Mahatma Gandhi and Mother Teresa are two of the great personalities known worldwide for their respective outstanding principles – non-violence and peace. Both devoted their lives for the betterment of humanity by helping people who were in greatest need. People all over the world are inspired by their philosophy of life and strive to follow in their footsteps of compassion, service and love.

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MISSION STATEMENT

The mission of the Peace Abbey Foundation is to create and install public works of art that promote peace and nonviolence; and to administer and care for Abbey Interfaith Peace Chaplaincy, The Pacifist Memorial, The Animal Rights Memorial, Abbey Cremation Cemetery for Conscientious Objectors and the National Registry for Conscientious Objection.  Throughout the year, the Foundation presents the Int’l Courage of Conscience Award at conferences and peace ceremonies and extends the impact of the Peace Seeds interfaith prayers for peace through their dissemination worldwide.

We conduct and support programs that bring together and promote the cooperation of  people of different faith traditions and non-theists as well. We do this in the spirit of the 1986 International Day of Prayer for World Peace, as celebrated that year by religious leaders from around the globe in Assisi, Italy.

The Foundation supports grassroots efforts to link the many dimensions of the peace movement with a committed emphasis on human rights and animal rights. We recognize these two dimensions of intrinsic rights as inextricably interconnected, just as social and economic justice require environmental sustainability and deep respect for the biosphere. Central to our universalist approach is the premise that nonviolence is the most effective and long-term strategy in addressing the multitude of challenges that now threaten our increasingly imperiled planet.

FOUNDATION GOALS

• To Educate: We conduct and sponsor programs and projects that promote a deeper understanding of the importance of service as a way of life. We exemplify this commitment to altruism through our decades-long affiliation with The Life Experience School for young adults with disabilities.
• To link: We conduct and sponsor public events that promote understanding and mutual respect between people of different faith traditions and non-believers. We celebrate examples of artistic expression that elevate the ideals of compassion, cooperation, fairness and peace.
• To Beautify: We commission and install works of art that express the sacredness of life and the power of pacifism and nonviolence. Accordingly, we support efforts that employ the arts in fostering social justice and peace.
• To Participate: We conduct and support programs and projects that further an understanding of the many applications of Gandhian nonviolence and civil disobedience. Accordingly, we initiate, support and participate in peace and justice demonstrations and protests.

  PEACE ABBEY DONATION AND FUNDRAISING POLICY STATEMENT

  Guided by conscience, compassion, and service, the Peace Abbey does not engage in active fundraising appeals or solicitations.  We allow people to offer without being asked.

   

  More importantly, this policy reflects our commitment to refrain from competing with local, state and national organizations and causes embraced by the Peace Abbey, and our firm belief that directing resources to other grassroots organizations whose missions align with our own is, in essence, a valid way of supporting us.

   

  While this may limit our ability to fund our own programs and projects locally, nationally, and internationally, we accept this as an expression of our values and a tribute to those we honor and in whose footsteps we walk.

   

  We are deeply grateful to all who wish to support our mission and encourage that such generosity be directed first to small, local grassroots organizations whose missions the Peace Abbey endorses and embraces. If, after supporting these organizations, resources remain to share, we are sincerely appreciative of donations that help sustain the ongoing peace and social justice work of the Peace Abbey.

  To those who offer to support our work, we can’t thank you enough.  While this policy suggests that we are endowed and don’t need financial support, nothing could be further from the truth,  But the greatest truth we hold is following our conscience which guides us away from fundraising.  To a sensible person, this might seem ill-advised or even foolish.  What unfolds over time will prove whether or not that is true.  Until then we will continue our work

The Mission Continues!