(Mattie & Mama Peace artwork by Ciara Judge
WAFF Global Teen Leader 2016 – Ireland).
A Time for Courage - Celebrating Peace
“I pray for the world in such need,
I yearn for a world with real peace,
I praise and give thanks
in the hope of tomorrows –
beyond days of
my moments on earth.”
Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Excerpt from “Psalm of Life” – penned 2003
in Reflections of a Peacemaker (AMP, 2005)
During July, we honor
Mattie’s & Jeni’s birthdays –
with celebrations, proclamations,
and donations that support
our annual fundraising campaign…
Every dollar supports our volunteer-based
non-profit and helps make our Pathways2Peace
programs and resources possible.
Our campaign goal this year is $25,000.
Support the annual
Mattie & Mama Peace Birthday
Campaign HERE…
ARE 100% TAX DEDUCTIBLE
Gifts of $36 or more – we add
YOUR birthday message
to Our Sponsors page.
your name to Our Sponsors.
Peace Day Proclamations & Celebrations!
During early July,
the City of Rockville, Maryland
proclaimed Mattie’s birthday
as Peace Day.
During mid-July,
Montgomery County shared their
Peace Day proclamation.
And during the
Toast2Peace on Peace Day
celebration, the State of Maryland
honored Mattie and Jeni.
Watch the Proclamation Ceremony here…
2026 Toast2Peace on Peace Day
Hundreds of local and global neighbors enjoyed the Foundation’s annual “party with a purpose!”
Participants enjoyed entertainment from Ocho de Bastos, The Blarney Bench, and ZamDance; a cornhole tournament sponsored by LFCU; peace themed craft activities; a peace flag celebration; food and drink from World of Beer; “Mattie’s Chocolate Chocolate Ice Cream” from Ben and Jerry’s; and, connecting with purpose during our “community clink!”
View photo albums of the event (HERE…)
Enjoy a few highlights below…
Inaugural Cornhole for Peace Tournament
during the Peace Day event.
Champion Team – “Mattie’s Friends”
Kevin Reilly & Joey Talbot
2nd Place Team – “Main Street Connect”
Tara Owens & Tommy McElwee
3rd Place Team – “Rockville City Police”
Ronnie Crowe & son
What's Been Happening...
Four new “Mattie’s Message Cards”
added to our growing collection…
Each year, new cards are created that reflect our current theme and key elements of Mattie’s messages of Heartsongs and hope, and peace, purpose, and play.
Our newest cards include a focus on courage, respect, faith, and commitment. Each card features an inspirational quote with either Matte’s artwork or Jeni’s photography on the front, and brief pointers on exploring the theme on the back.
Previous cards include themes such as Heartsongs, hope, peace, life, service, kindness, gratitude, resilience, and more. Currently, there are several about three dozen cards in the growing collection.
Cards are sold during events (like Peace Day) or by mail order – either when our Peace Shop is open (seasonally) or by request.
What's About to Happen...
Personalized Gift Bricks
BRICKS WILL BE INSTALLED
ON THURSDAY JULY 23!
All are welcome to join us.
Workers will arrive around 7 am
to remove blank bricks.
Installation of the new
engraved bricks will likely
begin around 8 or 8:30 am.
Photos will be added to the
Brick Sponsors page.
Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park & Peace Garden
1800 Piccard Drive, Rockville, MD 20850
Peace Shop Mail Orders
will be offered seasonally!
Four times a year,
we will offer select items –
including t-shirts,
Mattie’s and Jeni’s books
(many out of print),
Mattie’s Message Cards,
inspirational note cards,
“Peace in Your Pocket” quotes,
and other Foundation materials.
Our August e-Peace Update
will include our “Fall 2026” offers.
We will also offer items
to be shipped in November –
as they make nifty-gifties
for the holiday season!
What We Are Working On...
Our annual “Mattie & Mama Peace
Birthday Campaign” is underway!
The generous donations we receive during July
– in honor of Mattie’s 36th birthday (July 17)
& Mama Peace (Jeni’s) 67th birthdaybirthday (July 25) –
contribute to our year-round operations.
Your support enables us to offer
many programs & activities
at little or no cost to
youth, adults, and communities.
Peace matters, and so do you.
Gifts of $20, $36, $67,
or any amount are encouraged!
Thank you for supporting our mission
to cultivate Pathways2Peace.
Mattie’s Virtual Museum
Peace – Purpose – Play
an interactive online experience!
Mattie’s Foundation is seeking
sponsorships and grant support as we
develop this three phase project
(archive and organize the materials,
develop and create the site,
and launch and disseminate the
galleries and spaces for exploring,
connecting, and learning
by local and global neighbors.
If you would like to learn more
or support this project,
please let us know:
INFO@MattiesPeaceFoundation.org
Mama Peace Chat Sessions
Mama Peace – aka Mattie’s mom,
and Dr. Jeni Stepanek, President
of Mattie’s Peace Foundation –
enjoys both in person and
virtual “peace chat” sessions
with local and global
youth, adults, and communities.
During July, she facilitated
Mama Peace Chats with members of
Main Street Connect and
with Upcounty Community Resources –
exploring peace within and with others,
creating peace flags, and
celebrating Mattie’s birthday with
his messages of hope and life.
Also during July, Mama Peace will
begin working with the new
2026 “Global Teen Leaders”
– dozens of young people
around the world who will
be learning more about Mattie’s
“tend to basic needs” and
“Heartsongs to mosaic”
peace messages.
GTLs are part of the
We Are Family Foundation’ s
“Three Dot Dash” program, and attend
the annual “Just Peace Summit”
(based on Mattie’s final book)
– this year to take place in London
during late September
into early October.
Want to invite Mama Peace
to facilitate a peace chat
with your group?
Let us know!
What's You Can Do to Support Our Work...
Mattie’s Peace Foundation
is a volunteer-based non-profit that
relies on the generous support of
our donors and sponsors.
Monthly, annual, and one-time gifts
help us move peace from
abstract ideas and attitudes
to hands-on activities and practices.
Thank you for choosing
to help us continue
Mattie’s mission and vision
for moving
from Heartsongs
(inner purpose & peace)
to mosaics
(collective purpose & peace).
What Matters...
Happy birthday(s)
Mattie & Mama Peace!
