Kansas Coach Bill Self Nominated for 2010 United Nations NGO Positive Peace Awards
Dec. 15, 2010
ATLANTA – Celebrate Positive announced today that University of Kansas Men’s Basketball Coach Bill Self has been nominated for the inaugural 2010 United Nations NGO Positive Peace Awards in the Coach category. This award, viewed as a 21st century peace prize, honors and recognizes individuals, businesses, athletes, sports teams, entertainers and schools around the world for their positive contributions.
The 2010 Positive Peace Award nominees are judged by the United Nations NGO Voting Academy comprised of highly respected United Nations NGOs, such as Rotary International, Pathways to Peace, and Sister Cities International. The Voting Academy will use an established criteria of a coach’s community involvement and impact on their community to determine this year’s winner.
“We at Kansas Athletics are delighted that Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the Boy Scouts have nominated Coach Self for this award,” said Sean Lester, interim athletics director at the University of Kansas. “Bill has set a great example for all of us at KU with his unselfish attitude and his desire to make a difference in the lives of the youth in our area.”
“Celebrate Positive congratulates Bill Self for exemplifying what giving back to the community means” said Scott Pederson, President and CEO, Celebrate Positive. “Coach Self is a wonderful role model not only to his players, but to youth all throughout the Midwest”.
Self was nominated by Kansas Big Brothers Big Sisters for his assistance in promoting the organization though PSA’s; and by Boy Scouts of America for helping them raise over $15,000 through the Bill Self Boy Scout Golf Classic. Both organizations benefit from Self’s Assists Foundation, whose mission is to help provide young people access to better lives.
“The name “self” is misleading when it comes to Coach Self, “said Cara Kliewer, Director of Marketing and Public Relations at Big Brothers, Big Sisters.”He has donated his time, talent and treasure to change the lives of thousands of children all across Kansas. “
“It is a pleasure working with him and having him support the Boy Scouts throughout the years, “said Jacob Allen, Boy Scouts of America. “We are extremely lucky to have him on board with our tournament”.
Rotary International, with over 33,000 Clubs and 1.2 million members in over 200 countries serves on the United Nations NGO Voting Academy
“We at Rotary International are honored to serve on the voting committee for the United Nations NGO Positive Peace Awards,” says RI General Secretary Ed Futa. “Every day, Rotary’s 1.2 million members address the question, how do we make our world a better place? How appropriate that these awards recognize those individuals and organizations who are asking the same question and taking the necessary steps to achieve positive change in our world.”
The winner of the sports categories for 2010 United Nations NGO Positive Peace Award will be announced in mid December.
