Mary Jean Eisenhower
Encyclopedia
Mary Jean Eisenhower the granddaughter of Dwight D. Eisenhower
, has worked to develop and expand the mission of People to People International
[PTPI]. Eisenhower became the Chief Executive Officer of PTPI in January 2000 and its President in 2003. She still holds these titles.
, was appointed Ambassador to Belgium. She lived in Belgium from 1969 to 1972. Eisenhower began her career working on Capitol Hill and then managed an engineering firm. She also has served as a Fellow at Stanford University.http://www.oir.org.uk/team/team_show.htm?doc_id=507192&profileAttrib_id=15223&yearAttrib_id=15229
to represent her family to the King on the 50th anniversary of the Casablanca Conference. She also traveled to the beaches of Normandy
to meet many of the veterans who served with her grandfather on the D-Day
invasion. In the last six years, Ms. Eisenhower has left US soil over 70 times and visited over 40 countries. Missions have ranged from meeting first families to distributing foodstuffs in developing countries to cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
Inspired by an orphanage she visited in Morocco, Ms. Eisenhower launched the People to People International Friendship Fund in 1999. The Fund is designed to enable individuals to support the service-oriented facilities they visit throughout the world and to provide a mechanism through which the network of PTPI Chapters can assist one another. Today, the fund has supported causes ranging from the Global Humanitarian Eradication of Landmines, Children's Mercy Hospital
in London, England, earthquake relief in India
, disaster relief to victims of September 11, 2001, and their families, support of underresourced schools in China
and Sri Lanka
, a home for leukemia
victims and their families in Cuba
, to a library project in Vietnam
and the Friends of Egypt organization. One hundred percent of all funds received by the International Friendship Fund are allocated in support of the projects specified by donors.http://www.ptpi.org/
After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Ms. Eisenhower became intently focused upon bringing young people from around the globe into contact with one another in order to expose them to diverse cultures and conflict management tools that might facilitate the amelioration of long-standing disputes. Her vision came to fruition with Peace Camp 2003: An Evolution of Thought and Change and the Global Peace Initiative. Both the Peace Camp and the Global Peace Initiative brought participants from over 30 nationalities together in Egypt
to discuss contemporary issues and gain nuanced insights into the varied and unique cultures represented among the participants. H E Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt cohosted this event. The program continues to be active today.
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower was the 34th President of the United States, from 1953 until 1961. He was a five-star general in the United States Army...
, has worked to develop and expand the mission of People to People International
People to People International
People to People International was established on September 11, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower, as part of the U.S. Information Agency...
[PTPI]. Eisenhower became the Chief Executive Officer of PTPI in January 2000 and its President in 2003. She still holds these titles.
Early life
Mary Eisenhower was born in Washington, D.C. during President Eisenhower's first term and was christened in the Blue Room of the White House. She grew up in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, on the Eisenhower Farm, where President Eisenhower retired after his time in office. Ms. Eisenhower attended Westtown School in Pennsylvania until her father, John EisenhowerJohn Eisenhower
John Sheldon Doud Eisenhower is the son of President Dwight D. Eisenhower and his wife Mamie. He is a retired United States Army officer and the author of several books of military history. He served as the U.S...
, was appointed Ambassador to Belgium. She lived in Belgium from 1969 to 1972. Eisenhower began her career working on Capitol Hill and then managed an engineering firm. She also has served as a Fellow at Stanford University.http://www.oir.org.uk/team/team_show.htm?doc_id=507192&profileAttrib_id=15223&yearAttrib_id=15229
Work with People to People International
During her work with People to People International, Ms. Eisenhower visited MoroccoMorocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
to represent her family to the King on the 50th anniversary of the Casablanca Conference. She also traveled to the beaches of Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
to meet many of the veterans who served with her grandfather on the D-Day
D-Day
D-Day is a term often used in military parlance to denote the day on which a combat attack or operation is to be initiated. "D-Day" often represents a variable, designating the day upon which some significant event will occur or has occurred; see Military designation of days and hours for similar...
invasion. In the last six years, Ms. Eisenhower has left US soil over 70 times and visited over 40 countries. Missions have ranged from meeting first families to distributing foodstuffs in developing countries to cultural and humanitarian exchanges.
Inspired by an orphanage she visited in Morocco, Ms. Eisenhower launched the People to People International Friendship Fund in 1999. The Fund is designed to enable individuals to support the service-oriented facilities they visit throughout the world and to provide a mechanism through which the network of PTPI Chapters can assist one another. Today, the fund has supported causes ranging from the Global Humanitarian Eradication of Landmines, Children's Mercy Hospital
Children's Mercy Hospital
Children's Mercy Hospital is a comprehensive pediatric hospital located in Kansas City, Missouri that provides medical care to patients from birth to 18 years of age. Children’s Mercy Hospitals and Clinics is the only free-standing children's hospital between St. Louis and Denver.-The Berry...
in London, England, earthquake relief in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, disaster relief to victims of September 11, 2001, and their families, support of underresourced schools in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
, a home for leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
victims and their families in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, to a library project in Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
and the Friends of Egypt organization. One hundred percent of all funds received by the International Friendship Fund are allocated in support of the projects specified by donors.http://www.ptpi.org/
After the September 11th terrorist attacks, Ms. Eisenhower became intently focused upon bringing young people from around the globe into contact with one another in order to expose them to diverse cultures and conflict management tools that might facilitate the amelioration of long-standing disputes. Her vision came to fruition with Peace Camp 2003: An Evolution of Thought and Change and the Global Peace Initiative. Both the Peace Camp and the Global Peace Initiative brought participants from over 30 nationalities together in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
to discuss contemporary issues and gain nuanced insights into the varied and unique cultures represented among the participants. H E Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of the Arab Republic of Egypt cohosted this event. The program continues to be active today.