Groton, MA—(ENEWSPF)–February 13, 2012—The Bookmakers and Dreamers Club, a group of middle and high school students in the Groton-Dunstable (MA) Regional School District today launched a $20,000 capitol campaign to complete the largest book in the world on world peace. For more information on the capitol campaign, which runs through April 12th, 2012, visit www.PeaceBookProject.org. Donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law. A 3 minute video about this project is available here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1bVYudlNZo
For the past seven years, under the leadership of faculty member Betsy Sawyer, students have solicited and received letters on the subject of world peace from Nobel Laureate and former President Jimmy Carter, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, author Helen Caldecott, as well as notables such as the late Senator Ted Kennedy, Senator John Kerry, Representative Dennis Kucinich, skateboarder Tony Hawk, poet–writer Maya Angelou, and former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace. These letters are among over 1000 letters, notes, songs, poetry, and art from around the globe that will make up the “Big Book of Peace.”
Construction of the book is already under way and many of the materials and services have been generously donated by EFI of Meredith, NH (ink), DuPont of Wilmington, DE (Tyvek®, the printing medium), UniGraphic, Inc. of Woburn, MA (printing), and award-winning book designer Joan Paley of North Scituate, MA (design and layout). The capitol campaign will fund the remaining construction costs associated with completing the one-ton, 1000-page book.
Individuals and organizations that wish to make a financial pledge to the capitol campaign may do so by visiting www.PeaceBookProject.org.
A public unveiling of the book is planned in Groton for June 2, 2012, and discussions are under way to have the book publicly displayed in museums, the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library, and additional locations in the U.S.
The club has had a life-altering impact on the student participants. “I started this as a 5th grader, kind of timid and humble,” says the current high school senior and original club member Clara O’Rourke, “and now I want to dedicate my life to peace studies and international relations.” With publication and display of the “Big Book of Peace,” students hope to spread the message of peace beyond their community. “This book project is already a huge success, as it has positively affected so many people in our little community of Groton,” says student Renée Hampton. “Now it is my hope many more will be affected by its message, too.”
For additional information on the capitol campaign visit www.peacebookproject.org and for a complete history of the big book experience, contact Betsy Sawyer, President, Pages for Peace Foundation at [email protected]“>[email protected].
About Pages for Peace Foundation
Pages for Peace Foundation (www.pagesforpeace.org) is a 501(c)3 non-profit, non-partisan organization. Betsy Sawyer and the student members of the Groton-Dunstable Bookmakers and Dreamers Club were the proud recipients of the prestigious Children’s Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abbey and have been invited to the United Nations to participate in World Peace Day ceremonies three times. Founded in 2004, the club’s goal is to build the biggest book in the world about peace. The book is an anthology of the many letters, notes, poetry, songs and art sent to the Groton-Dunstable Regional School District students who are members of the Bookmakers and Dreamers after-school club.
