Friday, July 15, is Sister Cities International Day, which commemorates 60 years since the organization was founded as a presidential initiative by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 at the White House Conference on Citizen Diplomacy.

The organization now includes over 550 U.S. member cities, countries and sates that have relationships with over 2,100 communities in 145 countries, spanning six continents.

Following World War II, the organization was begun with a mission to create more community-led global relationships so that people of different cultures could appreciate their differences and build partnerships that would lessen the chance of new national conflicts.

On July 15, it is the goal of Sister Cities International (SCI) to celebrate Sister Cities organizations and the impact they make on the world today. The Sister Cities network unites tens of thousands of citizen diplomats and volunteers who work tirelessly to advance the mission of promoting peace and mutual understanding through economic and sustainable development, youth and education, arts and culture and humanitarian assistance.

“Fountain Hills is proud to be part of this global network of Sister City partnerships in Kasterlee, Belgium; Dierdorf, Germany; Ataco, El Salvador and Zamosc, Poland,” said Jackie Miles, president of the Fountain Hills Sister Cities Corporation. “Fountain Hills is joining hundreds of cities around the globe and thousands of people around the world in celebrating this major milestone for world peace.”

For more information on the local Sister Cities organization, contact Miles at 480-837-3214 or visit sistercities.org.