As we conclude our 2025 theme – “A Time for Compassion” – and look ahead to our 2026 theme – “A Time for Courage” – we share another of Mattie’s timeless holiday poems; this one – the last of his annual “New Year’s Day” offerings.
In 2025, Mattie’s Peace Foundation explored compassion as an everyday truth: more than empathy, compassion is awareness of a challenge, an attitude of concern, and action that is meaningful and supportive.
As the year unfolded, we also recognized that compassion – as a pathway to peace – requires courage. Courage is not fearlessness, but strength during adversity.
Believing in goodness and potential – in ourselves and others – takes courage. So, too, does the choice to peacefully and positively persevere – and come together to cultivate compassionate change.
Enjoy Mattie’s “Resolution Blessing” – a gift of hope and chosen purpose for a weary but worthy world, as we move in 2026, and our focus on courage and commitment.
As we conclude our 2025 theme – “A Time for Compassion” – and look ahead to our 2026 theme – “A Time for Courage” – we share another of Mattie’s timeless holiday poems; this one – the last of his annual “New Year’s Day” offerings.
In 2025, Mattie’s Peace Foundation explored compassion as an everyday truth: more than empathy, compassion is awareness of a challenge, an attitude of concern, and action that is meaningful and supportive.
As the year unfolded, we also recognized that compassion – as a pathway to peace – requires courage. Courage is not fearlessness, but strength during adversity.
Believing in goodness and potential – in ourselves and others – takes courage. So, too, does the choice to peacefully and positively persevere – and come together to cultivate compassionate change.
Enjoy Mattie’s “Resolution Blessing” – a gift of hope and chosen purpose for a weary but worthy world, as we move in 2026, and our focus on courage and commitment.
Mattie, born with a rare, incurable medical condition, was much like any other kid — he enjoyed games, hanging with friends, and hobbies like rock collecting and reading. He was also a gifted writer, offering choices to “cultivate pathways to peace” through his seven bestselling Heartsongs poetry and peace essays.
Despite struggles related to disability, being bullied, and witnessing close friends perish in the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Mattie celebrated life for almost 14 years on Earth. He knew that conflict and challenges would always exist, but still believed that hope is real and peace is possible.
— Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Mattie reminds us that peace does not begin with the end of war, but within each of us — when our basic needs are met and we can be “okay” with who and how we are as a person. Peace grows as we compassionately care for others, ensuring their well-being and fostering harmony within and among individuals and communities.
Mattie encourages us to seek purpose within — and to celebrate our “reason for being.” Our purpose grows as we make peace with others through purposeful habits and actions, and as we bring peace to others — even people who are different from us, or with whom we disagree.
Mattie celebrated life despite his challenges, believing that play rejuvenates the spirit. Getting to know our neighbors through conversation and recreation creates mutual networks of understanding, which can support us in some inevitable future storm. We don’t have to agree with others to be with others in kind and supportive ways.
Mattie will always be one of the brightest lights to ever grace our stage and the planet… Mattie was, is, a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher, who dared to play after every storm.
Oprah Winfrey
Talk Show Host, Television Producer, Actress, Author, Media Proprietor, & Humanitarian
His life was about more than a heartbeat; it is about a message of enduring value.
Chris Cuomo, JD
News broadcaster, journalist, & Emmy Award winner for his “The Magic of Mattie” piece.
The Foundation’s focus on “PEACE PURPOSE PLAY” signals and reminds us that we need to balance our days, weeks and years. We need all three P’s to achieve quietness, reflect on our personal goals, and celebrate with joy. Peace, Purpose, Play is LIFE.
Jenn Lynn Kerwin, OFS
Executive Director,
Upcounty Community Resources
Mattie is the elixir for all of the poisons out there. When you have the nay-sayers, when you have the people that break your heart… Mattie reminds us, inspires us to believe in the good.
Jerry Lewis
Actor, comedian, &
MDA Chairperson
Jeni — Mama Peace — and the Foundation bring a sense of purpose, a commitment to peace, and a reminder to play!
Jillian Copeland
Founder, Main Street Connect
“A movement of inclusion”
Legacy is not defined by how many years someone has worked. It is determined by the work done during the life span, even when it is too short. An example of this is Mattie J.T. Stepanek, who lived only for 13 years, but set himself as a Prodigy.
Global Child Prodigy Awards
Remarks about Mattie’s life and legacy as a posthumous honoree
“
Mattie will always be one of the brightest lights to ever grace our stage and the planet… Mattie was, is, a poet, a peacemaker, and a philosopher, who dared to play after every storm.
Oprah Winfrey
Talk Show Host, Television Producer, Actress, Author, Media Proprietor, & Humanitarian
“
His life was about more than a heartbeat; it is about a message of enduring value.
Chris Cuomo, JD
News broadcaster, journalist, & Emmy Award winner for his “The Magic of Mattie” piece.
“
The Foundation’s focus on “PEACE PURPOSE PLAY” signals and reminds us that we need to balance our days, weeks and years. We need all three P’s to achieve quietness, reflect on our personal goals, and celebrate with joy. Peace, Purpose, Play is LIFE.
Jenn Lynn Kerwin, OFS
“
Mattie is the elixir for all of the poisons out there. When you have the nay-sayers, when you have the people that break your heart… Mattie reminds us, inspires us to believe in the good.
Jerry Lewis
Actor, comedian, &
MDA Chairperson
“
Jeni — Mama Peace — and the Foundation bring a sense of purpose, a commitment to peace, and a reminder to play!
Jillian Copeland
Founder, Main Street Connect
“A movement of inclusion”
“
Legacy is not defined by how many years someone has worked. It is determined by the work done during the life span, even when it is too short. An example of this is Mattie J.T. Stepanek, who lived only for 13 years, but set himself as a Prodigy.
Golden Child Prodigy Awards
Remarks about Mattie’s life and legacy as a posthumous honoree
We continue Mattie’s mission of promoting well-being and a deeper understanding of peace at personal, local, and global levels. We support youth and adults in exploring peace as personal and community choices, in finding personal and collective purpose, and in connecting with others through conversation and play.
We help people understand, practice, and promote peace through inspiration, information, and interaction with others. Our Pathways2Peace™ and Peace Certification™ programs engage local and global participants with both in-person activities like Peace Day, Mama Peace Chats, and Community Mosaics and virtual events like webinars, Peace Trees, For Our World Campaign, and Heartsongs contests.
We rely on donations, memberships, grants, and sponsorships to create easy to understand resources, to facilitate programs and activities, to host in-person and virtual events, and to mentor global youth and adults — at little or no cost to participants. View our Membership & Donating page to learn more.
Countries reached through virtual and
in-person activities and events
Stellar reviews of our programs, workshops, and Peace Certification
“Mattie’s message of “peace, purpose, and play” is as relevant today as it was when he wrote his first books. The Surgeon General has stated that we are going through an epidemic of loneliness and Mattie’s message can help us through that.”
“Learning about his message has helped me come to find my own purpose in life and although I may only be one, my gift in life is fun, which may seem trivial to some but because of his words, I know that every time I share my laughter with others, I am continuing his legacy and spreading his message.”
Larissa Johnson
Founder, Formula for Fun
Public Speaker & Educator
“Mattie’s legacy is alive and well at Pangborn Elementary School every day. His message of ‘peace is possible’ is one that we strongly believe in and share with our students daily as a part of who we are and who we strive to be.”
“Now more than ever, our world needs to hear Mattie’s message.”
Dr. Raegon Clutz
& Tilsim Newman
Principal & Educator,
Pangborn Elementary School
(The Foundation’s very first Peace Certified School, back in 2011 – and they continue to cultivate “Peace Circles” and a “Climate of Peace”)
“The day we became Peace Certified by Mattie’s Foundation is a day our retirement community celebrated not a vision, but a realization.”
“We celebrated the conviction – a child’s conviction and an honorable human aspiration – that in spite of history’s endless stream of evidence to the contrary, “peace IS possible” through the collective willed creativity of friends, and friends of friends, and outright strangers.”
Richard Thayer
Former Chaplain,
Ingleside at King Farm
Retirement Community
“I’ve had a partnership with the amazing Mama Peace for about 15 years. Each year resulted in a beautiful class book as a tribute to inspirational Mattie and ended with a touching virtual Peace Chat to celebrate my students becoming proud authors!”
“These connections have been the highlight of my career and it means the world to have the support of the Foundation by being awarded Peace Certification!”
Alba Romero
Elementary Education Teacher,
California, USA
“It’s not ‘edited’ poetry. It’s fresh. It’s something truly powerful.”
“Mattie’s messages help me realize that peace is possible. His words and way of explaining peace are clear – and appealing to children and adults alike.”
“I made a three-hour drive just to see Mattie at this book signing. And as a Minister, on Sunday mornings with various great theologians being mentioned in my sermon – Mattie gets his place as well.”
Audience members at a book signing event
“Mattie’s message of peace, purpose, and play is as relevant today as it was when he wrote his first books. The Surgeon General has stated that we are going through an epidemic of loneliness and Mattie’s message can help us through that.”
“Learning about his message has helped me come to find my own purpose in life and although I may only be one, my gift in life is fun, which may seem trivial to some but because of his words, I know that every time I share my laughter with others, I am continuing his legacy and spreading his message.”
Larissa Johnson
Founder, Formula for Fun
Public Speaker & Educator
“Mattie’s legacy is alive and well at Pangborn Elementary School every day. His message of ‘peace is possible’ is one that we strongly believe in and share with our students daily as a part of who we are and who we strive to be. Now more than ever, our world needs to hear Mattie’s message.”
Dr. Raegon Clutz & Tilsim Newman
Principal & Educator,
Pangborn Elementary School
(The Foundation’s very first Peace Certified School, back in 2011 – and they continue to cultivate “Peace Circles” and a “Climate of Peace”)
“The day we became Peace Certified by Mattie’s Foundation is a day our retirement community celebrated not a vision, but a realization.”
“We celebrated the conviction – a child’s conviction and an honorable human aspiration – that in spite of history’s endless stream of evidence to the contrary, “peace IS possible” through the collective willed creativity of friends, and friends of friends, and outright strangers.”
Richard Thayer
Former Chaplain,
Ingleside at King Farm
Retirement Community
“I’ve had a partnership with the amazing Mama Peace for about 15 years. Each year resulted in a beautiful class book as a tribute to inspirational Mattie and ended with a touching virtual Peace Chat to celebrate my students becoming proud authors!”
“These connections have been the highlight of my career and it means the world to have the support of the Foundation by being awarded Peace Certification!”
Alba Romero
Elementary Education Teacher,
California, USA
“It’s not ‘edited’ poetry. It’s fresh.
It’s something truly powerful.”
“Mattie’s messages help me realize that peace is possible. His words and way of explaining peace are clear – and appealing to children and adults alike.”
“I made a three-hour drive just to see Mattie at this book signing. And as a Minister, on Sunday mornings with various great theologians being mentioned in my sermon – Mattie gets his place as well.”
Audience members
at a book signing event
Our tips and tools for exploring Mattie’s messages support you in better understanding and choosing peace – within, with others, with our world – through education, conversation, and fun.
Our self-guided programs and activities for families, educators, and leaders help guide you in role modeling and teaching peace to children and adults in simple, creative, and purposeful ways.
Our Peace Certification program offers a more hands-on and mentored experience with our organization, as we guide individuals and groups on personalized journeys of peace.
Stay up-to-date and inspired. Safe, secure, and no spam. Just add your name to Mattie’s Peace Network – register for free.
“Peace In Your Inbox”
(complete registry below)
Coffee with Mama Peace, virtual webinars, seasonal Foundation activities, and more – we offer inspiring and fun connections to help you explore and practice peace.
Membership in one of our Peace Clubs offers you participation in select online events and conversations, discounts on select resources, and more – and it supports our mission!
Whether you are joining one of our membership clubs, sponsoring a brick or an event, or simply making a donation – every dollar you give helps our volunteer-based non-profit with our mission of cultivating peace.
From event activities to online and logistic tasks to social media support — sharing your time and talent helps us cultivate peace. Let us know what services or supports you would like to share to support our volunteer team!
In 2026, Mattie’s Peace Foundation continues celebrating our 20-year anniversary and the theme: “A Time for Courage.”
While technology, social media, and so much more has changed across the decades – the need for and the impact of Mattie’s timeless and universal messages of hope and peace have not changed.
From updated and new Pathways2Peace™ programs, activities, and events and new Partners4Peace™ connections to the return of our membership clubs – we are excited about “what next?” as we cultivate peace through education, conversation, and recreation!
Ask questions (audio or text) about Mattie, peace, or our world. There are also clickable links for learning more about specific topics or current news and events.
