Welcome to the Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza
Pennies for Peace - Three Cups of Tea - IDOP Information
Pennies for Peace total for the Rock River Valley is
$102,181.24 and still counting!
Thanks to all who helped!
Greg Mortenson was the honored guest at the 2008
International Day of Peace
at the Peace Plaza on September 19th (view
a slideshow). 1300 local school children,
mostly 3rd – 5th grade students were in attendance for the
celebration. Activities included, “The Power of the Penny” by
Montessori Private Academy, Sister Cities Crossword in the newly
dedicated Sister Cities Garden, “What Does Peace Feel Like” by
students and administration of the Jane Addams Center at Rockford
College, Passports and Stickers and Rubbings of the Peace Message
“May Peace Prevail on Earth.
Many of the classes in attendance sang songs, danced or drummed
with
One Drum Multicultural
Group who were sponsored in part by a grant from the Illinois
Arts Council. The 191 student Peace Choir from Machesney Fine Arts Program,
Harlem High School, Keith School and Auburn High School under the direction
of Rodney Cain, along with Katherine Terasaki, Julie Jaworwicz and Beth
Heuer was a highlight both of the International Day of Peace and the public
lecture of Greg Mortenson on Friday night at the Coronado Theater.
Thousands of Rock River Valley students, along with businesses and hundreds of area individuals participated in the “Pennies for Peace” campaign featured in Greg Mortenson’s best selling book “Three Cups of Tea” to raise money to build and endow a school for girls in a remote village of Pakistan or Afghanistan as a gift from the children of the Rock River Valley. The true highlight of the day was the visit of Greg Mortenson to the Peace Plaza during the International Day of Peace celebration. It was there that the children presented Mr. Mortenson with a check for $51,400. His message of selfless giving and peace through education to the children in the most remote villages of central Asia was awe inspiring to our area children and adults alike. Our goal was to raise $50,000 and at the close of our campaign, on January 31st, 2009, our total was over $100,000. Thank you to the many 1000’s of individuals, businesses, churches and not-for-profit agencies who helped to demonstrate that a compassionate heart is beating strong in the Rock River Valley and thanks to the
Rockford Education Association - our partner in Pennies for Peace.
For more information on Greg Mortenson's Central Asia Institute or to subscribe to their online newsletter, Alima visit
www.ikat.org. Alima (pronounced ah-LEE-mah), means a learned and wise female. Their newsletter is dedicated to all the hard-working girls in CAI’s institutions in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
CBS Sunday Morning featured Greg Mortenson on January 4th, of 2009 The Pennies for Peace effort of our local school children was also featured in this piece. No Child Left Behind Video - CBSNews.com.
The Pennies for Peace (please link) "toolkit" features interviews with Rock River Valley teachers and children.
Author information and additional details about Greg Mortenson.
Watch a slideshow of the 2008 International Day of Peace celebration.
View a video of the International Day of Peace interspersed with photos from the Central Asia Institute.
View the brochure for the Sister City Garden groundbreaking ceremony.
View a slideshow of our 6th Annual Day of Peace Celebration (2008).
Nobel Laureate Dr. Oscar Arias visits the Peace Plaza
Montessori Students Inspired to Create a Peace Pole
View a slide show of the dedication of the Mongolian Flag
It's a large file and make take a minute to download
Day or Night ... The Peace Plaza is an inspiring sight!
Aspiring for true peace and tranquility and celebrating diversity and heritage, the Keeling-Puri Peace Plaza is located in Rockford, Illinois. It is easily accessible from I-90 (Riverside Exit) west one-half mile to McFarland Road and south one quarter mile.
The Peace Plaza is situated in a 2.5 acre park which also serves as a trailhead for Rockford’s 20 mile Perryville Path network of bicycle and recreational trails with an easy link to Rock Cut State Park located three miles north of the Peace Plaza. Ample parking is available at the Peace Plaza.
At Peace Plaza,
One World
Comes Together.
May Peace Prevail on Earth