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Established in 1994 as a private, non-profit organization, the International Forgiveness Institute was
an outgrowth of the social scientific research done at the University of Wisconsin-Madison since 1985 by
Robert Enright and his colleagues. Professor Enright was looking for a way to disseminate the findings of
that research, and the research and writings by others exploring forgiveness, to interested people in
all walks of life. The IFI has served as that forum ever since.
For the first couple of years,
the IFI primarily answered scholars' inquiries about setting up their own research programs on
forgiveness. On occasion, we helped people gather information about how they, themselves, can forgive
certain people who have offended them.
It was not until 1996 that the work of the institute accelerated tremendously. On Sunday,
August 25 of that year Elaine Glusac published an article in the
Chicago Tribune entitled, "A Scientific Approach to Forgiveness." The publication coincided
with a major political convention that was occurring in Chicago that weekend. In other words, the
country's attention was focused on Chicago and more people than usual were reading the Tribune. The
author described the forgiveness model that we had scientifically tested and found effective at the
University of Wisconsin. She talked of the usefulness of forgiveness in emotional healing. At the
article's end, Ms. Glusac listed the IFI phone number. Within a week, we had hundreds of calls from
people who read the piece and sought information on how to forgive.
From that remarkable
outpouring of interest, we published an information brochure, "Meet the International Forgiveness
Institute," and launched, "The World of Forgiveness," periodical
which highlights work on forgiveness within such varied domains as the peace movement, the legal
profession, English literature, psychotherapy, educational and developmental psychology and other
disciplines. We have published a dialogue between Christian and Jewish leaders on what forgiveness
means in their respective communities. We have speculated on the future, what role forgiveness may
play in the communities of the 21st century. At times, our circulation of "The World of
Forgiveness" approached 10,000. Even though the periodical is currently not being published, 14
different back issues are available to order. Click on Periodical to order.
Since the publication of Ms. Glusac's column, the IFI has
been featured in virtually every major newspaper in the country (Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia
Inquirer, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, Washington Post, and many others).
Representatives from the IFI have appeared on Tom Brokaw's NBC Nightly News, ABC News 20/20, Good
Morning America, and a host of radio programs, including the BBC, National Public Radio, and others.
Time magazine, Christianity Today and others have run major articles in which the IFI has played a
central role in the story.
We have begun to make a mark in international politics as well. Mr.
Roy Lloyd of our institute, and a member of the National Council of Churches, accompanied Mr. Jesse
Jackson to Kosovo and played a part in the freeing of US soldiers there in 1999. Forgiveness was one
of the themes that were at the heart of the captives' release.
We will continue to disseminate
sound, accurate information about forgiveness to people across the globe. We plan to accelerate our
action-oriented programs, as we help individuals, families, and communities to explore and implement
forgiveness for the purpose of restoring healthy emotions, rebuilding relationships, and
establishing more peaceful communities.
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