Building Peace Ep. 10: A Partnership for the Future
Building Peace Ep. 10: A Partnership for the Future
Dear Supporters,
I have spoken before about Peace Corps Park’s future as a federal site that the National Park Service will own and maintain in perpetuity; our authorization from Congress under the Commemorative Works Act is very clear on this transfer of ownership. But it begs a question that many donors have asked me: What will happen after the Park is built and formally dedicated?
I’m happy to give a little more shape to that question today, as we have recently begun discussing the outlines of a Philanthropic Partnership Agreement with our colleagues at the NPS. Such a PPA, as it’s known, is a formal, ongoing arrangement for how the Foundation can support the NPS in looking after the site, with a shared annual plan for events and programming.
We are early in the conversation (we still have around $5 million to raise, after all) and the details are still ahead of us, but the direction is encouraging. It reflects our expectation that the Foundation will remain active well beyond opening day, and I was inspired by the shared enthusiasm of our NPS counterparts.
The Foundation’s efforts would “breathe life into Peace Corps Park,” as NPS Superintendent Kevin Griess put it when we spoke.
Here’s how such a partnership could look: With the Foundation continuing to raise funds to manage ongoing programming and providing volunteers to help run events, the Park Service would help with securing event permits, assigning on-site rangers for special occasions, and connect us with local partners like the Downtown DC Business Improvement District, local Advisory Neighborhood Commission and the Trust for the National Mall, a nonprofit philanthropic partner of the NPS dedicated to enriching and preserving the National Mall.
And such a partnership would also reach into the digital world, which is where I (and numerous donors I’ve spoken with) get especially excited.
We are designing the Peace Corps Park digital companion app, which will tell the story of the volunteer experience through audio, imagery, and storytelling in the first-hand voices of volunteers, staff, and local partners. Our app’s footprint would expand with a presence on mobile apps from the NPS and Trust for the National Mall, helping put the Peace Corps story in front of educators, families, and travelers from around the world.
All of this brings me to a question for you, because while we have ideas of our own for how best to use the Park (celebrations of Peace Corps anniversaries, a gathering place for cohort reunions), I know that some of the best ideas will come from the people who have lived the experience that the Park honors.
What would you like to see happen at Peace Corps Park? Just reply to this email and tell me, as I'd love to hear what you have in mind both for the digital app and the in-person experience in Washington, D.C.
Fabrication is underway, and I know I am energized to be thinking about a partnership that will mean the Park is cared for, an app that means its stories are told, and a community's ideas that will decide just what happens there.
Every donation brings us one step closer to that future, so thank you for making this possible.
Yours in service,
Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation
President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Guatemala (1988-91)
Campaign Progress
Our combined efforts have raised $8,950,000 of the $14,000,000 budget for Peace Corps Park and its digital companion, leaving $5.05 million to raise.
We gratefully thank the following generous supporters who have made new or additional gifts (or pledges) since Sept. 24, 2026:
FIND YOUR NAME on our online donor wall
* Indicates new gift in addition to previous contributions
$5,000 - $9,999
John Earhart
Eureka Foundation
William Morrow
$1,000 - $4,999
Nathaniel Baldwin
Christie Cizauskas
John Fulton Dixon and Karen Dixon*
David Dupras*
For Our Republic's Traditions Fund
Carolyn Gallaher*
John Gorman
Anne Kaiser
Barbara A. Kelly*
Patricia Molumby*
Mary Pendleton*
Sarah "Sally" Wells*
Other gifts to $999
David A. Baur*
Jerr Boschee
Brighthouse Life Insurance Company*
Derick Brinkerhoff
Steve Cole
Joan Cross
Michael Davidson*
Karel Fisher
Rebecca Z Hoff*
LPL Financial*
Jeff McLucas
Peter Mithoefer*
Ivar Nelson
Bud & Sue Oliveira*
Edwin Patout*
Leilani Rigby*
Azucena Schnabel*
Gregory Strick*
Penny Taylor*
Gregor Turk
PEACE CORPS PARK SUSTAINERS
(Contributions from monthly recurring donors)
Anonymous
Jane Bardon
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Jennifer Erie
JP Feighery
G David Hicks
Elisabeth Hinshaw-Osgood
Peter Hofman
Ann L. Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Ashley Leinweber
Roni Lerner Love
Robert Leslie
Deborah Manget
Judy Marcouiller
Marty Mueller
Richard "Dick" Pyle
Shawn Reagan
Rick and Karline Bird
Jessica Rogers
Lindsay Schnabel
Robert Smythe
James D. Wagner
Mary Lou Weathers
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Charles Wolf
Peace Corps Park Leadership Circle
$1,000,000 and above (1 donor)
Reed Hastings & Patty Quillin
$500,000 to $999,999 (2 donors)
CesTRA Butner Family Foundation, in honor of Keith and Jolitta Butner
Jacqueline Badger Mars
$250,000 to $499,999 (6 donors)
George and Carol Chaffey
Steven S. Fischman Family
Roger K. and Eleanor R. Lewis
Maureen Orth
The PepsiCo Foundation
Gordon Radley
$100,000 to $249,999 (11 donors)
Albert H. "Tony" Barclay
Ron Boring
Friends of Sam Farr
Jay J. Hellman
Thomas and Patsy Lightbown
Robert Y. Olsen
Kevin F. F. Quigley and Susan L. Q. Flaherty
Elena Russell
Roger Sant and Doris Matsui
F. Chapman Taylor
JM Zell Partners, Ltd
$50,000 to $99,999 (17 donors)
Creative Associates International
Robert and Joann Crooks
Matthew and Emmanuella Essieh Foundation
Daniel Duff
FHI 360
D. Wylie and Janet W. Greig
The Family of Lady Bird and Lyndon B. Johnson
Friends of Malaysia
Jones Day Foundation
Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation
Deborah G. Moskovitz
Scott and Muriel Nichols
The Rockefeller Foundation
RTI International
Paul Sack
Sargent Shriver Peace Institute
Al and Judy Simon
Connect with us on social media
Whether or not you’ve been able to support the project with a donation, an easy way to amplify your impact is to give us a boost on social media. Follow us and re-share our posts to help raise awareness in your network!
@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
5636 Connecticut Avenue, NW Ste 42143
Washington, DC 20015
The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation is the trade name of the Peace Corps Foundation,
a District of Columbia 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
EIN: 01-0554700
