27 Facts About Greg Mortenson

Greg Mortenson is an American professional speaker, writer, veteran, and former mountaineer.

Greg Mortenson is a co-founder and former executive director of the non-profit Central Asia Institute and the founder of the educational charity Pennies for Peace.

Greg Mortenson was accused of financial irregularities in handling donations to the CAI and falsehoods in his books.

In 2012, Greg Mortenson repaid $1 million to the CAI after an inquiry by the Montana Attorney General.

Greg Mortenson graduated from the University of South Dakota in 1983 with a bachelor's degree in liberal studies and an associate degree in nursing.

Greg Mortenson describes the origins of his humanitarian work in his best-selling book Three Cups of Tea.

Physically exhausted, ill, and alone at the time of his arrival there, Greg Mortenson was cared for by some of Korphe's residents while he recovered.

Greg Mortenson has since admitted in a 2011 interview that the timing in the Korphe account in Three Cups of Tea is inaccurate, and that the events actually took place long after his descent from K2, over a longer period of time and during separate trips.

Greg Mortenson has written and spoken widely about the importance of education and literacy for girls worldwide.

Greg Mortenson has further stated that girls' education is the most important investment all countries can make to create stability, bring socio-economic reform, decrease infant mortality and population explosion, and improve health, hygiene, and sanitation standards.

Greg Mortenson's view is that "fighting terrorism" perpetuates a cycle of violence whereas there should instead be a global priority to "promote peace" through education and literacy with an emphasis on educating girls.

From 2006 through 2011, Greg Mortenson promoted his book as well as fundraising and promoting girls' education through public speaking events at schools throughout the United States.

Greg Mortenson personally kept the money received in exchange for his service as a public speaker as well as royalties from the sale of his book.

Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Greg Mortenson was required to resign as executive director and could no longer serve as a voting member of CAI's board.

Greg Mortenson broke all of his remaining ties to CAI by officially retiring from the organization in 2015.

Greg Mortenson has been criticized by writers such as Peter Hessler and Jon Krakauer for financial mismanagement of his charity, for "dodging accountability" and for writing a book Krakauer described as "riddled with lies".

Under the terms of a settlement with Bullock, Greg Mortenson agreed to reinstate $1 million to the charity, which included credits for repayments already made.

In October 2013, Greg Mortenson completed the repayments to CAI, fulfilling the terms of the 2012 settlement with Bullock.

Greg Mortenson did not respond to their requests; however, he answered their questions in writing.

Greg Mortenson refused to talk to Steve Kroft, and reportedly the CAI staff requested that the hotel hosting the 60 Minutes crew asked them to leave the facility.

Greg Mortenson canceled the speaking engagement that was scheduled that afternoon in the Atlanta convention facility.

Greg Mortenson claimed that although he arranged to meet with Krakauer, the interview was eventually cancelled "once I realized how deep and dirty this whole thing was".

Additionally, Schaffer concludes that there is no evidence that Greg Mortenson was actually an accomplished Himalayan climber, even though he claimed to have climbed six Himalayan peaks.

In January 2014, Greg Mortenson was interviewed on Today by Tom Brokaw.

Greg Mortenson concluded that "anyone thinking about donating to CAI should probably reconsider".

In May 2015, the Montana Attorney General stated that Central Asia Institute and Greg Mortenson had completed the terms of a three-year compliance monitoring period, and CAI stated that the IRS had completed its examination of the nonprofit.

In 2011, Greg Mortenson was diagnosed with hypoxia and had surgery for an aneurysm and an atrial septal defect, an event which exactly coincided with the airing of the 60 Minutes expose and the release of Krakauer's accompanying book.