As part of Nike’s Let Me Play programming and our commitment to provide access to sports for children around the globe, we have worked with Mercy Corps to donate Nike product to the Palestinian organization, PACES. According to their website (www.pacescharity.org) PACES, which stands for Palestine Association for Children’s Encouragement of Sports, was founded in June of 2006 with the central aim of providing sports programs to Palestinian girls and boys as a means of getting them off the streets and away from violence.

In 2007, Nike and Mercy Corps, another key Nike partner, worked together to secure a product donation for PACES. The package, valued at more than $400,000, went to support 16 PACES sport clubs and community centers throughout much of Palestine. The contribution of equipment and uniforms helped provide kids with access to sports, part of Nike, Mercy Corps and PACES’ mission.

"There is not one child taking part in the PACES program that has not benefited from the Nike/Mercy Corps contribution,” said Hani Qattan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for PACES. “Thanks mainly to the donated material from Nike/Mercy Corps and the rapid expansion of our donor-base, we were able to provide programs for many more children this year.”

In the future, PACES hopes to expand its program base and its accessibility by setting up programs in more cities. The organization cites Nike and Mercy Corps’ participation as key factors in PACES exponential growth. Just two years ago when it was created, PACES set out to support about 700 kids. In 2008 alone, more than 1,500 youth have been helped and given the opportunity to play sports through the organization.

Learn more about Nike’s Let Me Play commitment
Learn more about PACES
Learn more about Mercy Corps