The Echo Foundation is a non-profit education foundation, co-founded in 1997 by Nobel Laureate Elie Wiesel

Elie Wiesel

Sir Eliezer "Elie" Wiesel KBE; born September 30, 1928) is a Hungarian-born Jewish-American writer, professor, political activist, Nobel Laureate, and Holocaust survivor. He is the author of 57 books, including Night, a work based on his experiences as a prisoner in the Auschwitz, Buna, and...

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 enhance traditional curriculums and provides learning opportunities for youth geared toward character development. Echo believes that character development is an essential component of academic success..

The 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

On 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 money and his assistance in obtaining speakers and developing programs to address these issues. Thus The Echo Foundation was born.

Initiatives

• Voices Against Indifference brings humanitarians to Charlotte as a catalyst for education, and with diversity of race, class and culture as a 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 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 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 curriculum that focuses on living together in harmony and teaches problem solving strategies, conflict resolution and respect for others.
• Footsteps Global Initiative is a leadership initiative for regional high school students promotes awareness and global citizenship through international travel and service. Ambassadors of the initiative participate in year-long programming that combines study, volunteer work 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.