LtoR: Dawn Borowski, Plowshare Co-President, presented the 2026 Peacebuilder award to Rotarian Jonathan T. Ward. Diane Voit nominated Jon after Plowshare's involvement in the 2025 World Affairs Seminar held each summer at Carroll University.
L-R. Plowshare Co-Presidents Dawn Borowski and Therese Arkenberg presented the 2026 Peacebuilder award to Connie Smith, President of the Waukesha Service Club, and to Beth Kurz and Julie Stockinger, Co-Chairs of the Thrift Shop on West Avenue.
Waukesha Service Club and Rotarian Jonathan Ward Honored with 2026 Peacebuilder Awards
Plowshare Fair Trade Marketplace and Education for Peace in Downtown Waukesha, will present the Waukesha Service Club and Rotarian Jonathan T. Ward with the 2026 Peacebuilder Awards in the Spring fundraising video that will premiere on April 25.
Plowshare's 13th Annual Peacebuilder group award will recognize Waukesha Service Club for 96 years of service to the Waukesha community. Since 1989, $1.9M has been given back to the community with grants to nonprofits from revenue earned through the sales at the Thrift Shop on West Avenue and the Annual “Inspired to Serve” Luncheon and Fundraiser. The Thrift Shop is managed and staffed by the 100+ volunteer members of Waukesha Service Club, who collectively donate more than 3000 work hours per year. Connie Smith, President, and Julie Stockinger and Beth Kurz, Co-Chairs for the Thrift Shop, received the award from Plowshare Co-Presidents Dawn Borowski and Therese Arkenberg.
The individual Peacebuilder award will honor the work of Jonathan T. Ward for his peacebuilding through Rotary International. Jon is a retired U.S. diplomat, and his work embodies the essence of Rotary’s mission to promote goodwill and peace worldwide as a steadfast advocate for diplomacy and conflict resolution. One of his local initiatives has been the annual World Affairs Seminar offered at Carroll University each summer to students from around the globe.
Since 2014, the Plowshare annual Peacebuilder Awards go to individuals or groups who have made significant contributions to peace and/or social justice in Southeastern Wisconsin by enhancing understanding and cooperation among people from diverse ethnic, religious, racial and/or socioeconomic backgrounds. The Peacebuilder Award was named in honor of peace and social justice advocate and Plowshare co-founder Kate Delaney Jolin. In conferring this award, Plowshare seeks to enhance community awareness of the work that is being done by local groups and individuals to "make peace relevant to the world around us."
