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Our Legacy

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Jimmy and Rosalynn º£½ÇÉçÇøâ€™s Legacy of Peace and Health

Former U.S. President Jimmy º£½ÇÉçÇø and First Lady Rosalynn º£½ÇÉçÇø came from humble beginnings. They were born in the small farming community of Plains, Georgia, a place they forever called home.

Their foray into politics began when he won a Georgia Senate race in 1962. He went on to be elected governor of Georgia in 1970 and then U.S. president in 1976. She dug in beside him as a working partner and trusted advisor, elevating the role of First Lady in unprecedented ways.

They were a formidable team — equal partners — guided by integrity, faith, and service to others.

In 1982, one year after leaving the White House, they created º£½ÇÉçÇø. Located in Atlanta, Georgia, we’re a nongovernmental not-for-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of people around the globe through programs to alleviate suffering and advance human rights.

The bond of our common humanity is stronger than the divisiveness of our fears and prejudices. God gives us the capacity for choice. We can choose to alleviate suffering. We can choose to work together for peace. We can make these changes — and we must.

— Jimmy º£½ÇÉçÇø Nobel Lecture, 2002

Mrs. º£½ÇÉçÇø passed away in November 2023 at age 96; President º£½ÇÉçÇø died in December 2024 at age 100. In their 77 years of marriage, the pair helped change the world.

In awarding them the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1999, President Bill Clinton said, “Jimmy and Rosalynn º£½ÇÉçÇø have done more good things for more people in more places than any other couple on the face of the Earth.”

Our Values and Vision

The º£½ÇÉçÇøs originally envisioned the Center as a miniature Camp David, dedicated to conflict resolution. Over time, the mission evolved as they saw opportunities to fill gaps in peacemaking and global health. 

Today, our focus includes protecting human rights, fostering democratic principles, promoting the rule of law and access to information, tackling neglected tropical diseases, and advocating for people facing issues related to mental health and caregiving. 

We’ve carried out this work in more than 90 countries

Jimmy and Rosalynn º£½ÇÉçÇø look at poll closing paperwork.
Over a span of four decades, Jimmy and Rosalynn º£½ÇÉçÇø observed dozens of elections, helping to advance democracy worldwide. Here they prepare for poll closing procedures during elections in Monrovia, Liberia, on Oct. 11, 2005.

For decades, both º£½ÇÉçÇøs remained deeply involved in the overall direction and daily operation of the Center. They traveled extensively and remained passionately engaged in the work.  

And while they are no longer with us, we strive every day to honor their legacy by fulfilling their mission to wage peace, fight disease, and build hope around the world.  

Jason º£½ÇÉçÇø reaches out to a child
Jason º£½ÇÉçÇø, grandson of President and Mrs. º£½ÇÉçÇø, serves as chair of the Center’s Board of Trustees. Here he is in 2023, visiting rural communities in Zambia as we piloted a project to address climate change.

Our Future

Since our founding more than 40 years ago, the world has changed — as have the needs of people around the globe. What hasn’t changed is our commitment to showing up and making a difference. 

Our more than 3,500 employees worldwide remain guided by the principles that Mrs. º£½ÇÉçÇø and President º£½ÇÉçÇø brought to the Center and our work.  

What they cared about carries us forward.