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Soon after the People to People program was
established, my grandfather decided that the spirit of People to People would
be best preserved in the hands of private citizens rather than faceless
government entities.
My grandfather turned to his good friend
Joyce C. Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards, to help him launch People to People
in the private sector. Hall agreed and relocated PTP to his own hometown:
Kansas City, Missouri.
Eisenhower believed strongly in the power of
the delegate. According to him, “The people want peace; indeed, I believe they
want peace so badly that the governments will just have to step aside and let
them have it.”
As a result, People to People’s mission
developed around personal exchanges and individual, firsthand experiences of
other cultures.
The threat of armed global conflict is no
longer so dominant, but the need for better international understanding
remains. I hope that today’s People to People travels will result in continued
exchanges on newer issues that require international cooperation, resources,
and priorities, such as cures for cancer and HIV, the care of the environment,
and the reduction of poverty.
The ideas and understanding created by
face-to-face encounters with people of different backgrounds will be the
foundation of a lasting world peace.
As they travel under the banner of People to
People, delegates represent the best of our country: hope, courage, openness,
and a love of peace.
My Granddad would be proud.
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