Highlights of Programs, Activities, & Awards

Across the years, numerous inspirational, educational, and recreational programs have been created that celebrate the message of hope and peace that Mattie offered through his writings, his speeches, and his everyday conversations and being His poetry and essays continue to be reprinted or excerpted in other books, and many composers have used Mattie’s lyrics in new musical pieces. Mattie has also been recognized with numerous posthumous awards and honors from national and international organizations. Below are some highlights of these events.

2004

• Mattie, who worked with the IAFF most of his life, is buried with the funeral of a fallen firefighter, the only civilian in the IAFF’s history to receive such an honor.
• The MDA Mattie Fund is established, bringing in millions of dollars to fund research efforts in childhood neuromuscular diseases, like the one that affected Mattie and his siblings.
• U.S. Congressional Resolution #695 recognizes Mattie with honor, achievement, and contribution to our world, and a flag is flown over the U.S. Capitol in his honor.
• Mattie is awarded MDA’s Lifetime Contribution Award and is recognized with the MDA Most Effective Youth Ambassador Resolution.
• Mattie is honored posthumously with the NuSkin Force for Good Lifetime Achievement Award.
• The entire 2004 National MDA Labor Day Telethon is dedicated to Mattie.
• Mattie is recognized with Washington Peace Center’s “Peacemaker Extraordinaire Award.”
• Mattie is recognized with the Native American Society, Call for Peace Humanitarian Award.
• Mattie’s Movie and Poetry Slam Day is initiated by Lollipop Theatre, WAFF, and Robert Galinsky.

2005

• The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation is established as a not-for-profit organization with the mission of making Mattie’s message of hope and peace available and accessible across time and space.
• Mattie is recognized with the Peerless Rockville Celebrity Challenge: Outstanding Historical Achievement.
• The annual Mattie’s MDA Heartsongs Gala, an  event conceived by Mattie in 2003, continues. By 2012, the DC area event raises millions  of dollars that fund local MDA Summer Camps as well as clinics and research.
• The first MDA Mattie J.T. Stepanek Fellowships are awarded to researchers studying mitochondrial disease.
• The 2005 WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award is accepted by Maya Angelou.
• The two-room Peace is Possible Exhibit dedicated to Mattie’s message of hope and peace is opened at the Children’s Peace Pavilion in Independence, MO, where Mattie delivered a keynote speech to 5,500 students in 2002.
• The Ground Breaking Ceremony for the future Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park & Peace Garden is attended by hundreds of politicians, fire fighters, Harley Davidson bikers, school children, fans, and neighbors.
• In honor of Mattie’s friendship with former First Lady Rosalynn Carter and of his support of her Intergenerational Caregiving program, the Rosalynn Carter Institute begins awarding four annual Mattie J.T. Stepanek Scholarships to individuals who are furthering their education or work in a related field.
• Mattie’s final collection of poetry s released in an eight chapter book titled, Reflections of a Peacemaker: A Portrait Through Heartsongs, which becomes a NY Times Bestseller.
• Mattie is recognized with the Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies Peacemaker Award. The award is renamed the “Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Extraordinaire Award.”
• Mattie is recognized with the Child Welfare League of America’s Natalie Heineman Humanitarian Award.
• MDA creates a 30 minute documentary about Mattie, “Play After Every Storm.”
• Mattie’s friend, Madison Cross, records the song, He Was Just Like Me, written by her father, Grammy and Oscar award-winning musician Christopher Cross. (Click here to view lyrics).
• The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services awards Mattie their Highest Honor Humanitarian Award.
• The 2001 Good Morning America segment in which Mattie meets Jimmy Carter in person for the first time is named the Most Memorable Moment in the show’s 30 year history.
• Mattie first appearance on the Oprah Winfrey Show during October 2001 is selected for Oprah’s 20th Anniversary DVD collection.

2006

• Mattie’s collection of peace essays and e-mail correspondence with Former U.S. President Jimmy Carter and others is published in a book titled, Just Peace: A Message of Hope. The book becomes a NY Times Bestseller.
• The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Exhibit (a two year display) is opened at the Montgomery County Public Library, Rockville, MD Branch.
• The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Memorial Library is established at his former parish, Holy Rosary Catholic Church, Upper Marlboro, MD.
• The 2006 WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award is accepted by Quincy Jones.
• Mattie is inducted posthumously into the Caring Hall of Fame by the Caring Institute.
• Mattie is recognized with Shane’s Inspiration’s “Inspiring Person of the Year” Award.
• On September 11, 2006 the citizens of Lapeer, MI, celebrated their first annual World Trade Day. Mattie described his vision for this event in his Just Peace book, writing that such an event and the suggested activities could commemorate the tragic events of 9/11, giving meaning to loss while simultaneously encouraging people of all nationalities and faiths to move ‘forthward’ with hope and peace. This is an annual event in Lapeer until 2012, which inspires other cities across the country to embrace Mattie’s vision for this event as well.

2007

• Mattie’s “Just Peace” book is awarded the IPPY Gold Medal for Peacemaker Book of the Year.
• The mayor of Carlstadt, NJ, proclaims May 22 each year to be Mattie Stepanek Day, with flags to be flown at half-mast in honor of Mattie’s quest for peace. On the same day, the Peace Library in Honor of Mattie Stepanek is dedicated by the Carlstadt school board, and Mattie’s books become part of the curriculum.
• The 2007 WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award is accepted by Paul Simon.
• The first “Mattie’s Heartsong Swim” event is held in King Farm, Maryland.
• Mattie’s appearances on Larry King Live are selected for inclusion in his 20th anniversary DVD collection.
• The Heartsongs Palliative Care Project is initiated. The international effort honoring Mattie begins in the US, the UK, and Greece.

2008

• The We Are Family Foundation launches their Three Dot Dash initiative, inspired by Mattie.The year round initiative mentors Global Teen Leaders who attend the Just Peace Summit – an annual weeklong training event developed from the inspiration and information Mattie shares in his final book, Just Peace. By 2012, more than 15 million people worldwide have been directly and positively impacted by the peace projects created by the 117 Global Teen Leaders from nearly 40 countries on 6 continents who have participated in the Just Peace Summit so far.
• The 2008 WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award is accepted by Deepak Chopra.
• A WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek School is built in Mali, Africa, sponsored through the We Are Family Foundation.
• The first of many “Peace Trees” around the world in honor of Mattie J.T. Stepanek is dedicated in England by Global Teen Leader, David Saddington.
• The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Exhibit (a two year display) is opened at Carlstadt Public School, Carlstadt, NJ.
• The IPPY Moon Beam Children’s Book Award Category is initiated in honor of Mattie and his writings.
• Mattie is selected by USA Today as one of the Top 25 People: “Lives of Indelible Impact” (#17).
• On October 18, the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park & Peace Garden Dedication Ceremony is attended by thousands, including Oprah Winfrey, Nile Rodgers, Billy Gilman, Teen Band Creation, politicians, MDA staff and families, school children, media, fans, and friends. The life-size bronze of Mattie and his service dog, Micah are unveiled. “Look Up, Way Down” — a song based on Mattie’s final peace speech composed by musician Pepper Choplin is performed by a combined county choir.
• The Mattie and Melinda Bill is introduced to Congress. Also known as the CHI-PACC Model — a living memorial to Mattie J.T. Stepanek, this effort ensures that parents and families do not have to choose between hope for a cure and hospice care, as Mattie encouraged during lobbying on behalf of CHI. CHI also continues to exhibit Mattie’s “Head Elf Sleigh” during the CHI/United Airlines Fantasy Flight, celebrating Mattie’s many years serving as a volunteer for the annual holiday event.

2009

• The 2009 WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award is accepted by Desmond and Leah Tutu.
• In June 2009 the citizens and Children of Carlstadt dedicate their own Peace Park in Honor of Mattie J.T. Stepanek.
• Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Stepanek and Heartsongs, written by Mattie’s mom, Jeni Stepanek, and with a foreword by Maya Angelou is released in hardback and audiobook form.

2010

• The 2010 WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award is accepted by Pastor James Wuye and Imam Mohammad Ashafa (aka Nigeria’s “The Imam and Pastor” peacemaker team). The Imam and Pastor also give Mattie’s mom the name “Mama Peace.” 
• On June 6, 2010, the world premiere of Heartsongs takes place at Carnegie Hall in New York City, featuring Mattie’s message and poetry set to music by composer Joseph Martin, and performed by a 200 voice combined Children’s Choir (many of them from Houston, TX and one, the Mississippi Girl Choir, from Jackson, MS) and other members of the Distinguished Concerts Singers International under the direction of conductor Stephen Roddy. Mattie’s mom (Jeni), and friends Nile Rodgers and Billy Gilman are part of the premiere performance. The event is such an overwhelming success that a CD with the music is subsequently created.
• The first annual Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award is presented to a graduating middle school student in Carlstadt, NJ.
• Mattie’s memoir, Messenger, is released in paperback.
• A group of individuals in the Catholic church begin discussing and organizing a Committee that begin investigating Mattie’s Cause for Canonization.
• The For Our World Campaign is launched by Mattie’s Foundation, inviting individuals around the world to translate and share Mattie’s 9/11 peace passage. Within a year, more than 50 translations, from Albanian to Zulu, are available.

2011

• Oprah Winfrey names Mattie as one of her top three all-time Most Memorable Guests in the 25 year history of the award-winning Oprah Winfrey Show. During last ever studio audience taping, Mattie’s mom and Oprah shares memories of Mattie, discusses his life story in the Messenger book written by Jeni, and calls Mattie “a messenger for our times” and a “modern day prophet in little boy clothes.” Both during that show and in her June, 2011, O The Magazine, Oprah shares that Mattie was the singular force who changed her mind about ending her program at 20 years. Mattie encouraged her to go “five more years: for a number of reasons, a decision she considered, made, and has “never regretted.”
• Mattie’s memoir, Messenger, written by his mom, becomes a NY Times Bestseller.
• Mattie’s Foundation hosts a Peace Celebration in honor of the 10th anniversary of 9/11. The event is attended by hundreds of national and international participants. During the event, the Foundation’s “Pathways to Peace Program“ is introduced.
• The “What Next? Project” is launched by Mattie’s Foundation.

2012

• Omékongo Dibinga, Director of UPstander International and Mattie’s Foundation Board Director, creates and records “Moved by a Messenger” as a Foundation rap song.
• The Haagen-Dazs Ice Cream  Shop in Bethesda, MD unveils a mural depicting local heroes, which includes Mattie.
• Mattie’s Foundation launches “Mattie’s Peace Club” – a membership and support program with five levels for children, teens, adults, VIPs, and Messengers (sponsors). The teen level includes the option of a “Three Choices Peace Journey” from Peace Teen to Teen Ambassador.
• Mattie’s Foundation launches a Peace Certification Program for educators, business leaders, families, schools, youth groups, and more.
• TV Guide and OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) name Mattie one of the Top 25 Oprah Show Moments on the 25 year history of the Oprah Winfrey Show.
• Jeni Stepanek and Mattie’s Foundation are honored by the international MY HERO Project on September 11, 2012 for peace efforts.
•  Mattie’s mom, Jeni Stepanek, Ph.D. is named the recipient of the 2012 WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award.
• More than 1,000 ornaments created by people of diverse ages, abilities, and nationalities who live in countries on six continent around the world are created and contributed for the Mattie’s 2012 Peace Tree (on display at the Rockville Civic Center in Maryland during December 2012).

2013

• Jeni Stepanek and Mattie’s Foundation are honored by the international MY HERO Project during the 2013 Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service. 
• During a rescheduled “Gala 2.0″ (due to Hurricane Sandy), the 2012 WAFF Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award is presented to Mattie’s mom, Jeni Stepanek, Ph.D. during January 2013 by some of the 117 Global Teen Leaders she has worked with through the WAFF/3DD Just Peace Summit across the years. It is the tenth anniversary of the peacemaker award.

More about Mattie’s Legacy

Mattie’s Foundation

Mattie’s Park & Peace Garden

Mattie’s Cause for Canonization

Return to Mattie’s Legacy main page

 

Return to About Mattie main page