The Echo Foundation was created in 1997 by Nobel Peace Laureate ELIE WIESEL and educator and therapist STEPHANIE ANSALDO to lift those voices of human dignity, justice and moral courage who are DRIVING POSITIVE ACTION for humankind.
“...The Echo Foundation emerged as a source of energy, imagination and hope. Driven by a sense of urgency, its struggle against hatred and indifference has already reverberated far beyond Charlotte and North Carolina. In the years to come, it will surely continue to inspire youth, affect society and occupy a place of honor on the national scene.”
Stephanie Ansaldo, President
Echo President, family therapist, and filmmaker, Stephanie Goldberg Ansaldo has devoted her career to advancing humanity. Herself the product of a multi-cultural family, she finds richness in individual differences and embraces diversity. Based on her belief that understanding and mutual respect are the cornerstones of a successful society, Ansaldo co-founded The Echo Foundation with Nobel Laureate for Peace, Elie Wiesel. As President, she works to promote personal responsibility for humankind. She designs innovative initiatives to address the urgent issues of our time while connecting students and community leaders alike with some of the world’s foremost humanitarians. '
In the context of this multi-faceted programming, individuals come to understand their personal power for positive change. Ansaldo received her B.S. in Child Development from Virginia Tech and her M.S. in Clinical Counseling from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is the recipient of The Charlotte Business Journal Women in Business Achievement Award; the UNC Charlotte Alumni Award; the inaugural Bob Barret Social Justice Award; The Order of the Long Leaf Pine, North Carolina’s highest civilian honor; and The Charlotte Observer “Heroes of Democracy” Award for her commitment to addressing issues of inhumanity, injustice, and human suffering. She is the director of the eight-time, award-winning documentary film, In the Footsteps of Elie Wiesel.
A Message from the President
During his extraordinary visit in 1997 to Charlotte, NC, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, Elie Wiesel shared his vision for uplifting humanity and The Echo Foundation was born. His belief in dignity and justice, coupled with the promise of the next generation of leaders, inspired his longstanding commitment to Echo. From 1997 until his death in 2016, he guided our imagination, challenged the boundaries of our thinking, enthusiastically cheered our successes, and whole-heartedly invested himself in our students. He reminded us all of our highest ideals, and in so doing, gave momentum and purpose to education for the sake of humankind. "When one child anywhere suffers, we are all responsible," he often said. He believed in our collective strength to instill in the next generation, a sense of personal responsibility for humanity, while equipping them with the tools to become compassionate, informed citizens of the world.
Now, in these turbulent times of climate change, violence, famine, and more, there has never been a greater need for Echo. Who, if not our young people, has the vision, determination and energy to act on our highest ideas? Our leaders of tomorrow see the meadow with no fences, they believe in what is possible. They demand justice.Through Echo curricula, students seek to comprehend the influence of global events, and how they may harness their personal power to create a better world.As we look to the future, we must ensure that young people have the moral and ethical tools, as well as the motivation, to contribute their own unique talent to humankind, guided always by the sanctity and worth of every living soul.
With the generous engagement of world leaders Wole Soyinka, Dr. Denis Mukwege, Kerry Kennedy, Ben Bernanke, Christiane Nusslein-Volhard, Dr. Bernard Kouchner, and others, Echo helps to create the next generation of global citizens.
Stephanie Ansaldo, President
The Echo Foundation
International Board of Advisors
Elie Wiesel†
Lifetime Honorary Chairperson
Nobel Laureate for Peace, 1986
Dr. Aaron Ciechanover
Dr. Paul Farmer†
Henry Louis Gates, Jr.
Kerry Kennedy
Dr. Bernard Kouchner
Jonathan Kozol
Dr. Denis Mukwege
Jeffrey D. Sachs
Jerre L. Stead
Charlotte Board of Advisors
Mary Lou & James Babb
Robert Bertges
Clarice Cato Goodyear
Ambassador Mark Erwin
The Honorable James Martin
Sally D. Robinson
Thomas W. Ross
F. William Vandiver
The Honorable Kurt Waldthausen
The Honorable Melvin L. Watt
Dr. James H. Woodward
The Honorable Harvey B. Gantt
Charlotte Board of Trustees
Dr. Joan F. Lorden, Chair
Stephanie G. Ansaldo, President
Candice H. Knezevic, Secretary
Neeraj Khanna, At Large
Frank L. Bryant
Dr. Bojan Cukic
Vadim Moshkovsky
Thomas D. Pollan
Stacey Schanzlin
Eric M. Teal
Past Humanitarians & Award Honorees
Echo Participating Humanitarians
The Echo Foundation brings to Charlotte world-renowned humanitarian leaders as the focus of educational initiatives that emphasize justice,
human dignity, and the power of the individual to impact humanity.
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Echo Award Against Indifference Recipients
Each year, the Echo Award Against Indifference honors those individuals in the Charlotte region and beyond who personify our mission to promote human dignity, justice and moral courage through positive, effective action for humankind.
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Since its inception, in 1997, The Echo Foundation has been committed to the promotion of education and social justice. Our mission is to promote justice and inspire hope through education, service and the development of leadership for a more humane world.
Voices Against Indifference
A curriculum-based education program, Voices Against Indifference (VAI) connects high school students with global humanitarians who exemplify the power of the individual to make a difference. Each year, VAI addresses critical issues facing humanity from the perspectives of our participating humanitarians.
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Footsteps Global Initiative
Footsteps Global Initiative provides regional youth with the opportunity to learn about, travel to and serve locations of humanitarian importance, exposing our students to a global perspective. The Footsteps program is a transformative experience for student ambassadors as they broaden their awareness of critical world issues through hands-on experience.
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