Illinois State University is sponsoring a Friends Forever event at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 28, at the Alumni Center. Youth leaders from Israel will speak about how they have been impacted from time spent in the United States.  The event is free and open to the public.

Friends Forever is a program that brings Jewish and Arab teens together for an intensive, two-week experience focused around community service, self-exploration, and leadership training.  They return to their community in Haifa, Israel, prepared to be ambassadors for peace.

Friends Forever works around the globe to help those who live in conflict-prone regions to build lasting friendships across cultural, religious, and political divides.

Through its yearlong program, Friends Forever brings groups of young peacemakers to New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, Louisiana, and Illinois.  Serving as a liaison between U.S. and international communities, Friends Forever allows people of all backgrounds to participate first-hand in the international peace process.

Note:  We ask that television crews notify us prior to appearing at the event. 

Lisa Steidinger, Friends Forever Communications Director            Phone:  309.660.2173

Roger Schmidgall, Friends Forever Coordinator                                  Phone:  309.826.9491