A Time for Courage - Mattie's Message
“Share the gift of courage,
And it may lead to forgiveness.
Share the gift of forgiveness,
And it may lead to hope.
Share the gift of hope,
And it may lead to peace.”
Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Excerpt from “Gift-Rapt” – penned 2001
in Loving Through Heartsongs (Hyperion, 2003)
During July, we celebrate
Mattie’s & Jeni’s birthdays –
with peace, purpose, play, and
our annual fundraising campaign…
Mattie is eternally
“almost 14 years old”
but his Heartsong and mosaic
messages of hope and of peace are
timeless and universal gifts.
Mattie’s mom
(Jeni / “Mama Peace”)
and his namesake Foundation
work year-round to
continue his vision and mission
of cultivating
Pathways2Peace.
During the month of July,
his hometown (City of Rockville),
county (Montgomery County), and
state (State of Maryland)
all proclaim his July 17 birthday as
“Peace Day.”
Mattie’s Peace Foundation
hosts a “party with a purpose”
– a free event which includes a
“community Toast2Peace” –
attended by hundreds
of local and global neighbors.
We also encourage people
to celebrate with us –
by contributing to the annual
birthday campaign.
Your financial gifts
make it possible for us
to continue our year-round
programs and activities,
to create new resources,
and to manage general
infrastructure expenses.
Learn more about the
2026 Peace Day event HERE…
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.
Learn more about our
current activities below…
What's Been Happening...
The winners of the 2026 Mattie J.T. Stepanek
Peace Through Arts & Poetry contest
have been announced!
CLICK HERE to learn more…
Inaugural Cornhole for Peace Tournament
The bracket is set for the 2026 Cornhole for Peace
that takes place during the Peace Day event.
There are still spaces for folks to join the fun
in the OPEN PLAY games…
Learn more HERE…
Juneteenth 2026
The Square – Rockville, Maryland
Dr. Jeni Stepanek (Mama Peace) joined local leaders and community to honor the Juneteenth celebration in Rockville, Maryland.
Following remarks by Mayor Monique Ashton – about the importance of remembering history and also moving forward with awareness, resilience, and joy – the community enjoyed an evening of music, dancing, and fellowship.
Mattie’s June 22 Anniversary
The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Guild
– which gathers and shares
information and inspiration
about Mattie’s holiness and impact
as they work towards his
possible Cause of Canonization (sainthood)
gathered at Gate of Heaven Cemetery
during June for
reflections, prayers, and poetry in
honor of Mattie’s 22nd anniversary.
Learn more about the work
of the “Mattie Matters Guild”
HERE…
Despite a very stormy evening,
a lovely crowd gathered
to celebrate
Mattie’s 22nd Anniversary
Memorial Mass
hosted by Mattie’s Guild.
On June 22 each year,
the Guild works with
different
parishes in the
Archdiocese of Washington, DC
– bringing Mattie’s life of virtues
and legacy of Heartsongs
(messages of hope and
peace and purpose)
to new communities.
This year’s service was
hosted by
St. Joseph’s on Capitol Hill.
What's About to Happen...
Mattie’s Peace Day
(honoring his 36th birthday)
Celebrating Mattie’s 36th birthday
with a #Toast2Peace and
“party with a purpose!”
Saturday, July 11 (2-5 pm)
World of Beer Rockville
198 E. Montgomery Ave
Join us for a free community event
– entertainment, crafts, games,
cornhole, faceprinting, and more…
Personalized Gift Bricks
were (finally!) ordered for
Mattie’s Park & Peace Garden.
We order once we have
at least 30 bricks sponsored.
Sometimes, that is once a year.
This time, it took two years.
THE BRICKS WiLL BE INSTALLED IN JULY.
We will post the date and time
once the bricks have arrived.
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.
SHARE YOUR GIFT HERE…
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 June, she worked with
“Global Teen Leaders”
– dozens of young people
around the world who
learned more about Mattie’s
“tend to basic needs” and
“Heartsongs to mosaic”
peace messages through the
We Are Family Foundation
and the annual “Just Peace Summit”
(based on Mattie’s final book).
Also during June,
Mama Peace facilitated many
peace chats with local folks,
including members of
Main Street Connect and
Upcounty Community Resources
– organizations that foster inclusion
and celebrate diverse abilities.
Want to invite Mama Peace
to facilitate a peace chat
with your group?
Let us know!
INFO@MattiesPeaceFoundation.org
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...
