LUTHER COLLEGE > Happenings > Luther News > Luther College invited to participate in 100 Projects for Peace

• Luther News

• Public Information Office

Contact: Jerry Johnson, Director of Public Information, 563/387-1865

Oct. 23, 2006

Luther College invited to participate in 100 Projects for Peace

Luther College has been invited to participate in a peace initiatives leadership program called 100 Projects for Peace.

Funded by a $1 million gift from Kathryn Wasserman Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist who is about to turn 100 years old, 100 Projects for Peace will be undertaken by students at the 76 Davis United World College Scholars institutions across the United States.

Luther has been a Davis United World College Scholars institution since 2004.

Luther students have been invited to design and implement their own grassroots projects for peace. Students can submit proposals to work independently or in groups, and can complete their projects after graduation.

Each project selected receives funding of $10,000. The money may be used to implement the project, anywhere in the world, during summer 2007.

Projects with larger budgets may be supported by co-funding from other sources, such as other philanthropists, a college or university, foundation, non-government organization, private voluntary organization, or students’ own fundraising.

Kathryn Wasserman Davis is the mother of Shelby M.C. Davis who funds the Davis UWC Scholar’s program.  She feels an urgency to spark initiatives for building prospects for peace in the world and so has chosen to celebrate her centennial birthday by committing $1 million to fund 100 projects for peace. 

Davis believes that today’s youth – tomorrow’s leaders – ought to be challenged to formulate and test their own ideas.

“I want to use my 100th birthday to help young people launch some immediate initiatives — things that they can do during the summer of 2007 — that will bring new thinking to the prospects of peace in the world,” said Davis.

Davis, a lifelong internationalist and philanthropist, holds the bachelor degree in Russian history from Wellesley College, the master’s degree in history from Columbia University, and the doctoral degree in political science from the University of Geneva. 

The Davis United World College Scholars Program is a major philanthropic force in promoting international understanding. This year the program is providing scholarship support for 821 Davis UWC Scholars from around the world at select American colleges and universities.

Established in 2001, the program sends scholars to 65 U.S. colleges and universities including Princeton, Harvard, Yale, Williams, Swarthmore, Colby, Middlebury, Wellesley, Oberlin, Luther, Grinnell, Lewis & Clark, Redlands and Claremont McKenna.

This program shows the potential of private philanthropy to promote international understanding through the education of exceptional young people. An objective is greater commitment by the private philanthropic sector to this purpose.

Copyright 2002 Luther College