"Messenger" Events Archive / TV & Media Interviews

• Jeni Stepanek on Good Morning America - Aired November 2, 2009
  
  
• Interview with Jeni on "Weekend News with Chris Core"
  Aired: Oct. 24 & 25, 2009 on The CW (Local), Comcast Channel 23
  
  
• Radio Interview on MIX 107.3 FM Jack Diamond's Morning Show
  Aired: Oct 29, 2009
  
  
• See Jeni's exclusive Blog on Larry King Live's Website
  
  
• Fox 5 Morning News interview PartsI and II, and FOX Evening NEWS
  
  
• Baltimore Sun Article
  
  
• "Currents" Catholic News Interview - Part I & Part II
  Aired on NET (netny.net) November 3 & 4
  
  
• "Messenger" Book Signing with Jeni Stepanek at Borders Bookstore held Wednesday, Nov 4, White Flint Plaza, 11301 Rockville Pike, North Bethesda, Maryland
  
  
• 20-City radio interview tour kick-off began Thursday Nov 5
  
  
• Thursday, Nov 12
  Book discussion/signing, Catholic Information Center, 1501 K Street, NW, Washington, DC
  
  
• PEOPLE Magazine Nov 13 issue:
  Read PEOPLE Magazine's review of "MESSENGER"
  
  
• PBS "Religion and Ethics Newsweekly - Aired Nov 14
  Jeni Stepanek on Faith and Grief
  
  Extended Interview with Jeni Stepanek
  
  
• Saturday, Nov 14:
  Book party and signing at Hooters of Baltimore / Inner Harbor.
  
  
• Larry King Live Interview on CNN - Aired Saturday, Nov 21

Mattie Foundation/Park News

• The Mattie Foundation is now working with History Associates to sort and archive dozens of boxes filled with news articles about Mattie, as well as fan mail sent to Mattie and his mom across the years. The goal is to organize this material in a way that makes it more accessible and useful as the Foundation moves forward in creating curriculum programs for educators and leaders.
  
  
• The second round of bricks for "Mosaic of Gifts" walkway areas in Mattie's Peace Garden at the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park in Rockville, MD were recently installed. With both football fields completed, and RFL games being played in the park now, and pathways now lighted every evening, there is even more life and laughter than before! Please click here for more information on ordering YOUR brick for the Peace Garden!
  

Some of the new bricks in the Peace Garden at Mattie's Park

First day of footballs games at the Mattie Stepanek Park in
Rockville, MD, September 2009.

Firefighters from Canada and Yonkers, NY visit the Peace Garden
and their friend, Mattie.

• The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park Dedication took place on October 18, 2008. Click here to read about the dedication, view photos and watch videos of the celebration.
  

• The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation is developing a new brochure, with information about the our activities and sponsorship/support opportunities. Check back here within the week for this new item!
  
  
• Mattie’s Foundation is working with a New Jersey school teacher who is trying to develop a network for teachers who use Mattie’s poetry , essays, or books with students in their school. If you are a teacher (of any grade) and are interested in networking with other teachers, or if your students would like to correspond with other students who are familiar with Mattie’s writing and message, please e-mail heartsongbooks@aol.com
  
  
• Dozens of “Screamin’ Geese” (aka: The King Farm Swim Team in Rockville, MD) along with other local swim teams and dozens of other Rockville, MD citizens plunged into the Rockville City pool on the morning last July, to take part in the “2nd Annual Mattie’s Heartsong Swim”. They event raised more than $6,000 for Mattie’s Foundation! The money is being be used both to support the dedication ceremony of the ‘Peace Garden’ area in Mattie’s Park, and to launch other aspects of Mattie’s Foundation. These other aspects include educational and recreational programs that continue spreading a message of hope and peace ‘around the block and around the world’ as Mattie believed we could, and should. A current Foundation project is to develop a curriculum for students that will foster personal and world peace. The Heartsong Swim was the cornerstone event during the July 7 – 13 “Mattie Stepanek Week,” proclaimed by both the City of Rockville and Montgomery County. For more information, visit www.mattiesheartsongswim.org
  
  Extra t-shirts from the event with the logo seen here are available. Please e-mail heartsongbooks@aol.com for more information. Proceeds from the sale of these shirts go directly to Mattie’s Foundation.
  
  
• The Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation was established to continue spreading Mattie’s message of hope and peace through ongoing peace programs, and educational and recreational contests in schools and communities.
  
  This non-profit organization was created by Mattie’s King Farm neighbors, and is overseen by individuals representing numerous peacekeeping, advocacy, and humanitarian organizations and endeavors. All officers and members of Mattie’s Foundation volunteer their time and expertise, so that 100 percent of the money donated goes directly towards the materials and programs that grow from the efforts of Mattie’s Foundation.
  
  The Foundation has also loaned a number of personal items belonging to Mattie for inclusion in a “Mattie J.T. Stepanek Exhibit” in the new Rockville Public Library., This exhibit will be displayed until November, 2008, at which time it will be moved to Carlstadt, NJ for a period of time.
  
  The members of Mattie’s Foundation work with schools and businesses, and with organizations like the We Are Family Foundation (www.wearefamilyfoundation.org) and the Children’s Peace Pavilion (www.kidpeace.org) to collaboratively promote and celebrate peace.
  
  One of the main goals of the Foundation will be to make Mattie’s books available to schools and libraries so that children and families have access to his message of hope and peace. Another goal is to develop a curriculum guide for teachers, that will help them teach Mattie’s “Heartsongs” and his message of hope and peace to students across different grades.
  
  A new brochure is being developed explaining ‘Champion’ and ‘Messenger’ Sponsorship Opportunities for the Mattie Foundation. For more information, e-mail heartsongbooks@aol.com or write to the Mattie J. T. Stepanek King Farm Foundation at Box 111, 402 King Farm Boulevard, #125, Rockville, MD 20850, or CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD NEW BROCHURE (coming soon)
  
  
  
• Workers began placing the inscribed bricks in the Peace Garden area of Mattie’s Park during September 2008. The dedication ceremony and celebration (and unveiling of Mattie’s statue) took place October 18 2008.
  
  
• USA Today newspaper selected Mattie as one of the “25 people who moved us in the past quarter-century… lives of indelible impact.” The list is part of a series of ‘25’ lists that USA Today is compiling to recognize the 25th anniversary of the publication. Under the headline “Those who Inspired Seen as Real People,” the article begins: “They changed us. They inspired us to do better, be braver. They made us think. They gave us hope. They did what many cannot fathom. One gave up riches as a football star to fight and die for his country. Another won the Tour de France seven consecutive times after chemotherapy and brain surgery. Another emerged not bitter or broken after 27 years in prison for fighting racism, but determined to find peace. They are among 25 people who moved us during the past quarter-century, as selected by the staff of USA TODAY. Many have been famous and influential, but others were regular folks with private lives.” To read the article about Mattie, go http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-28-top25-people-cover_N.htm and to view the list of “25 Lives of Indelible Impact” go to
  http://www.usatoday.com/news/top25-people.htm?csp=34.

WAFF News

• The 2010 Just Peace Summit was an exciting and inspiring event. Visit www.threedotdash.org or www.wearefamilyfoundation.org for information on the peace projects our newest Global Teen Leaders (26 teens from 14 countries) have created, and for updates on the peace projects our GTLs from 2008 are continuing to pursue (30 teens from 18 countries).
  "Peace IS Possible, if we choose to make it something that matters, and if we seek to balance all basic needs of all people in all spaces of our world." -- Mattie J.T. Stepanek. (**Additional photos from both events are posted on my facebook page).
  
  

• Three Dot Dash is morse code for V, and the V-fingers internationally signal peace. Three Dot Dash is the New Peace -- not passively waiting to see what others do, and not simply being non-violent.
  
  Three Dot Dash is Mattie's message of our CHOICE in what he calls a Just Peace -- attitudes and habits that shape realities, and balance the basic needs of all people. When our basic needs are met we can be okay with who we are, even when facing a challenge, because we can know hope. And when we are okay with who we are, it is so much easier to be okay with who our neighbors are. Even neighbors we disagree with, but who have basic needs just like us.
  
  JUST PEACE! Simple. Believable. Doable. Peace IS Possible! Make it YOUR choice!
  
  
• Rev. Desmond Tutu and his wife, Leah Tutu being honored with the 2009 Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker award at the annual We Are Family Foundation Gala in New York. The WAFF has also finished selecting the new Global Teen Leaders who will attend the March, 2010 "Just Peace Summit" in NY, as a part of the Three Dot Dash peace initiative, to study Mattie's message of hope and peace, and learn about tools that will enhance their own peace projects around the world.
  
  
• Peace activist and author Deepak Chopra accepted the 2008 Mattie J.T. Stepanek Peacemaker Award during the We Are Family Foundation annual New York gala, which raised more than one million dollars. Previous recipients include Paul Simon, Quincy Jones, and Maya Angelou. For more information, visit www.wearefamilyfoundation.org
  
  
• The first annual ‘Just Peace Summit,’ the cornerstone event for the We Are Family Foundation’s “Three Dot Dash” Global Teen Leadership (GTL) peace initiative was a HUGE success.
  
  Thirty teens representing 18 countries and five continents gathered in New York City during spring, 2008, to learn about Mattie’s inspiration and message of hope and peace as he wrote about it in his final book, “Just Peace: A Message of Hope”.
  
  In addition to inspiration, these teens were offered information, tools, networking, and technology that will support them in their own peace initiatives and year-long action plans.
  
  Dozens in celebrities and peace activists led workshops in public speaking, written word, the power of music, media presentation, photography, videography and more. By the end of the week, each teen had defined their action plan, developed a video PSA, were assigned mentors to support them in their year as a GTL, and had the opportunity to apply for grant stipends related to their action plans as they work to meet the basic needs of people in various countries.
  
  The second annual “Just Peace Summit” is scheduled for October, 2009. For information about the summit, nomination process, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.threedotdash.org
  
  

Jeni Stepanek with the 2008 “Three Dot Dash” Global Teen Leaders, in New York City for the Just Peace Summit

• “Mattie’s Movie and Poetry Day” continues to grow in support c/o the Lollipop Theatre Network and the We Are Family Foundation. It was ‘Lollipop’ that brought the latest Harry Potter movie into the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (though it was still big in theatres) during Mattie’s last three days of life. Currently, ‘poetry word magnets’ are being created that will become a part of the creative activities during Mattie’s Movie and Poetry Days. For more information go to http://www.lollipoptheater.org or www.wearefamilyfoundation.org.

MDA News

Copyright MDA

• Plans are well-underway for the 2010 Heartsongs Gala to benefit MDA. The gala will be held this February in Washington, DC. For more information about tickets, about donating auction items, or other support, please contact the MDA Greenbelt,, Maryland Office at 301-486-7680.
  
  
• The MDA Mattie Fund was established in June, 2004, in response to Mattie’s death just weeks before his fourteenth birthday. The fund has continued to grow since then, with the money going directly towards research toward cures for childhood neuromuscular diseases that lead to early death, as well as programs that support children with neuromuscular disease (like the MDA Summer Camps). Having raised nearly two million dollars thus far,  the MDA Mattie Fund now sponsors fellowships for research in mitochondrial diseases, such as dysautonomic mitochondrial myopathy, which is what lead to the deaths of Mattie and his three siblings (Katie, Stevie, and Jamie). Mattie’s mom, Jeni Stepanek, is also affected with an adult onset form of this disease. She was diagnosed with it after all four of her children were born. Her children were diagnosed with the disease shortly after the doctors diagnosed Jeni. The first fellowship was awarded last year to Stefanie Zanssen, a physician-scientist in the Department of Neurology at Columbia University in New York. To raise awareness of this disease and the research efforts, a television documentary looking at Mattie’s life and his role as an advocate for MDA and world peace was filmed at the National Headquarters in Tucson, AZ during 2005. Additionally, Mattie’s mom serves as a voluntary MDA National Vice President, speaking about the role of MDA and fundraising efforts at various conferences and events.  For more information, visit www.mda.org .

Mattie’s Legacy of Hope and Peace

• The Peace Park in honor of Mattie J.T. Stepanek was dedicated in Carlstadt, NJ, during June, 2009. In addition to playgrounds, indoor and outdoor ball areas, and a hockey rink, there is a bust of Mattie, and quotes from his books and speeches are on benches around the park.
  
  

• On September 11, 2009, the citizens of Lapeer, MI celebrated their 4th Annual "World Trade Day" honoring Mattie's call to move 'forthward' in peace while commemorating the past. Mattie described his vision for a World Trade Day on page 71 of his "Just Peace" book. The book was published during spring, 2006, and the citizens of Lapeer took up the call for peace that year, and have made this event bigger each year since.
  
  
• Mayor Will Roseman of Carlstadt, NJ has proclaimed May 22 ‘forevermore’ to be “Mattie Stepanek Day” in that area. All flags will be flown at half-mast in honor of Mattie’s efforts towards world hope and peace and his advocacy work. The Carlstadt Public School education board has also named their new school media center the “Peace Library in Honor of Mattie J.T. Stepanek” and has incorporated all seven of Mattie’s books into their curriculum as mandatory reading materials for students. Mattie’s mom recently visited with the Carlstadt sixth graders in Michael Mangone’s classes at the Washington Street school. The class has been interacting with Jeni Stepanek throughout the school year, sharing poetry, ‘comparison and contrast essays’ on Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mattie J.T. Stepanek, and other creative endeavors. To read one of several articles about the visit, go to http://www.leadernewspapers.net/modules.php?name=News&file=
  article&sid=4365
  
  
• Hallmark Channel’s “American Morning” program will air an interview with Mattie’s mom and his ‘very favorite adult best friend’ Sandy Newcomb on July 23 at 7 a.m. EST (check local cable listings for Hallmark Channel station). The interview is about ‘everyday people living as everyday heroes.’
  
  
• The children's community theatre near Atlanta, GA will be performing 'Butterfly Summer' during October, 2007. This will be an original play and musical score created largely from Mattie's poetry. More information on the location and dates of this event will be posted soon.  
  
  
• The Children’s Peace Pavilion in Independence, Missouri, where Mattie’s ‘Peace is Possible’ museum exhibit is located, has launched the ‘Peace Champions’ program to help spread the message in Mattie’s Just Peace book. For more information go to www.kidpeace.org. At this site, you can learn more about the new program and about Mattie’s exhibit, and you can view a video clip of Mattie leading 5,000 children in a ‘peace chant’ during May, 2002.
  
  
• Mattie was awarded the Natalie Heinamen Award from the Child Welfare League of America for his advocacy and humanitarian efforts during April, 2005.
  
  
• During 2005, Mattie was recognized by the Peerless Rockville Historical Celebrity Challenge as a local citizen who had made a historical difference for the world.
  
  
• In December 2005, Mattie was honored with the Peacemaker Extraordinaire Award from the Washington Peace Center.
  
  
• Mattie was inducted posthumously into the Kids Hall of Fame during their meeting in New York during October 2006. For more information, go to www.thekidshalloffame.com.
  
  
• Mattie's friend, Sean Astin, (aka "Rudy" and "the Hobbit Sam" from "Lord of the Rings") remains committed to spreading Mattie's message of hope and peace around the world. He came to see Mattie in the hospital shortly before Mattie died, and promised Mattie that his message of hope and peace would live long. Sean has talked with Former President Jimmy Carter and staff at the Carter Center about this mission, and is a true advocate for this legacy.
  
  
• The effort to have Mattie's name included somewhere in the remaining Harry Potter book was a worthy endeavor. J.K. Rowling responded that she remembers her personal communications with Mattie, and that she has great admiration for his advocacy work. However, she said that she cannot include his name in the book for a number of reasons. Still, cudos to ‘The Quibbler’ staff for their fine work, and for their share in keeping Mattie’s message of hope and peace rippling around the world through such efforts as their essay contest in honor of ‘heroes’ like Mattie and Harry Potter. For more information go to www.heroessaycontest.com  or www.the-quibbler.org. 

Mattie's Mom, Jeni & Service Dog Micah

Jeni with Mattie's dog, Micah, at the beach during summer, 2008.

• Mattie’s mom, Jeni, recently completed a book about Mattie's life, "Messenger: The Legacy of Mattie J.T. Steanek and Heartsongs." Although she now relies on ventilator to support her breathing and a wheelchair for mobility, she continues to travel and give speeches at various conferences, hospitals, schools, churches, and organizational events. Her topics range from Mattie’s message of hope and peace to supporting families and professionals who care for children with life-threatening conditions to finding reason ‘to be’ when life is filled with challenges.
  
  
• During May, 2008, Jeni earned her Ph.D. in early childhood special education from the University of Maryland in College Park, and in November, 2009, she will be honored with the Dean's Award at the Alumni Awards dinner. In addition to her work as a motivational-speaker, Jeni is a consultant to several disability- and peace-related project. She serves voluntarily as the Chair of the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Foundation, as a Governor for the We Are Family Foundation, and as National Vice President for the Muscular Dystrophy Association.
  

•  “Bark Busters” helps host a dog party for canine friends in new dog park park in Mattie’s Park.
  
  Glenda Cohen, from the Montgomery County program, works with Mattie’s service dog “Micah” to help him maintain his good behavior and social skills.
  
  For more information about this great organization (they come to your home for training and support!) go to www.barkbusters.com . 
  
  Photo: Micah shows his love to Glenda Cohen, his personal ‘Bark Buster’ friend/trainer.
  
  
• Many people have asked about Mattie’s service dog, Micah.  Micah was trained to do a number of tasks for both Mattie and his mom, and remains a loyal companion and helper to Mattie’s mom. Jeni is rarely seen without Micah, who is always sporting a special bandana related to an organization, event, season, or holiday. At the recent Heartsongs Gala, Micah was a hit with the guests and posed for media photographers in his silky black bandana and his shiny silver tuxedo-tie complete with a ‘Mattie Heartsong’ icon. Micah is also enjoying meeting many new friends at the ‘Dog Park’ section of Mattie’s Park which is right across the street from his home. Photos of Micah, (who Mattie dubbed “MDA’s National Ambassadog” during his own terms as the MDA National Ambassador) are on various websites, including www.mdausa.org.
  

News Archives
OTHER LEGACY NEWS:

• Mayor William Roseman, of Carlstadt, NJ, announced plans for a Children’s Peace Park that will honor Mattie’s work as a peace activist. The middle school students in Carlstadt learn about Mattie’s “Heartsongs” and his message of hope and peace as a part of their educational curriculum through the work of teachers such as Michael Mangone. For several years now, Mattie’s mom has been visiting the school, where the children are committed to becoming peacemakers. May 22 has been proclaimed Mattie Stepanek Day each year in Carlstadt, in honor of Mattie’s work towards personal and world peace. Mayor Roseman, Mr. Mangone, and a number of Carlstadt, NJ students and family members will be attending, speaking, and/or performing at the Mattie J.T. Stepanek Park Dedication in Rockville, MD.

• The Rosalynn Carter Institute and Johnson & Johnson recently posted the application form for the 2008 Mattie J.T. Stepanek Intergenerational Caregiving Scholarship. Four $2,000 scholarships are offered each year in Mattie’s name to support education and program development in various fields of caregiving. This is an ongoing endeavor by the Former First Lady, and one that Mattie proudly supported. Mattie’s mom, Jeni, continues working with Rosalynn Carter on this effort, and chairs the scholarship selection committee. For more information go to http://rci.gsw.edu
  
  
• The Children’s Peace Pavilion in Independence, Missouri, where Mattie’s ‘Peace is Possible’ museum exhibit is located, has launched the ‘Peace Champions’ program to help spread the message in Mattie’s Just Peace book. For more information go to www.kidpeace.org. At this site, you can learn more about the new program and about Mattie’s exhibit, and you can view a video clip of Mattie leading 5,000 children in a ‘peace chant’ during May, 2002.
  
  
• Mattie’s final book --- “Just Peace: A Message of Hope” --- was chosen as the Gold Medal winner of the 2007 Independent Publisher Book (IPPY) Awards Outstanding Books of the Year competition in the “Peacemaker Category.”  The mission statement for the competition states: "For 24 years our mission at Independent Publisher has been to recognize and encourage the work of publishers who exhibit the courage and creativity necessary to take chances, break new ground, and bring about change, not only to the world of publishing, but to our society. These books exemplify that daring spirit." What a perfect award for Mattie and President Carter's beautiful gift. For more information go to www.independentpublisher.com and click on “Outstanding Book of the Year” or visit http://www.independentpublisher.com/article.php?page=1156.   
  
  
•  USA Today newspaper selected Mattie as one of the “25 people who moved us in the past quarter-century… lives of indelible impact.” The list is part of a series of ‘25’ lists that USA Today is compiling to recognize the 25th anniversary of the publication. Under the headline “Those who Inspired Seen as Real People,” the article begins: “They changed us. They inspired us to do better, be braver. They made us think. They gave us hope. They did what many cannot fathom. One gave up riches as a football star to fight and die for his country. Another won the Tour de France seven consecutive times after chemotherapy and brain surgery. Another emerged not bitter or broken after 27 years in prison for fighting racism, but determined to find peace. They are among 25 people who moved us during the past quarter-century, as selected by the staff of USA TODAY. Many have been famous and influential, but others were regular folks with private lives.” To read the article about Mattie, go http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-05-28-top25-people-cover_N.htm and to view the list of “25 Lives of Indelible Impact” go to
  http://www.usatoday.com/news/top25-people.htm?csp=34.