Meet Barbara: Why the Mission and Monthly Gifts Matter

Barbara Pierson was looking for an organization devoted to teaching non-violence when she "happened upon" PeaceMaker Minnesota online.

Courtesy of Barbara Pierson

Her first gift: $25. That was in 2013, but the gesture that followed is one she didn't forget: a handwritten thank you card from Executive Director, Dan McNeil. “I was impressed that someone would do that for such a relatively small amount of money,” she remembers.

The next year, she gave $50, and by 2015, Barbara was giving monthly. Recently, she was kind enough to tell us more about why the mission and monthly giving matters to her.

Why is our mission important to you?

I am a clinical social worker/psychotherapist and work with adults who have experienced childhood trauma and neglect. A great deal of trauma that manifests as mental health issues in adulthood can stem from bullying in childhood – whether that person is a victim or perpetrator. I contribute to PeaceMaker in the hopes that schools will have tools to identify and deal with bullying and interpersonal conflict, and that kids learn alternative ways to communicate non-violently and to treat others with respect.

Why did you become a monthly donor?

I appreciate the grassroots nature of PeaceMaker. I also appreciate that PeaceMaker provides assessment tools and support to schools that are backed by research.

Why do you stay involved?

PeaceMaker does a wonderful job of keeping me informed about the organization’s involvement, growth and effectiveness. I continue to feel valued for my contribution. I stay involved because interpersonal violence and disrespect has become more normalized in our culture over the last 5-10 years. I want children to be able to put a name to bullying and disrespect and have healthy tools to be able to deal with these challenges.

What was the process of becoming a monthly donor like for you?

The process was easy – I believe I just completed a one-page form, which took no time at all.