An astonishing success story

December 18, 2021

Dear Friends of the MacJannet Foundation,

    At the close of a year when health, economic, and political calamities rippled across the world, I find myself once more reflecting on the vision of a kinder and more self-confident world that Donald and Charlotte MacJannet promoted through their commitment to education and cultural exchange.

    For the second straight year, the coronavirus pandemic forced the temporary suspension of the two international cultural exchange programs we customarily support: The Tufts University European Center in Talloires, France; and Les Amis du Prieuré of Talloires.

    Yet remarkably, our newest program—the MacJannet Prize for Global Citizenship—was able to continue its 12-year tradition of honoring exemplary university student civic programs around the world.

     It has become a driving force behind the global Talloires Network of Engaged Universities, which is itself the driving force behind a revolutionary idea currently sweeping the academic world: that universities should venture beyond their cloistered towers to grapple hands-on with real-world issues. In these 12 years, more than 525 civic engagement programs on six continents have applied for the Prize, and 64 of them— in 26 countries around the world—have been honored as Prize-winners or honorable mentions. The Prize has set the standard for what can be accomplished when students and faculty harness their skills to improve the lives of their fellow citizens.

    Today our great challenge is to maintain and expand the MacJannet legacy for the next generation. The astonishing success of the MacJannet Prize even in these trying times suggests to me that we are up to the task of inspiring the lives of young people who may one day change the world for the better.

    The indefatigable optimism of Donald and Charlotte MacJannet inspired generations of young people throughout some of the darkest years of the 20th Century. Today it is up to us to plant seeds in the hope of build a better world, just as they did.

    We thank you for your past support and urge you to increase it in this time of crisis. Just ask yourself the ultimate MacJannet question: “How can we help?” In practical terms, how can we help restore the Foundation’s worthwhile programs so they evolve stronger and better?

    To make a donation, click here. Thanks so much. With your support, 2022 can be a brighter year for everyone.


Anthony Kleitz
​President
The MacJannet Foundation