Investing in Better Ways to Resolve Conflict

As a longtime admirer of former U.S. President Jimmy Carter’s commitment to brokering peace and fighting disease, Bruce Firestone sees supporting The Carter Center as an investment in a hopeful future. What’s more, by directing his gift to establish an endowed internship, he is investing in the skills and talents of young professionals to help shape that future.

The Bruce Firestone Internship for Conflict Resolution reflects his belief in the power of dialogue to resolve conflict and bring about peaceful solutions. By backing the next generation of leaders, he hopes to advance that vision.

The values that drive Firestone are deeply rooted in his family’s history. His father fled Austria in the late 1930s, when he was studying medicine. After completing his medical training in the United States, he joined the U.S. Army during World War II. As a battalion surgeon with the rank of captain, his father received the Silver Star with one oak-leaf cluster, reflecting two separate acts of gallantry under enemy fire.

Growing up in New York, Firestone saw how the horrors of war weighed on his father, which fueled his belief that there had to be a better way to resolve conflict. And in President Carter, he found an answer.

President Carter’s ability to negotiate the 1978 Camp David Accords, establishing a lasting peace between Israel and Egypt, remains an inspiration to Firestone to this day. The former president’s integrity, his knack for building trust, and his determination to keep discussions and mediation alive were keys to his success.

Firestone used these qualities himself during his distinguished career as a lawyer in Seattle, Washington. He fostered honest conversation, strove to find common ground without compromising his clients’ interests, and helped solve legal problems in a constructive manner.

Now, he’s using what’s always motivated him to pay it forward.

When his father returned from the war, he started a medical practice with Firestone’s mother, who was a nurse. Together, they served their community for decades. His late parents’ lifelong dedication to public service and the well-being of others moved Firestone and sparked his interest in supporting The Carter Center.

Just as the Center sees health and peace working hand in hand to spread hope, so does Firestone. When conflict resolution teams succeed, healthcare workers can safely access areas that might otherwise be off-limits. Better health, in turn, fosters cooperation between stakeholders, while building trust between communities and government officials.

Thanks to Firestone’s gift, plans are now underway for the inaugural internship for conflict resolution to be expanded to include an additional opportunity, possibly centered on health.

Two endowed internships from one generous donor will both strengthen the Carter Center’s work and impact — and deepen Firestone’s legacy for generations to come.