Candle Lighter Campaign
NOVEMBER 1 — 19, 2026
Every November, we invite you to stand with us and light a symbolic candle for peace. A candle is more than remembrance — it's a quiet act of resilience: a choice to heal, to teach, to believe in a better way.
Every $10 gift lights one of those candles — no flame required, no event to attend. Just your gift, transforming heartbreak into hope and helping sustain programs that teach empathy, safety, conflict resolution, and understanding.
What Is the Candle Lighter Campaign?
Show your commitment to a more peaceful, less violent world with a gift of $10 or more. Each gift symbolizes a candle lit — helping end bullying and school violence, teaching kids to work through conflict, and promoting peace across Minnesota.
This year, we've expanded that work beyond schools with the Peaceful Pen — a new program offering reflective writing, listening practice, and connection for adults in workplaces and communities. Because peace belongs in our communities and families, too.
Thank you for your generosity. Peace is worth the work.
Our 2026 Campaign Goals
Together, we can light more candles than ever. Once the campaign starts, watch here to track our progress.
8,000
Candles Lit for Peace
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2025: 7,231 candles
350
Candle Lighters
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
2025: 330
$80,000
Dollars Raised
⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯⎯
2025: $72,312, up 23% from 2024
2026 Progress
Watch our progress as the campaign unfolds.
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Candles Lit
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Candle Lighters So Far
$00
Raised so far
Updated as of DATE
OUR 2026 MATCHING DONORS
Thanks to these generous donors, your gift goes further. There’s still time to add your name.
The Kind World Foundation
New Brighton Lions
Tradition Mortgage
An Anonymous Matcher in honor of Roy Wolff, in memory of Judy Wolff
OUR 2026 TEAM LEADERS
These Team Leaders are rallying their circles to light more candles. There’s still time to add your name.
Nicholas Pawlowski
Pam Schmid
Mary Stadick
John Swanholm
Susan Temple
Roger Thompson
Kate Towle
Brandon Reichel
Dolores Voorhees
Barb Bergseth
Ruthena Fink
Carole Froehle
Angie Frundt
Jack Frundt
Jeff Gintz
Gwen Gmeinder
Bill Hudson
John Laliberte
Mike McNeil
2026 Donors
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Our 2025 Results
In November 2025, our community showed up. Here's the bar for 2026.
7,231
candles lit for peace
330
donors joined the campaign
$72,312
raised in 2025 — up 23% from 2024
In 2026, let’s light even more.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 MATCHING DONORS
Their generosity helped turn last year's gifts into $72,312 for peace.
Adagio’s Pizza Factory
Tradition Mortgage
New Brighton Lions
Mike McNeil
Vivian Greeninger
Don & Jan Voight
An Anonymous Matcher in memory of Judy Wolff
Why People Donate
I lost a friend in 2023 who took his own life after being cyberbullied. He might be here today if the people who launched this attack had chosen to speak with him directly and with compassion.
— Heather Beal
This donation is in memory of Judy Wolff, a close friend who lived out peace every day of her life.
— Jane Scullin
I'm happy to support a program that teaches youth relational skills and provides them with a listening, caring ear. We need more kindness and compassion in the world!
— Pamela Schmid
Through my exposure and experiences with PeaceMaker MN, I have been learning how to create peace — and I have been teaching and modeling respect, quietly, to my grandchildren.
— Ginny Bjerke Ohman
The skills that PeaceMaker MN teaches are the most important skills I can think of.
— Dolores Voorhees
When we help kids learn to be peacemakers, we help the world.
— Gwen Gmeinder
OPEN FOR 2026
Become a 2026 Matching Sponsor
We're building the 2026 list of matching sponsors now. If you, your business, family, or foundation would like to match gifts dollar for dollar during the campaign — in memory of someone, in honor of someone, or simply because this work matters to you — we'd love to talk.
Every sponsor steps in for peace
When a matching sponsor steps in, every gift you give goes further — dollar for dollar, sometimes more. It's one of the simplest ways to turn a $10 candle into two ($20) or three ($30).
Join Us — Be a Team Leader
What will I do as a Leader? It's easy. Just follow these steps:
Give $10 or more on one day between November 1 and November 20, 2026.
Generate 5, 11, or 23 more gifts of $10 or more — on the same day — either by giving the gifts yourself or asking others to join you. Friends, family, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, business associates, your faith community, or other groups — anyone.
Tell us where to put it. Wherever funds are needed most, or toward a specific service or project.
THANK YOU TO OUR 2025 TEAM LEADERS
Meet the incredible individuals rallying their communities to support PeaceMaker Minnesota's mission. Through their dedication and hard work, they are helping raise the funds needed to teach youth essential skills such as empathy, respect, and conflict resolution.
Barb Bergseth
Ruthena Fink
Carole Froehle
Angie Frundt
Jack Frundt
Jeff Gintz
Gwen Gmeinder
Bill Hudson
John Laliberte
Mike McNeil
Nicholas Pawlowski
Pam Schmid
Mary Stadick
John Swanholm
Susan Temple
Roger Thompson
Kate Towle
Brandon Reichel
Dolores Voorhees
Help Us Beat 7,231 Candles in 2026
Light a candle for peace. Give $10 or more between November 1 and 19, 2026, and be part of the count.
Whether you have questions or are ready to lead or sponsor matching funds, contact us: info@peacemakermn.org · 651-631-1604