Greg Mortenson

K2 2006b

Defense.gov photo essay 090715-N-0696M-323

GregMortensonKhandayPakistan2006-12-16USMC

Greg Mortenson (born December 27, 1957) is an American humanitarian, professional speaker, and former mountaineer. He is best known for his work in promoting education, particularly for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Mortenson is the co-founder of the non-profit organization Central Asia Institute (CAI), as well as the founder of the educational charity Pennies for Peace.

Early Life and Education

Greg Mortenson was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and grew up on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, where his parents were Lutheran missionaries and educators. He attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, and later transferred to the University of South Dakota, where he earned a degree in nursing and chemistry.

Mountaineering and Inspiration

In 1993, Mortenson attempted to climb K2, the world's second-highest mountain, located in the Karakoram Range of northern Pakistan. After a failed summit attempt, he became lost and stumbled into the small village of Korphe in the Gilgit-Baltistan region. The villagers took care of him, and in gratitude, Mortenson promised to return and build a school for the children of Korphe.

Central Asia Institute

In 1996, Mortenson co-founded the Central Asia Institute (CAI) with Dr. Jean Hoerni, a Swiss physicist and mountaineer. The mission of CAI is to promote and support community-based education, especially for girls, in remote regions of Pakistan and Afghanistan. Since its inception, CAI has established numerous schools, vocational centers, and women's literacy programs.

Pennies for Peace

Mortenson also founded Pennies for Peace, an educational program that encourages children in the United States to learn about the world and become philanthropists by collecting pennies to fund educational projects in Central Asia. The program aims to teach children the value of small contributions and the impact they can have on global issues.

Controversies

In 2011, Mortenson faced allegations of financial mismanagement and inaccuracies in his books. A 60 Minutes report and an investigation by Jon Krakauer raised questions about the authenticity of some of Mortenson's stories and the financial practices of the Central Asia Institute. Mortenson and CAI reached a settlement with the Montana Attorney General's office, agreeing to repay $1 million to CAI and implement changes to their governance and financial oversight.

Books

Mortenson is the co-author of several books, including:

• Three Cups of Tea: One Man's Mission to Promote Peace ... One School at a Time (2006) – co-authored with David Oliver Relin
• Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan (2009)

Awards and Recognition

Despite the controversies, Mortenson has received numerous awards for his humanitarian work, including the Sitara-e-Pakistan (Star of Pakistan) from the government of Pakistan and the Courage of Conscience Award from the Peace Abbey.

See Also

• Central Asia Institute
• Pennies for Peace
• Three Cups of Tea
• Stones into Schools
• K2
• Gilgit-Baltistan