July 2025 e-Peace Update

In this issue

• New website & programs
• Re-release of our membership program
• New Club tiers with more benefits!
• Peace Day (July 17) in-person & virtual
• International Toast2Peace (on Peace Day)
• Annual “Mattie & Mama Peace Birthday Campaign”
• July Mattie’s Message - legacy quote

Important Message!

We’re updating our mailing list to better serve you.

If you’d like to keep receiving Mattie’s poetry,

Mama Peace’s updates, monthly inspiration,

and Foundation news in your inbox,

please click here to stay subscribed.

We don’t want you to miss a thing!

July is here – one of Mattie’s favorite months!

Mattie enjoyed swimming and ice cream, and he loved that he and his mom both celebrated July birthdays!

This month, we celebrate Mattie’s 35^th, Mama Peace’s 66^th, and the Foundation’s 20^th year with exciting new activities and a whole new website.

We are not just lighting candles this July, we are also lighting the pathway forthward with fresh programs, innovative ways to connect, and more opportunities to bring Mattie’s vision of peace into our daily lives.

From virtual Community forums for like-minded people to group learning and interactive sessions, our Foundation is flourishing with possibilities!

The Mattie Stepanek Peace Foundation was established in 2005 and became a non-profit organization a year later. Our mission then – and now – is to continue Mattie’s vision of peace, within and with others and for our world.

The world looked a lot different back then. The internet was still a fairly new concept, many technologies we depend on today were unavailable, and our culture was yet to be reshaped by the algorithms of social media.

What has not changed across time is the relevance, the need for, and the impact of Mattie’s wisdom.

Mattie’s way of helping us understand how peace is possible – despite challenges and differences, and his creative way of guiding us through choices forpeace are timeless gifts for all generations.

In our current climate of uncertainty and concern, Mattie’s legacy Foundation remains passionate about continuing to shine a light on good, and offer opportunities for youth and adults to grow in peace.

What’s new? What’s now? What’s next?
Here are some highlights!

What’s NEW?

• The return of our popular membership tier program – now with a brand-new, online interactive Community forum – where Club members can meet and chat with other aspiring peacemakers!
  • Choose from three Peace Club Network levels - Coffee, Very Involved Peacemaker (VIP), or Champion.
  • Families can join our special discounted Club Network with kid- and teen-friendly resources.
  • Our exclusive Peace Certified Network Community provides educators and leaders a forum for sharing ideas and celebrating successes.
  • And Mattie’s Peace Network – our free registry for folks who want to receive our monthly e-Peace Updates is still there – just fill in the "Peace in Your Inbox" at the bottom of any page on our new website.

• Check out our new website and resources!
• • Already complete and ready for you – pages About Mattie, Our Foundation, Exploring Peace, Pathways2Peace™ programs and resources, News & Events with new photos and videos and inspiration and more!
  • Want to have a virtual conversation with Mama Peace? Check out our “In the Room” feature at the bottom of our new homepage!
  • Coming later in July and August – pages About Jeni (Mama Peace), Our Supporters, Our Activities, the relaunch of our For Our World Campaign, and more!
  • Visit our new website here…

• We have created new resources and updated longtime successful programs!
  • Our Peace Certification™ program now offers a designated Foundation mentor who works with participants throughout their journey.
  • Our Peace Certified Network now includes an interactive online Community forum!
  • We have added new Mattie’s Message cards – postcard size resources with information and inspiration about topics like compassion, motivation, resilience, choices, and more!
  • Begin your Peace Certification journey here…

• Learn about our Foundation’s growing team of support!
  • Our volunteer-based Core Team now includes our Foundation Directors, and also a new team of Coordinators and re-engaged Ambassadors who volunteer time and talent and even treasure to further Mattie’s vision and continue our peace mission.
  • Our Supporters and Partners4Peace^TM connections are also increasing. From generous donors and sponsors to in-kind gifts grants and collaborative activities – we are working together to move peace from “possibility” to a growing reality.
  • Meet our Team and Supporters here...

What’s NEXT?

• Even more interactions with our members and networks!
• Foundation facilitated discussions in our new Community forums.
• Online Mama Peace Chats with our VIP and Champion members.
• Virtual meet-and-greet Board of Directors sessions with our Champions.
• Mentoring a new generation of Peace Certification participants – youth and adults, individuals and groups.
• A virtual Mattie’s Legacy Museum – currently in the planning stage, but an exciting resource in the works!

What’s NOW?

• Our Annual Mattie & Mama Peace Birthday Campaign.
  • During July, we aim to raise $25,000 to continue Mattie’s life-affirming work.
  • Every donation, every membership, and every Toast2Peace^TM - helps build momentum as we cultivate the pathways to peace Mattie envisioned.
  • Gifts of $35 or $66 - for Mattie’s and Mama Peace’s 35^th and 66^th birthdays – are a great way to honor their peace work.
  • Joining a Membership Club, sponsoring a personalized gift brick in Mattie's Park & Peace Garden, choosing to become Peace Certified, or scrolling down to our Birthday Campaign and sharing gifts - whether $5 or $5,000 - are also great ways to support our Foundations mission.
  • Share your gift to celebrate Mattie & Mama Peace – with a donation or scroll down to the Birthday Campaign sponsorships here…

Mattie's Message

Our Toast2Peace on Peace Day – in-person and virtual celebrations!

• Two in-person celebrations – one in Rockville, Maryland and one in Prince Edward Island, Canada – connected by Zoom!
• One global celebration – folks in any part of the world can join the Zoom connection and
   “Raise a glass or grateful hands, and connect with purpose – for peace!”
• The connected celebrations are on July 17 (in-person parties 5-8p EDT, “global clink” around 7p EDT).
• Visit our Peace Day event page here…

Stay in touch!

Let us know your thoughts on the new website.

Let us know any questions that you would like to see posted as topics in our new Community forums. 

And follow us on social media!

Peace matters, and so do you.

Thank you,

Jeni Stepanek, PhD (Mama Peace)

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If you missed a previous e-Peace Update with
information & inspiration from Mattie & his Foundation,
you can check out recent editions here...

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And finally, a mega-thank you
to our Peace Day Sponsors!
Your donation for this event is a gift that
provides support for our year round activities.

"Peace is possible... choose peace!"

Mattie J.T. Stepanek

MattiesPeaceFoundation.org

Help Us Move Peace from Possibility to Reality