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
$ 84,804.98 and still counting!
The Pennies for Peace campaign will run through October 31, 2008 with donations accepted at the Rockford Education Association or the Rockford Park District Foundation/Pennies
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. Our goal was to raise $50,000 to give to Mr. Mortenson when he visited the Peace Plaza on September 19th. We will be counting and collecting “pennies” through the end of October and we are proud to announce that we are over $57,000 to date! Donations are still being accepted at the
Rockford Education Association – our partner in Pennies for Peace.
The true highlight of the day was the visit by Greg Mortenson to the International Day of Peace on
Friday. It was there that the children first presented him with a check in the amount of $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. Thank you to the many 1000’s who helped to demonstrate that a compassionate heart is beating strong in the Rock River Valley.
Continue to check back to watch the total collected rise.
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