Echo Foundation
The Echo Foundation is a non-profit education foundation, co-founded in 1997 by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel and Stephanie G. Ansaldo. The purpose of The Echo Foundation is to serve humanity through education. The organization designs programs for regional educational institutions that enhances traditional curriculums and provides experiential learning opportunities for youth geared toward character development. Echo believes that character development is an essential component of academic success – necessary to effectively prepare youth for their future responsibilities as professionals, community leaders and global citizens. In an increasingly diverse and rapidly developing community, compassion, responsibility and initiative will be key character traits to maximizing the potential of our students and bettering our world.
To this end, the four main goals of The Echo Foundation are:
- Educating for compassion, justice and ethical decision-making
- Teaching understanding through fostering relationships founded on respect
- Encouraging personal responsibility for humankind
- Facilitating opportunities for students to act in accordance with these ideals.
History
In March 12, 1997, as the centerpiece of the community-wide, year-long, educational Elie Wiesel Project, internationally revered humanitarian and Nobel Laureate for Peace, Elie Wiesel spoke “Against Indifference” to over 23,000 students and adults. He was so inspired by this visit to Charlotte, that, as he left, he challenged the community to continue its focus on the critical issues of human dignity, justice and moral courage. He offered seed money and his wholehearted assistance in obtaining speakers and developing programs to address these issues. Thus The Echo Foundation was born, and with it its mission: …to sponsor and facilitate those voices that speak of human dignity, justice and moral courage in a way that leads to positive action for humankind.
Initiatives
- Voices Against Indifference: Through bringing renowned humanitarians to Charlotte as a catalyst for education, and with diversity of race, class and culture as our primary focus, The Echo Foundation creates educational programs centered on the message of our annual guest. Voices Against Indifference builds bridges across divides by bringing students from all corners of Charlotte Mecklenburg together to learn about the messages of our guests.
- Forum for Hope: Believing that the tone and culture of an organization begins at the top, Echo invites leaders from the Charlotte Community to travel together for the purpose of exposure to individuals who have, from a humanitarian perspective, shaped the world in a positive way.
- Living Together in the 21st Century: Living Together in the 21st Century is an education outreach project for 2nd grade students originated by Nobel Peace Laureate, Elie Wiesel with involvement by child activist, Jonathan Kozol, and created by Charlotte Mecklenburg teachers. LT is a broad-based curriculum that focuses on living together in harmony and teaches problem solving strategies, conflict resolution and respect for others.
- Footsteps Global Initiative: This leadership initiative for regional high school students promotes awareness and global citizenship through international travel and service. Competitively selected Ambassadors of the initiative participate in yearlong programming that combines intensive study, volunteerism and travel to locations of humanitarian interest.
- Books Beyond Borders: Encourages international understanding and action on behalf of others by helping Charlotte students furnish libraries for children around the world.