Did you know that Mother’s Day was originally a day celebrating peace? In fact, it was once known as Mother's Day for Peace.
Mother’s Day in America traces its roots to a mother’s plea for peace in the wake of the American Civil War. Julia Ward Howe, who championed women’s rights and the abolition of slavery (and wrote the words to the Battle Hymn of the Republic) in 1870 called for mothers to join together to work for peace and for the establishment of a special holiday in their honor.
Speaking as a mom myself, I know that mothers everywhere, from America to Iraq to Sudan and beyond, want nothing more than a safer world and a peaceful future for our families.
Please join me and Ploughshares Fund in putting peace back in Mothers Day by honoring your mom with a gift to the Mothers Day Peace Fund. Your Mother’s Day gift will go directly to effective, timely initiatives designed to make the world safer for our children and future generations.
We invite sons, daughters and mothers themselves to give the gift of peace:
• Your honoree will receive a handwritten card with your wishes for peace and for a happy Mother’s Day.
• Give now and your gift will be matched. Learn more about the generous moms who are offering to double your gift.
• Make a donation of $250 or more and we will also send a dozen roses, courtesy of Organic Bouquet, to your mother or to anyone else you designate.
Mothers may only get one day out of the year set aside just for us, but by giving to Ploughshares’ Mother’s Day Peace Fund, you can support people who are working every day of the year to build a more peaceful world.
Happy Mothers Day for Peace.
Sincerely,
Naila Bolus
Executive Director
Photos by Sherry Spaulding, Matt Garrett and Burton Glass.