On January 20, 1953, a crisp Tuesday morning in Washington, D.C., President Eisenhower was sworn in as our 34th President of the United States. When he stepped up to the podium to deliver his Inaugural Address, my grandfather did something no one expected. He asked his fellow Americans to bow their heads and then he led the nation in prayer. He prayed.

To this day, he remains the only president to have written and read his own inaugural prayer. In that same Inaugural Address, my grandfather outlined nine “fixed principles” to guide the leadership of our free nation. Summarizing these principles he said, “For this truth must be clear before us: whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America.” He believed in this so strongly that he reiterated these words three years later when announcing his run for a second term.

Ike lived by these words and worked hard to ensure that the morals, integrity, and values he wanted America to represent were reflected in his own life.

In honor of the 80th anniversary of the Eisenhower Foundation, I am excited to announce the launch of the I Like Ike Capital Campaign. The centerpiece of this campaign is an Education Center—a place where history, innovation, and inspiration converge. This state-of-the-art 14,000 square-foot expansion will embody Ike’s values of leadership, service, and integrity, passing them on to future generations. The Education Center will welcome thousands of students served annually through our K-12 IKEducation program, plus dedicated space for our growing online platform.

We are proud to share that lead gifts have been secured from the Sunderland Foundation, the Patterson Family Foundation, and our Board of Directors and Trustees who have collectively pledged $1,000,000 to the campaign. With your help, we can raise an additional $1,000,000 to unlock a 2:1 matching grant from the State of Kansas, adding $3,000,000 to the campaign. These contributions are not just gifts—they are investments in the future Ike’s legacy and the values he championed.

We have set an ambitious goal of raising $1,000,000 by June 22, 2025, the Foundation’s 80th anniversary. To meet this goal, we need your help.

Can I count on you to make a gift in honor of the 80th anniversary of the Eisenhower Foundation and our commitment to share Ike’s legacy with future generations? If you make a commitment before June 22, 2025, your name will be entered into a leather-bound book that will be presented during the Grand Opening ceremonies, and will remain on permanent display for future generations to see.

This means your name will be linked forever with President Eisenhower!

Will you make a gift to honor the Eisenhower Foundation’s 80th anniversary and my grandfather’s extraordinary legacy? Your gift will be matched by our Board of Directors and Trustees. The non-profit Eisenhower Foundation depends on the generosity of our friends, like you, so your gifts are more important than ever before.

Thank you for your continued support over the years. The Eisenhower Foundation and Eisenhower Presidential Library and Museum would not be where we are today without the support of donors across the world who “Like Ike.”

Yours Truly,
Mary Jean Eisenhower
Granddaughter of President Eisenhower & Foundation Board Member