Today marks a momentous occasion as former President Jimmy Carter celebrates his 100th birthday in Plains, Georgia where he was born in 1924. The 39th President of the United States, Carter has led an extraordinary life of public service, humanitarian work, and unwavering commitment to justice and peace and a profound faith in Jesus Christ.

Born on October 1, 1924, Carter spent his formative years in the rural community of Plains, a tight-knit town in the heart of the American South that would go on to shape his values and worldview. As he turns 100 years old, Carter will no doubt reflect on his humble beginnings, from working on his family’s peanut farm to attending the local segregated school, experiences that instilled in him a profound sense of empathy and desire to uplift the underprivileged.

After graduating from the United States Naval Academy and serving in the military, Carter returned to Plains, taking over the family peanut business before launching his political career that would eventually lead him all the way to the Oval Office.

After his presidency, President Carter has remained a towering figure on the global stage, founding the Carter Center which has monitored elections and negotiated peace agreements worldwide. His work with Habitat for Humanity put the small Georgia nonprofit on the worldwide stage.  Through he and his wife Rosalyn’s personal efforts, the Christian organization builds homes for those who might otherwise never be homeowners. The 2024 Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project is a landmark milestone for Habitat, marking the project’s 40th anniversary. Habitat Humanitarians and country music superstars Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood are leading the project that has built 27 homes and wraps up today in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Now, as he celebrates this incredible milestone surrounded by friends, family, and the community that nurtured him, Carter’s life stands as a testament to the profound impact one person can have through a lifetime of principled leadership, faith in unwavering principals and tireless humanitarian work.

Though a century old, Carter’s spirit and vision for a more just, equitable world remain as vibrant and inspiring as ever,  whose legacy as a peacemaker and ambassador of goodwill continues to make an impact throughout the world.