UIP’s Founding Director, Diesa Seidel,
will run 26.2 miles in the San Diego Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon.

Why run a marathon, you ask? Besides the obvious reasons (which we can’t think of right now), she is running to raise funds to host a 2-week summer camp in Haiti for child-survivors of the January 12th earthquake.

In 2008, United Initiatives for Peace (UIP) was incorporated with the vision to promote higher education, offer creative recreational programs, and encourage grassroots social reform through female empowerment in communities worldwide.
[UIP is a 501©(3) tax exempt public charity organization]

UIP has since worked in 15 countries, facilitated 21 leadership programs for young women, donated over 1000 pounds of supplies to high need communities, and awarded $20,000 in college scholarship funds to inner city girls from the greater Newark (NJ) area.

On January 6th, UIP traveled to Haiti to work and facilitate programs at The Haitian Academy (12 miles north of Port-au-Prince). During our time there, we lived through the massive 7.0 earthquake which resulted in immense suffering, destruction, and chaos.

UIP is now dedicated to conducting a 2-week overnight summer camp program in efforts to bring stability and joy back into the lives of Haiti’s youth. Camp Haiti will offer a variety of sports, arts, music, dance, life skills, camp games, in addition to select field trips. Camp Haiti will be run by local and international volunteers who will offer their unique talents and special gifts as a means to enrich and diversify camp activities.

In support of this vision, Diesa will be running the San Diego Marathon in hopes to raise funds for Camp Haiti. Sure, we could just ask you to donate (without her running), but we all know people like to give more when there is a deliberate tangible act of uncalled-for self-sacrificing outrageousness attributed to their donation… and we say, give the people a little something outrageous. (Go Diesa Go!)

Please see below for donation details.

We would like to thank you in advance for your financial support and being part of our greater purpose: instilling joy and hope back in the lives of Haiti’s youth.

In Gratitude,

The UIP SWAT
(Synergy Worldwide Action Team)

SUPPORTING CAMP HAITI

Sponsoring a Child…
➢ $19.00 covers all expenses* for 1 camper for 1 day
➢ $260.00 sponsors 1 camper to attend the entire 2 week overnight camp

Overhead Costs…
➢ $300.00 covers the cost to run a generator for 24 hours
➢ $200.00 covers the cost for transportation for 1 field trip (all campers)
➢ $75.00 buys 1 tent that will sleep 5 campers
➢ $10.00 buys 1 sleeping bag that will be given to each camper (to keep!)
➢ $1.00 still helps!

*Expenses…
Food (breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner), generator, transportation for field trips (via bus), tents, sleeping bags, camp t-shirt, art supplies (paint, paper, mosaic supplies, etc.), sports equipment (volleyballs, soccer balls, basketballs, jump ropes, etc.), general toiletries (towels, soap, shampoo, toothbrushes, toothpaste, toilet paper), maintenance staff (security guards, cooks, bus driver).

United Initiatives for Peace is a public charity organization and is exempt from Federal income tax under section 501©3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Your contributions are deductible under section 170 of the Code to the extent allowed by law.

Donations should be made payable to “United Initiatives for Peace” and mailed to:

United Initiatives for Peace
P.O. Box 10183
Newark, New Jersey 07101
U.S.A.

Questions? Call us at (973) 220 – 5630 or visit us online at www.unitedinitiatives.org

Thank you for investing in a higher purpose!

Thanks to the generous support of individuals at our Newark fund raiser, we were also able to donate over 70 pounds of school supplies and basketballs as part of our "Operation Cooperation" initiative.

On January 12th, Haiti experienced a 7.2 magnitude earthquake, resulting in 100,000’s of deaths & injuries, destroying infrastructure, and ultimately putting the country in dire distress.

UIP’s personal involvement during this catastrophe has compelled us to maintain a close partnership with The Haitian Academy. We hope to build a sustainable partnership with the school, helping to rebuild the vision and create a positive learning environment for the children of Haiti.

If you would like to support our new Haiti Initiative, donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 10183, Newark, New Jersey 07101 or made online at www.unitedinitiatives.org/invest.html

14 High Schools were represented from the Greater Newark Area and $7,000 in college scholarships were awarded to 17 participants.

The 2009 Champions was team "LMS2"! With players from various high schools...
Mona McKinney (University High School, Newark)
Lena Howard (Arts High School, Newark)
Shanique Graves (University High School, Newark)
Simone Rucker (Columbia High School, Maplewood)

Congrats LMS2!!!

Other scholarships were awarded to the 2nd and 3rd place teams, as well as individual competition winners (Hot Shot contest, 3-point contest, foul shooting contest), and to individuals demonstrating sportsmanship, community service, and a spirit of volunteerism.

Over the past 2 years, UIP has awarded over $20,000 in college scholarship funds to inner city girls! We plan on building on this foundation as a means to promote higher education and community activism!

Thank you to all our Sponsors!

Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (Lyons Ave, Newark, NJ)
Applebees Restaurant (383 Springfield Ave, Newark, NJ)
Urban Sports Alliance (Newark, NJ)
Newark City Council Members
Preferred Freezer Service (360 Ave P, Newark, NJ)
Dunkin Donuts (305 Springfield Ave, Newark, NJ)
The Spot Lounge (45 Commerce St., Newark, NJ)
Wells Fargo/Anthony Gangemi (Parsippany, NJ)
Paradise Nails (Montville, NJ)
Red Barn Restaurant (Montville, NJ)
Surveyor, James Deady (Parsippany, NJ)
Scott Itzkowitz, Esq., (Parsippany, NJ)
UIP's "29 on the 29th" Fundraiser
UIP's "TRI for a higher purpose" fundraiser
Design Factory (1219 Liberty Ave, Hillside, NJ)

The 3rd "You Got Schooled" tournament is scheduled for June 2010!

The Tri was done in support of the 2nd Annual "You Got Schooled" College Scholarship High School Girls Basketball 3-on-3 Tournament, whose vision is provide a safe and positive environment, while promoting higher education, community service and sportsmanship (YGS will take place on August 29th in Newark, NJ).

Exclusive UIP Triathlon t-shirts were sold and donations collected that will go towards college scholarships for inner city girls participating in the tournament.

We applaud all our sponsors and supporters that made this effort worthy of a higher cause!

If you are interested in donating, you can still do so at: www.unitedinitiatives.org/invest.html

Thank you again and remember - don't just TRI... TRI for a higher purpose!

HOST: Scott and Alayna Itzkowitz
WHEN: Monday, June 29, 6:00PM
CONTACT PHONE: 908-343-1631
LOCATION:
Smokerise (Itzkowitz Residence)
4 Brookvale Road
Kinnelon, NJ 07405 USA

Some times you work on the weekend, some times you party during the week...

On Monday, June 29 UIP's founder (Diesa) will be turning 29... in 2009 (like whoa!) - Your suggested $29 donation (extra zeros welcomed) to United Initiatives will support various female empowerment programs, including the 2nd Annual "You Got Schooled" college scholarship 3-on-3 basketball tournament which will take place on August 29 in Newark, NJ.
[United Initiatives is a 501(c)(3) Public Charity and all donations are tax exempt]

BBQ (vegetarian friendly), food, drinks, hot tub access, music, games, and unparalled company is guaranteed or you can leave at no cost (*wink*)... although all donations are non-refundable.

BYOF (Bring Your Other Friends)!!

See you all on the 29th

The Center is a safe haven for young females (ages 13-17) who have behavioral problems, are neglected, abused, or come from dysfunctional families.

During the program, the girls learned new basketball techniques and games, participated in numerous character enriching and teambuilding activities, and wrote and recorded a song of their visions and goals for life.

The program was facilitated by Diesa Seidel, founder of United Initiatives, and Grace Daley, a pro basketball player who played 3 seasons in the WNBA and 7 seasons in Europe. Additionally, Grace is a peace activist who strives to infuse the values of Christ in young women. Grace’s expertise in basketball, music compilation, and instilling confidence in youth gave this program unprecedented value.