Peace Out

Who needs Peace Out?

Our teens need Peace Out. One-third of our Pierce County teens are not graduating high school. Our students are getting lost in overcrowded classrooms due to severe budget deficits. Healthy avenues for expression such as art, music, and physical education programs are disappearing. Life at home is increasingly stressful. Record numbers of family members have lost jobs and homes. With all these stressors, it is not surprising that childhood obesity, substance abuse and depression are increasing, and graduation success is plummeting.

Our neighbors need Peace Out. It is getting harder for vulnerable members of our community to meet the basic needs of their families. The economy has severely affected government, corporate and individual funding for many non-profits who provide vital services. A vibrant community must meet the social, cultural, recreational, and environmental needs of its people.

Our community needs Peace Out. Peace Out is a solution for the alienation felt by teens, seniors and vulnerable populations. We are literally bringing people together and redefining what it means to be accountable to your community. We know that Peace Out will inspire our future community members, businesses and leaders to act with compassion, dignity and action for generations to come.

Through Peace Out, youth are empowered to recognize and respond to community needs by raising money and awareness for local non-profits. This innovative, education-based after school program serves over a hundred Pierce County teens, whose outreach extends from the arts and humanities, to basic needs, healthcare, education and a wide variety of social services. Through Peace Out local teens can experience and participate in the culture of philanthropy; helping build a foundation of compassionate giving that will last a lifetime. As one teen wrote, "I feel I will be a better community member because I will now stay more interested in issues within the community."

The Peace Out program leads students through an 8-week course where they learn about fundraising, business, marketing, teamwork and philanthropic giving. Meeting twice weekly, youth aged 12-18 have the opportunity to explore all aspects of the not-for-profit world, beginning with a fair attended by a variety of local agencies to give teens a sense of the issues in our area, and help them select a topic and organization that they’re passionate about. At the final Awards Banquet students deliver a giant check to their chosen non-profit, which represents the real check the non-profit receives from Peace Out based on the outcome of the teens’ fundraising activities.

A key component of this program, and core value for Peace Out itself, is active intergenerational engagement. All program sessions are held at local retirement communities, where residents are encouraged to share their lifetime of philanthropy and experiences with our teens. Teens also reach out to the wider community through Random Acts of Peace, periodic volunteerism opportunities to satisfy immediate needs in our community such as helping at a local food bank or assisting seniors with their household chores.

You can be part of this exciting work with local teens! All contributions to Peace Out are considered tax-exempt charitable deductions. Not only will you be supporting the youth in your community, but you will also be supporting other non-profits through their volunteerism and fundraising for local causes.

Teens at Peace Out learn business, marketing, teamwork and fundraising skills. More importantly, they learn to exercise compassion that will last a lifetime. When teens are involved in acts of compassion, they are less likely to get distracted by negative influences. Peace Out builds relationships between youth, non-profits and seniors where they previously did not exist, and redefines what it means to be accountable to the community. As one 15 year old said "I will become more active in my community now because I know more about how to get involved!”

The 8 week program meets twice a week. The teens are lightly guided elect an ED, CFO, and Marketing Director and create a "foundation". We hold a "non-profit" fair (with real non-profits) on the second day of class so the teens can get a sense of local causes. Then, the student teams work on their awareness and fundraising campaigns. At the end of the program, the seniors at the host retirement home "preview" the teens information booths and fundraising presentations.

The program culminates into a fundraising "fair", where the community at large is invited to participate. The adults purchase Peace Out "bucks" which they "spend" at the student booths. The students tally up their "Peace Out" bucks, and deliver a giant check to their chosen non-profit, which represents the real-check the non-profit receives from Peace Out.

Teens earn community service hours (required for HS graduation) in a fun and meaningful way!