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The We Are Family Foundation (WAFF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2002 by legendary songwriter/musician/producer Nile Rodgers.  Based on Rodgers’ world famous song, We Are Family, WAFF is dedicated to the vision of a global family by creating and supporting programs that inspire and educate the next generation about respect, understanding and cultural diversity — while striving to solve some of our biggest global problems at the same time.

WAFF builds global coalitions, produces international teen summits, creates worldwide curricula, and builds schools in countries with the highest illiteracy rates. One of these schools in Africa (Banko, Mali) is named in honor of Mattie J.T. Stepanek.

In 2002, Mattie was awarded the first WAFF Peacemaker Award as the organization celebrated its inaugural event. Mattie worked with Nile Rodgers and his life partner Nancy Hunt (WAFF President) across the next years, as they collaboratively worked toward spreading a global message of hope and peace.

When Mattie died in 2004, Nile and Nancy were committed to continuing Mattie’s efforts toward personal and world peace. In 2005, they changed the name of the award Mattie received from WAFF to the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award. This annual award now honors any person, regardless of age, who has made a significant contribution toward promoting a peaceful society. Recipients of the award include Maya Angelou, Quincy Jones, Paul Simon, Deepak Chopra, Rev. Desmond Tutu and Leah Tutu, “The Imam and The Pastor“ — Nigeria’s Imam Muhammad Ashafa and Pastor James Wuye, and Jeni Stepanek (Mattie’s mom/Mama Peace).

In 2008, WAFF launched a global teen leadership initiative called Three Dot Dash. This year round mentorship and peace program begins annually with the Just Peace Summit, during which teens from all over the world gather in New York to learn more about Mattie’s vision of world peace, and to learn about tools that enhance their peace projects that tend to the basic human needs.

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To date, 147 teens from 6 continents have participated in this training and mentorship program; their peace initiatives have positively impacted more than 16 millions people around the world.

To see photos of Mattie’s work with WAFF, of Mattie’s mom presenting the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award, and photos from the annual Just Peace Summit, visit our WAFF and 3DD Photo Gallery albums.

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Global Teen Leaders present Jeni Stepanek with the

2012 Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award

on behalf of the We Are Family Foundation.

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To learn more about WAFF email

 contact@wearefamilyfoundation.org 

or visit www.WeAreFamilyFoundation.org

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