Margret Ellwanger

Margret Ellwanger is director of forPEACE, an organization that contributes “to peace and economic self-reliance by strengthening families through education and microenterprise partnerships, building common ground for individuals from different faiths and cultures, and empowering communities through collaborative initiatives.”[1]

She was born and raised in Germany. She holds a master’s degree in physics and worked at Siemens Research. After an internship at the Indian Institute of Technology in 1974 her passion turned to community development work. While raising four children with her husband Russell Ellwanger in The Netherlands, Japan, Singapore, and Israel, she filled a variety of volunteer positions. She formed forPEACE to focus on alleviating poverty and preventing war. She also wanted her children engaged in doing good in the world.

She is the cofounder of Pillows for Peace (2001), a community development businesses that brings products from microenterprise projects to global markets. She was president until 2015. She is director of Global Awareness Investigation Action (GAIA), corporate board member for Walworth Barbour American International School Israel, and director of Umoja Social Ventures.

She is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.