July 1993- In Cincinnati, Ohio, Rev. Peterson Mingo, (Christ Temple Full Gospel Baptist Church and founder of Evanston Bulldogs Youth football organization) and Ed Gamble (Avondale Lions Youth Football Organization and Cincinnati Eagles Youth Football organization) met to organize a fundraiser that would benefit the Avondale and Evanston youth football programs. Rev. Mingo and suggested a football classic involving the youth programs from Avondale and Evanston. The proceeds from the event would be divided between the two programs so that the youth programs from both communities would benefit. The funds would be used for families that could not pay leagues and pay for equipment for the teams.
They agreed to call the football tournament the "Victory Parkway Bowl" as Victory Parkway separates the two communities. The tournament games were to be played every second Sunday in August until 2003 when the Avondale Lions ended their youth program.
In June 2007, pastor Mingo and Rob Davis (Avondale US Bank Boys & Girls Club) met to renew the tournament and to include other youth football programs within the city of Cincinnati. The plan was to include inner city teams to promote non-violence and harmony between the youth of different neighborhoods. At this time, the tournament was renamed the "Peace Bowl Classic". Rev. Mingo contacted Cheryl Meadows, Cincinnati Human Relations Commission for logistical assistance. With everyone in place, the first annual Peace Bowl Classic would be held aon August 12, 2007.
At approximately 2:15 pm, across the street from the football field, a young man was fatally shot. While the murder had nothing to do with the Peace Bowl, it put an exclamation point on the reasons to have the tournament- Peace between the communities. The remaining three games for the day were postponed and rescheduled for the following Sunday. Teams from across the city met and finished the tournament- sending a clear message that we would not be intimidated!
In 2009, the tournament was renamed the " Fred Shuttlesworth, SCLC Chapter Peace Bowl" in honor of Fred Shuttlesworth- a great champion for peace, non-violence and justice.