Playing for Others (PFO) is a nationally unique nonprofit that encourages teens to become strong leaders who are passionate about inclusion and diversity, and who understand what it takes to run a philanthropic organization that can create change.
It offers three key components:
• A vibrant leadership curriculum that combines the expertise of top leadership professionals with teen-driven training and peer review.
• A buddy program, in which each teen is paired with a child with special needs, and relationships blossom through both organized and less-structured activities.
• Arts exploration, in which teens work alongside arts professionals and peers to create original artwork, perform musical theater, learn advanced photographic and design skills, tackle songwriting and choreography, and more.
Teens put their learning to work right away. In committees and small groups, they help make key decisions for PFO, create activities for their buddies, organize events large and small, brainstorm marketing plans, create ongoing PFO displays in three dimensions and online, develop pitches to potential corporate sponsors, write and produce videos, and encourage, empower and inspire their peers – and countless others in our community.
To be in PFO…
- I want to be socially conscious
- I want to give back to my community
- I want to celebrate diversity
- I want to practice inclusion
- I want to be positive
- I want to be someone you can count on
- I want to be a valuable contributing member of a team
- I want to create change
- I want to explore who I am
- I want to open up to others
- I want to be self-aware, self-confident and self-disciplined
- I want to be open to being outside of my boundaries
- I want to find new ways to take initiative
- I want to be a part of an accepting community
- I want to be open to personal change and growth