SIWP was founded in 2002 with the dual goals of “empower[ing] youth to build peace skills” and erecting two 9/11 “Freedom Fountain” memorials. One of the fountains—a computer-rendered image on the website showed the body inlaid with coins symbolizing fallen firefighters and an upper basin supported by pillars resembling the World Trade Center towers—was to be located in the Twin Cities area, with the second to be built in New York. SIWP also sold peace bandanas, peace promise wristbands, and even peace water—“because creating so much peace can make one thirsty.”
But this group did not seem to really do anything for anyone, at least publicly. John Goodman and Nasser Kaseminy were “among the original directors” and John Goodman’s son, Shane, was the CEO. Shane still owns the domain name under his for-profit business, the Goodman Group:
Registrant Name:Shane Goodman
Registrant Street1:1107 Hazeltine Blvd.
Registrant City:Chaska
Registrant State/Province:MN
Registrant Postal Code:55318
Registrant Country:US
Registrant Phone:+1.612720566
Registrant Email:sgoodman@thegoodmangroup.com
Of course, everyone involved with SIWP is a huge donor to Norm Coleman. Where did the money this foundation raised go? Silverstein digs further:
…some six years later the foundation has raised and spent about $100,000 but has done, as far as I can tell, virtually nothing to honor the victims of 9/11 or to “remind the world…that it cannot be allowed to happen again.”
So what exactly is the purpose of this IRS-approved non-profit organization?
Very good question.
Calls to the organization at (612) 922-STEP were not answered.
Further reading:
Harpers: “Stepping Into It: Norm Coleman’s donors and their plans for ‘World Peace’”
Harpers: “Norm Coleman’s Donors and Remembering 9/11”
Internet Archive Wayback Machine: stepintoworldpeace.org
Fricking incredible, but I shouldn’t be shocked. But donors WILL be. Absolutely sickening.