People to People International (PTPI) was a program established on September 11, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as part of the United States Information Agency. After President Eisenhower left the office of President in 1961, he arranged to have the organization privatized as a non-governmental organization and arranged for People to People to become a not-for-profit Missouri corporation now known as People to People International. President Eisenhower was chairman of the board of trustees and recognized as the founder of the not-for-profit organization. It is incorporated as a not-for-profit organization in the state of Missouri and qualifies for exemption from income tax under the Internal Revenue Code 501(c)(3). PTPI is funded through program fees, membership dues and donations.

Among the early leaders working with President Eisenhower were Joyce C. Hall, the founder of Hallmark Cards, Inc., Walt Disney, Bob Hope and approximately 100 other individuals from industry, academia and the arts. Charles M. Schulz, creator of the Peanuts comic strip, contributed three pieces of artwork for PTPI Worldwide Conferences.

On June 22, 2006, People to People was the first organization awarded the Cavaliere per la Pace (Knight of Peace Award).[1][2] Prior to People to People, recipients of this award had always been individuals. Previous honorees include Mother Teresa, Mikhail Gorbachev and Pope John Paul II. Since its inception, eight U.S. presidents served as the honorary chairman of People to People International.

People to People International filed for bankruptcy on March 22, 2022, in Missouri Western Bankruptcy court.[3] Clients received email soon thereafter stating that the umbrella organization could not continue operations due to financial issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic; chapters would continue independently.[4]

Other PTPI programs

Other People to People International programs included: Educational and Humanitarian Initiatives[5] adult travel programs,[6] the EXPERIENCE program (an annual student travel program incorporating service work),[7] Peace Camp (free, international travel program for students with an emphasis on peace education),[8] the Global Landmine Initiative (working with the HALO Trust), the School and Classroom Program (an international classroom-based pen pal program),[9] & also Community,[10] University,[11] Student Chapters[12] all over the world. Also the Global Youth Forum[13] known as the GYF, open to 13- to 18-year-olds all over the world every November.

The most recent Global Youth Forums were held in the following cities:

YearMetro areaLocationTheme
2004Atlanta
2005Washington DC
2006Kansas City, MOKansas City, MOWorld Hunger
2007ChicagoRosemont, ILChild Soldiers
2008DenverWestminster, COGlobal Education
2009Washington DCCrystal City, VAGlobal Sustainability
2010AtlantaAtlantaGlobal Health
2011Kansas CityKansas CityCultural Understanding
2012ChicagoChicagoCultural Understanding
2013Washington DCWashington D.C.Global Education
2014Kansas CityKansas CityHumanitarianism
2017Kansas CityKansas CityGlobal Education, Humanitarianism

In early 2004, actor Gary Sinise and author Laura Hillenbrand founded Operation Iraqi Children and joined in partnership with People to People International in order to provide a way for concerned Americans to reach out to the war-stricken children of Iraq by supporting troops and their efforts to assist them. In 2009, the mission of the program was expanded to include children in areas all over the world served by American troops and the name of the program was changed to Operation International Children. The Operation International Children program announced its closing in April 2013. The final shipment to Kuwait was sent in June 2013.

PTPI was a partner of Global Youth Service Day.[14]

People to People International had a European extension office in Berlin, Germany.[15] There was previously an office in Cairo, Egypt.[16]

References

  1. ↑ "Q2 2006 Ambassadors Group, Inc. Earnings Conference Call - Final". Congressional Quarterly Transcriptions. 2006-07-20.
  2. ↑ John C. Abell (2009-02-09). "Business & Financial News, Breaking US & International News | Reuters.com". Today.reuters.com. Archived from the original on March 11, 2007. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  3. ↑ Lukitsch, Bill (March 25, 2022). "Parents feel cheated by Kansas City student travel provider People to People". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved October 13, 2022.
  4. ↑ Boice, Ed (April 6, 2022). "Mary Jean Eisenhower and parents react to People to People International filing bankruptcy". The Abilene Reflector-Chronicle. Retrieved December 28, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Humanitarian". People to People International. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  6. ↑ "Travel Programs & Conferences". People to People International. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  7. ↑ "Student Travel & Conferences". People to People International. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  8. ↑ "Peace Camp". People to People International. Archived from the original on 2010-02-09.
  9. ↑ "School & Classroom Program". Ptpi.org. Archived from the original on 2010-11-15. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  10. ↑ "Community Chapters". Ptpi.org. Archived from the original on 2010-07-06. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  11. ↑ "University Chapters". Ptpi.org. Archived from the original on 2010-03-12. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  12. ↑ "Student Chapters". Ptpi.org. Archived from the original on 2010-09-14. Retrieved 2012-04-30.
  13. ↑ "Global Youth Forum 2014". People to People International. Archived from the original on 2013-12-19. Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  14. ↑ "Global Youth Service Day". People to People International. Archived from the original on 2012-12-10. Retrieved 2012-12-18.
  15. ↑ "PTP Europe". Retrieved 2013-12-18.
  16. ↑ "People to People International: Middle East and Africa". Archived from the original on 2013-09-16.
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