Latest News from Peace Corps Park

March 2026 Newsletter: 25 years ago, we too had a bold idea

Fri, 27 Mar 2026 19:41:48 GMT

March Newsletter: 25 years ago, we too had a bold idea

Dear Supporters,

This month, the Peace Corps community began the agency’s 65th anniversary celebrations, with returned volunteers and friends of the organization sharing meaningful stories about the transformative power of volunteer service in their networks, their local communities and on social media.

Collectively, we stood up to share how this work mattered to us, and why it matters to the future of our nation, and the world. It might sound like hyperbole, but the test of time has proved that what was once just a bold idea, an experiment in a different approach to international development, has deep resonance in every corner of the planet.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Design spotlight: Creating space

In previous design spotlights , we’ve shared the thinking behind a number of our design team’s creative solutions to both artistic challenges (depicting a world map without borders, carving water out of stone) and practical ones (deterring skateboarders, ensuring accessibility), but we haven’t talked about the main constraint in the design of Peace Corps Park: Its compact size.

“For this site, the biggest challenge is that it’s a postage stamp,” said Doug Hays, who with Michael Vergason has partnered with lead designer Larry Kirkland and Associates on the landscape design for Peace Corps Park.

The team has long been aware of the constraint they would all face with the size of the site – Vergason helped evaluate the proposed National Park Service sites after the Foundation secured congressional approval for the Park in 2014 – and was ready for the challenge.

When it came to figuring out how to make a small space feel big, Vergason started where his design process usually does, with the history and broader context of the site. Before Frederick Law Olmsted brought a symmetrical design with a right-angled perimeter to the Capitol Grounds in 1874 , the Peace Corps Park site made up the corner of the Capitol Grounds (see the red dotted line delineating the historical boundary on the image above).

So even though it’s a small parcel of land surrounded by traffic on all sides, it’s actually part of a large and mostly green space.

“We are trying to enlarge this site by borrowing from the larger context of the Capitol Grounds,” Vergason said. It’s a vision that aligns conceptually with what he identifies as the location’s greatest asset, its direct line of sight to the Capitol dome less than a half-mile away.

He and Hays chose to focus on the selection of canopy trees as the Park’s primary connection to the Grounds, which have

several dozen different species providing shade. The trees planned for Peace Corps Park are all native species and include the “Valley Forge” American Elm, a variant of one of Olmsted’s original selections, and the Overcup Oak, which echoes the various species of Oak tree in Olmsted’s design. Honeylocust, Easter Redbud and Black Gum round out the canopy palette.

With a green space design that is both specific to Peace Corps Park and closely tied to the iconic grounds located across Louisiana Ave., the site will be even more connected to the National Mall and will enshrine its place as part of the family of significant memorials that define the Monumental Core in our nation’s capital.

It’s a direct manifestation of the mission of Peace Corps Park, to elevate the American values represented by Peace Corps service as an essential part of our national character, and another example of how all Park elements come together to create a lasting tribute to inspire future generations.

Women’s history is Peace Corps history

Women have been an integral part of the Peace Corps for as long as the agency has existed. From even earlier, actually, when Judy Guskin helped mobilize college students around the country to show that young people would indeed answer the call to serve. Judy reflected on her role in the early Peace Corps in an advocacy message for Peace Corps Park and the response from everyone in our community proved emphatically how strong her voice remains.

The Foundation is also lucky to have on our Boards of Directors and Advisors many inspiring women leaders, including former Congresswoman Donna Shalala, writer and advocate Maria Shriver and the three most recent directors of the Peace Corps to be confirmed by Congress: Carol Spahn , Carrie Hessler-Radelet and Jody Olsen , who chairs our Advisory Board.

Just as women leaders have shaped the Peace Corps’s history, these leaders are ensuring its future by dedicating a piece of their time and passion to the effort to build Peace Corps Park.

Community voices lend their advocacy

Over the past few years, we at the Foundation have been delighted to share with you diverse messages of support from notable figures in the Peace Corps community. Those advocates have included political leaders like Sam Farr and Joe Kennedy III ; media personalities like Maureen Orth and Bob Vila , and unique voices speaking to the lasting impact of service like Matt Essieh and Elizabeth Cobbs .

But we’d like to make space for all supporters who want to lend their voice to the campaign, with a new section of the Advocates page on our website. We were inspired by a message of support we received from Dr. Justin Bibee (Morocco, 2014-16), whose service and passion for our shared mission to build Peace Corps Park resonated strongly.

"My time in Morocco shaped everything that came afterward… Today, whether I am working with refugees, advocating for human dignity, or founding institutions dedicated to celebrating the world’s cultures, I carry with me the lessons I learned as a volunteer: listen carefully, work collaboratively, and respect the wisdom of the communities you serve.

"A permanent place honoring that tradition in our nation’s capital reminds future generations that service matters, that global understanding matters, and that ordinary individuals can contribute to extraordinary change."

Read Justin’s full message here , and reply to this email or use the Contact Us form on our website to share your own motivations for supporting the project!

PCCF welcomes Kevin Haggerty as Treasurer

A reminder at tax time

With April 15th right around the corner and tax filing on our minds, we remind all supporters (and potential supporters) that a donation to Peace Corps Park can help reduce your taxable income and thus even save you money on your taxes.

If you are 73 or older – the age at which you must start taking required minimum distributions from your IRA – a qualified charitable contribution from the IRA (allowed for taxpayers at least 70 ½ years old) can be used to fulfill that minimum distribution. That means that instead of taking the distribution in cash and having it taxed as income, it can be routed to a charity like the Peace Corps Foundation without being taxed.

Whether your tax filing is giving you sticker shock this year or not, a contribution from your IRA in 2026 is a win-win for next year's tax return that we hope you will consider if the situation applies to you. For details, visit the Ways to Give page on our website.

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since February 25, 2026:

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$10,000 - $19,999

Anthony Lofaso*
Angene and Jack Wilson*

$1,000 - $4,999

Anne Baker
John E. Ellis, MD
Friends of Nigeria*
Diana MacArthur*
Jensy Patterson Richards*
William and Beverly Ricker*
Jerri Rush*
Steven Wolf*

Other gifts to $999

Robert Adamski
Terry Applegate*
David Atwood
Elinore Boeke*
Sherrie Borden*
Lisa Breslof
Mary K. Crangle
Malie Carolyn Gray*
Phyllis Holt
Lynn and Rosalie Smith Juhl
Lawrence Knowles*
Jennie Lane
James and Deborah Lawler
Sarah Levin*
Suzanne Marrks
Chelsea Mertz
Mark Miller
William Neale*
William Piatt*
Edward Porter
Frances J. Shapiro-Skrobe*
Dennis Skowromski
Steven Torcoletti
Tina and Bob Walker
Joe Zucchini*

PEACE CORPS PARK SUSTAINERS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Anonymous
Sue Hoyt Aiken
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick Bird
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Elizabeth Ford
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
G. David Hicks
Elisabeth-Hinshaw Osgood
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Marcy Kelley
Laura Kettel Khan
Linda Kolko
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Judy Marcouiller
Cynda McMahon
Marty Mueller
Nancy Nuechterlein
Richard Pyle
Shawn Reagan
Jessica Rogers
Deidre Schilling
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Peter J. Stubben
Mary Lou Weathers
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Charles Wolf
Gail Yates
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

If you or your group are interested in learning more about the construction planning phase of Peace Corps Park, Glenn regularly travels to meet with stakeholders across all 50 states. He is always happy to share the vision in person—and there’s a good chance he’s already planning to be in your area! Just reply to this email and let Glenn know if you’d like to arrange a meetup. Up next:

April 9 Austin, Tx.

April 14-15 Madison, Wis. - Quarra Stone Company site visit

April 24 Washington, D.C. - National Service Symposium

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

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

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

Dr. Justin D. Bibee (Morocco 2014-16): Service begins with listening

Tue, 10 Mar 2026 18:48:54 GMT

Dr. Justin D. Bibee for Peace Corps Park: Service begins with listening

Dear Supporters,

More than a decade ago, I stepped off a plane in the Kingdom of Morocco to begin my service as a volunteer with the Peace Corps. I arrived as many volunteers do—filled with optimism, curiosity, and a belief that service could make the world a little more just. Yet like most who begin this journey, I quickly discovered that service abroad is as humbling as it is inspiring. Living and working in a community very different from my own required patience, cultural humility, and above all the willingness to listen before acting.

In the early days of my service, I spent far more time learning than leading. I learned the rhythms of Moroccan life, shared meals with neighbors, and began studying Darija so I could communicate more meaningfully with the people around me. Those small acts of connection—conversations over tea, laughter with students, and quiet observations of daily life—became the foundation for everything that followed.

During my service, I worked alongside community members to create projects that reflected their own aspirations. One of the initiatives I am most proud of was helping establish the first book-borrowing library in the community. Before then, children could only read books while physically inside the library space. By allowing books to be taken home, families could share stories together and children could continue learning beyond the classroom walls. It may have seemed like a modest change, but the impact was profound.

That experience reinforced a lesson that has stayed with me throughout my life: real progress often comes from small, thoughtful actions carried out consistently over time. A library shelf filled with books might appear simple, but behind it lies a powerful belief—that knowledge should be accessible, that every child deserves the chance to learn, and that communities themselves are the architects of their own futures.

My time in Morocco shaped everything that came afterward. It deepened my commitment to human rights, cultural preservation, and humanitarian service. Today, whether I am working with refugees, advocating for human dignity, or founding institutions dedicated to celebrating the world’s cultures, I carry with me the lessons I learned as a volunteer: listen carefully, work collaboratively, and respect the wisdom of the communities you serve.

Projects like Peace Corps Park are important because they ensure that the spirit of service represented by generations of volunteers is never forgotten. The Peace Corps has touched hundreds of thousands of lives across the globe. Its legacy lives in the relationships built between people of different cultures who chose to learn from one another.

A permanent place honoring that tradition in our nation’s capital reminds future generations that service matters, that global understanding matters, and that ordinary individuals can contribute to extraordinary change.

For those of us who served, the Peace Corps was never simply two years of our lives. It became a lifelong commitment to partnership, cultural respect, and the belief that a more peaceful and humane world is possible when people choose to work together.

Yours in service and partnership,

Dr. Justin D. Bibee
RPCV Morocco, 2014–16

February 2026 Newsletter: We're all builders now

Fri, 27 Feb 2026 05:29:43 GMT

February Newsletter: We’re all builders now

Dear Supporters,

As the winter season continues to bring tangible evidence of progress in the construction of Peace Corps Park, I am reminded that, no matter our specific role in this historic effort to create a new federal monument in Washington, D.C., we are all builders.

In Lithonia, Ga., the Silver Cloud granite that will form Peace Corps Park’s trademark benches has been quarried, cleaned, split, and readied for transport to the fabricator in Wisconsin. In Virginia, the Virginia Mist granite that will be cut into pavers and textured for the Park’s world map centerpiece has been purchased and readied for transport as well.

Most recently, a ⅔-scale mockup of the granite benches' hand details was crafted in plaster to guide the robotic shaping process. It’s a great example of the human touch needed to ensure the highest quality for this landmark project, and you can read more about it later in this newsletter.

So while the building process moves along, my own efforts to build Peace Corps Park through our fundraising campaign move along with it: We’ve now raised almost $7 million , and I’m fully dedicated to building the coalition that will get us to the finish line.

Our communications team is building the Park by sourcing and sharing the stories of our notable advocates ; our development team is building the Park by enlisting an ever increasing number of fundraising partners ; our Board of Directors and Advisory Board are building the Park by relentlessly donating their time, resources and expertise to the effort.

Most importantly, every single person and every single group that has donated to the initiative is building Peace Corps Park by demonstrating the broad community of support for this important symbol of our nation’s story.

We’d like that community to include everyone who shares the ideals and values represented by the Peace Corps, so thank you for anything you can do to spread the word (like forwarding this email) and grow the Peace Corps Park footprint as we build momentum toward groundbreaking.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Construction Update: A human touch

Details matter when operating on the larger-than-life scale (in both the physical and symbolic sense) of a new national monument, and when details matter, there’s no substitute for the human touch of a skilled craftsperson.

While the Silver Cloud granite that will make up Peace Corps Park’s trademark benches will be carved and shaped by robotic machines, the critical ingredient in faithfully bringing artist Larry Kirkland’s and his design team’s design to life remains the artistry of the human hand.

Models of the benches have been created at various steps in the process to refine the designs themselves and to inform other aspects of construction, like visualizing how to cut the granite blocks to optimize for the direction of the grain pattern.

As Peace Corps Park gets closer to taking its place among the national monuments and memorials in our nation’s capital, the models have similarly gotten closer to the actual size of the finished product.

This latest step in the process is a set of ⅔-scale models of the open hand forms that will become the end segments of each of the Park’s benches, mocked up in plaster by expert sculptor Christopher Collins . With his careful eye shaping the specific angles and depths of every crease, every fold, every ridge represented on the open-hand design, the full-size version is sure to make a memorable impact on all those who visit. .

Richard Swarttz named Peace Corps Acting Director

Daniel Dayton joins the Peace Corps Park team

Help the Park, help yourself at tax time

It’s tax season again, which reminds us that supporting Peace Corps Park through an individual retirement account (IRA) can be a great way to make a positive impact on the world while reducing your overall tax burden.

The two key items every donor should know about are Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) and Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs):

QCDs : A Qualified Charitable Distribution allows people age 70½ or older to donate up to $100,000 per year directly from their IRA to a qualified nonprofit like the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation. A QCD can count toward your required minimal distribution (see below), and because it goes straight to charity, it is excluded from taxable income.
RMDs : If you are over 73, you are required to withdraw a certain amount from your Traditional IRA every year, and that amount is considered taxable income. Depending on that minimum (determined by your age and the balance in the account), you can use a QCD to meet that requirement and thus decrease your taxable income accordingly.

You can find more information on the Ways to Give page on our website, but we hope you will consider including Peace Corps Park in your tax planning to ensure your finances have the greatest impact possible. And if you have already done so, thank you very much for your support!

Include the Park in your long-term planning

After the construction of Peace Corps Park, the Peace Corps Foundation will continue to pursue its mission of elevating the Peace Corps brand and upholding our community’s shared values of service and global partnership. Donors looking to include a gift to the Foundation in their legacy planning can be confident that no matter when their gift is made, it will support the entire Peace Corps community for generations to come.

Thankfully, it’s very easy to include Peace Corps Park as a beneficiary in a Will or retirement account, and it’s a great way to make a commitment with no immediate cost.

Learn more at the Ways to Give page on our website, where you can also download a simple form to notify us of your planned gift.

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since January 29, 2026:

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$50,000-$99,999
George and Carol Chaffey*

$20,000-$49,999
Kevin F. F. Quigley*

$10,000 - $19,999

Robert and Judith Terry*

$1,000 - $9,999

Bruce Anderson*

Chicago Area Peace Corps Association (CAPCA)

Kay and Kevin Dixon*

Richard J and Mary S Gallivan*

Tom Gouttierre*

Friends of Togo

Will and Fran Irwin*

Earl Kessler*

Ann and Terry Marshall

Refugio Ysmael Rochin*

Mal Warwick*

Aaron Williams*

Other gifts to $999

Robert Bergstrom
L. David Brown
Ana Ciereszko*
Dorsett Edmunds*
Kenneth Flies*
Elizabeth Ford
James Hanson*
James Krogh*
Tom Linnell*
Larry Luu
Jean Minton
Paul Francis Mullins*
Peter Nerone*
Roger Olson*
Bill Piatt*
John Quigley*

Robert Roberts*
Alan Robinson*
Samuel Smith*
Thailand Group 12
Steve Tilley
Martin Tracy
Kristin Trangsrud
Melvin H. Unkraut
Maynard B. Wheeler
Debbie Wheelwright

PEACE CORPS PARK SUSTAINERS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Hoyt Aiken
Peter Arquin
Matthew Baysden
Ellen Davis-Zapata
John Feighery
Elizabeth Ford
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
Marcy Kelley
Linda Kolko
Ashley Leinweber
Judy Marcouiller
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Nancy Nuechterlein
Shawn Reagan
Jessica Rogers
James Salvatore
Deidre M. Schilling
John Sommehauser
Peter J. Stubben
Mary Lou Weathers
Charles Wolf
Gail Yates
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Feb. 27-28 Boston

March 18-24 Southern California

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

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

January 2026 Newsletter: We are giving America something to be proud of

Thu, 29 Jan 2026 20:21:16 GMT

January Newsletter: We are giving America something to be proud of

Dear Supporters,

As we begin the new year, which brings with it the two major milestones of the 250th anniversary of the United States and the 65th anniversary, it has become so clear to me how important Peace Corps Park is. Our experience and our values are part of the story of this country, and it is imperative that we contribute this new national monument to the landscape of our nation’s capital.

We are now in the home stretch of this project. With almost $7 million raised so far, we have around $6 million to go to meet the construction budget and break ground – remember that because Peace Corps Park will be owned in perpetuity by the National Park Service, we have to raise the entirety of the costs of construction before a shovel touches dirt at the Park’s site near the U.S. Capitol.

Let’s show them, and the world, that this community can still make bold ideas come true, can still inspire people everywhere with the values of service and partnership, and occupy our rightful place in the story of this country.

We have taken a significant step by launching the construction phase of the project during this milestone year – the granite for Peace Corps Park’s benches has been split from the quarry face (read the detailed report below). We are now in the home stretch, one that will only succeed if enough people believe that this project is crucial to our future as a nation, to our definition of ourselves, and are willing to support that belief with a contribution.

The tremendous support we have received from our dedicated advocates and our generous donors has gotten us this far. Let’s take this project to the finish line and give America something to be proud of.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Construction Update: ‘Dropping the ledge’ at Broad River Quarry

Following the Peace Corps Park design team’s up-close inspection of the Silver Cloud granite at Broad River Quarries in November, we are pleased to share that the two ledges that will be used for the Park have been split from the quarry face and will soon be cut and readied for transport to Wisconsin for the next part of their journey.

“Dropping the ledge,” as it’s called, is at once a delicate and a monumental task ( watch the first ledge being dropped on our YouTube channel ): First, guide holes are drilled from above and from the side, to thread a ¼-inch diamond wire through that is hooked up to a saw. Once the saw has done its work to cut the ledge, a bladder is inserted into the cut and slowly filled with water, gently separating the slab of stone from the wall of granite it was previously attached to.

With a little help from some heavy equipment, the ledge is tipped onto an earth bed placed at its base to catch the 1 million-pound hunk of stone, which represents a century of geologic activity that went into creating this beautiful rock.

“Every ledge is a new story,” said Adriano Rech, manager of the quarry outside of Atlanta, Ga. “In the rock you will sometimes find a fracture, maybe a big one or maybe a smaller one, but you don’t know until you drop it.”

Up next for the stone will be pressure-washing and close inspection of the stone to look for those fractures. If it passes, the blocks are then marked and cut into smaller sections – at 40,000 pounds still massive blocks of granite – before being shipped to Wisconsin for shaping and fabrication.

We will look forward to sharing further construction updates as the process continues, all made possible by our generous community of donors .

New voices advocate for Peace Corps Park

Our end-of-year campaign was also a chance to share the voices of a few new advocates for Peace Corps Park, who bring their own reasons for their support of the project. We are always fascinated not only by the broad coalition of people who share our values of service and partnership, but also by the distinct personal motivations that drive their commitment to this cause.

Earlier in the year, you heard from TV personality Bob Vila , the “Mother of the Peace Corps” Judy Guskin , and former Governor of Ohio Bob Taft , and in December we featured three new voices. And you’ll be hearing from even more advocates in 2026.

Friends of Togo joins the campaign

In July 2025, the Friends of Togo graciously hosted Chief Advancement Officer Glenn Blumhorst and Arianna Richard at their annual meeting and potluck to learn how they could support Peace Corps Park. Following an initial gift pledge, we are thrilled to share that they have now expanded their support to include an official partner campaign - allowing their members and supporters to contribute directly to the Park as part of a collective effort.

We send them our thanks and invite other groups to follow their lead by setting up a partner fundraising campaign (it’s easy!) to share with your network. Please reach out to Ari Richard at arichard@peacecorpscommemorative.org to discuss details.

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since November 19, 2025:

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$50,000-$99,999
Steven S. Fischman*
Robert Y. Olsen*
The Rockefeller Foundation

$20,000-$49,999
Helen and Russell Morgan*
Philip Ruppe

$10,000 - $19,999

Nicholas W. Craw*
Franklin Innes*
Josephine K. Olsen*
Peter Quigley and Meghan Heffernan
JM Zell Partners Ltd*

$5,000 - $9,999

Donna Anderson*
Philip and Vicki Bolton
Elliott M. Fiedler*
Michael and Natalie Hall*
Susan Corcoran Hayes*
John Jeppson
Joseph P. Kennedy III and Lauren Kennedy*
Nelly E. and Joseph T. Lombardo*
James McGeorge*
Scott and Muriel Nichols*
Jean Schmidt O'Byrne
Charles Shelan
Cecelia M. Stratford*

$1,000 - $4,999

Antoinette and Frank Almaguer*
Amy Balcius
Nick and Bay Bancroft*
Margaret Bangham*
Steve and Marietta Bartoletti
Rowland Bennett
John and Jennifer Bost*
Bill Byrne
Norman and Phyllis Choat
Dr. Hugh Clark*
Charles and Martha Clifford*
Paul Copaken
Roger Doughty
Gene Dunbar
Priscilla Goldfarb*
Bonnie S. Gottlieb*
Robert Graulich and Scotland King*
Deborah Hardiing*
Leslie Hawke
Carrie Radelet*
Dave Hohl
Barbara A. Kelly and David Scott Miller
Sheila Kemper Dietrich
James Patrick King*
Sam Lawson and Laurel Mayer*
Gloria Lightwine*
Jason Locey
Diana MacArthur*
Michael Maidenburg*
A Michael Marzolla*
Michael and Hannah Mazer*
Roger McDivitt
Roderick and Naomi McLeod
Nancy Morrin*
Paul Murphy*
Julianna Oh
Mary C. Pendleton*
Murty Polavarapu*
Drs. Glenn and May Post
Willard E. Smucker Foundation
Shawn Reagan*
Martin Richwine
Mark Rosenberg*
Jerri Rush*
George Scharffenberger*
Douglas L. Sheldon*
Susan Sievers
Rick Sweitzer
Allan Eugene Watters
Sarah “Sally” Wells*
Aaron and Rosa Williams*
Jane Wooden
William Shaw

Other gifts to $999

Anonymous (6 donors)
Mary Ahrens*
Patricia FitzGerald and Thomas Aichele*
Alice Alexander
Deanne Amaden
Robert Ambrogi
Frances Anamosa
Donald Anderson*
Sherry Anderson
Ralph Archung
Dana Aronovich
Bob Bach*
Mahlon Barash*
Matthew Barmann
Bette Bass*
Susan Bayley
William and Sondra Bechhoefer*
Laurette Bennhold-Samaan
Richard and Jana Bertkau
Richard Boesch
Michael Bonfigli
Douglas Boren*
David Borsani
Allen C. Brailey*
Kelly and Gus Brest van Kempen*
Jeffrey Brown
Laura Byres
Joseph Campbell
Erin Cantor
Donna Cartwright
Ralph B. Cauthen
Kevin Cavanaugh*
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Scott Charlesworth
Kathleen W. Chevalier
Sharon Chiang
Dr. Hugh Clark*
Elizabeth Cobbs
Susan Coffin
George Cohen
Alan and Leslie Comnes
Louis Cornelius
Brian Cowan
Jack Croucher
John E. Cullen
Gerrit Cuperus
Linda S. Dahm
Edward R. Day
Thomas Delaney
Julie DeSmith
John Dickson
Kevin Dole
Christopher Donahue
Olga Donohue*
Roxanne duBois Cull*
Dan Eberly
Linda Edgington
Marten Edwards
Lawrence Eicher
Rand Engel
Brad Everett
Jerome Federlein
Patrick Fine*
Barbara Ford
Glen Foster
Myron Fountain
W. Douglas Frank
Tom Franz
Margaret Gaisford Welborn
Alison Galbraith
David Gallegos
Christine Gavitt*
Sharen Gendebien*
Katie Kwo Gerson
Chris Wrona Giallongo and Rob Giallongo
Lorraine Gill*
Ed Gingras*
Fay Giordano
George Gorayeb
Roger Gorham
Bonnie S. Gottlieb*
James Green
Michelle Smallcombe Hadjsalem
Christopher Haragan*
Kathleen M. Harnig*
Bernice Harris
Wallis Harsch
Dale Harvison
Jack Hazerjian
Randall Herrin
George Hess*
Stephen Hill
Carol A. Hine
Howard Hintze
Thinh Hoang
Paige Hornsby
Lee Hougen*
John Hughes
Hughes Family*
Donald Humpal
Alice Impraim
Richard Ireland
Tami Ito
John Jellema
James Jetter
Karen Johnson Larson
Barbara Jue*
Steven Kaffen*
Patricia Katzen
Edwin Kay
Paula Keady*
Sharon Keid*
Frances Kennedy
Paul Killebrew

Michael King
Michael Kistler
Kevin Kneafsey*
Diana Koala
David Kobes
Ben Kudler
Michele Lagoy*
Scott Leaman
Beatrice Leibson*
Elizabeth Leo
Barbara Lepoer
Perry "Chip" Letson
Ronald Levesque*
Kevin Lewis
Warren Lewis*
Gloria Lightwine*
Martin Limbird
David Lipinski*
Susan Lloyd
Henry Loeser
Meghan Lovett Capone
Susan Lum
John Macchi*
Bette MacLennan*
Cliff Marks
Terry Marshall
Rich Masterson
Jill Margaret Mattinson
Judy and Skip McGinty*
Shirley and Bill McGrath
John McLeod
Ann McPhail
Amy Mellencamp
Alejandrina Metes
Nancy and John Meyers*
David and Mary Ann Millard*
Martha Mills
MaryAnn Minutillo*
Merle Moore
Ronald Morgan*
Ronald Muller*
Stephen Murphy*
Christi Murray*
Karen Nelson*
Julie Newman
Rita M. Novak
Aixa Nuno*
O'Brien Family
Vincent O'Hern*
Rashid Ocheltree
Malcolm Odell
Michael Ohanlon*
Jon and Susan Okada
Eric O'Neill
Joann Ortiz
Doug Pachico
Marvin Packer
John Pamplin
Steven Parker
Edwin Patout
Donald Pattillo*
James Pexa
Lynn Phalen Bottazzi*
Patricia Phares
William H. Philipp
Bill Piatt*
Pittsburgh Area Peace Corps Association
Darwin Popenoe*
Russ Pratt
Terry and Karen Proffitt*
Audrey Pulis
Bruce Randall
Stephen and Sandra Randels*
Arthur Raphael
Mark Rasmuson
Linda Rea
Anne Regan
Mark Reiss
John and Margaret Rems
Cecilia Reoux
Sharon Richard
Gerald Richmond
Alexis Rieffel*
Becca Ripley
William T. Roach
Tom and Sally Roach
Nancy Robertson
Peter, Matina and Stephanie Ross*
Lynn and Richard Rossiter*
Virginia D. Rue
Shannon Russell
Willem Sakovich
Therese I. Salus*
Michael Santarelli*
Thomas Schmidt
Joseph Schoder*
Lois Sebatane
Shelly Segal*
Jack and Sarah Seybold*
Joe Shaffner
Naomi Shank
Rob Shapiro*
Colleen Sharp*
Kay Lynne Sherman*
Janna Six
James Skiles
Janet and Duane Smith*
Alexandra Smith
Paul and Kathy Smolen*
Debra Snell
Neal Sobania
Janice Solek Tefft*
Roger Soles
Mimi Stanford
Robert and Susan Star
Eileen Stevens
Laura Streichert
Peter Stubben
Joseph and Linda Stubbs
Barry Swan
Martha Sweitzer
Christopher Szecsey*
Allen and June Tamura
Joby Taylor*
Marion Taylor*
Joseph Tenn
Donald F. Theiler*
Maria Thomas-Ruzic
Shirley Thompson*
Paul Thompson*
Mary Thorne*
Barb Thorne
Alyce Tidball*
Victoria Tunba*
David Vancelette*
Dirk Vanderloop
George Vitaliano*
Dominic Volini
Lesley Vossen
Howard Wade
Mark Walker*
Hon. James Walsh
James Wannares
Heidi Warner
Donald R. Watson*
Mary Lou Weathers
Leslie Wexler*
Martha Whitman and Larry Frankel*
Phyllis Wickman
Margaret Wilson
Jean Wintemute*
Jerry and Marcy Withrow*
Alice J. Wong
Carol Word
Edward Yasuna
Kathryn Youel Page
Arthur and Ann Young
Darrel Young*
Alan Yount*
Chip Zimmer
Jim Zurer

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Hoyt Aiken
Peter Arquin
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick Bird
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
G. David Hicks
Elisabeth Hinshaw-Osgood
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Marcy Kelley
Laura Kettel Khan
Linda Kolko
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Judy Marcouller
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Nancy Nuechterlein
Richard Pyle
Shawn Reagan
Jessica Rogers
Laurine Smith
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Peter J. Stubben
Mary Lou Weathers
Anna Whitcomb
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Charles Wolf
Gail Yates
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Jan. 10-20 South Florida

March 18-24 Southern California

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

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

Ari Richard for Peace Corps Park: A jug is filled drop by drop

Wed, 31 Dec 2025 18:47:05 GMT

Dear Supporters,

Ari Richard
Outreach Officer, Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation
RPCV Eswatini (2017-19)

Elizabeth Cobbs for Peace Corps Park: Your history has a future

Tue, 23 Dec 2025 13:00:25 GMT

Dear Supporters,

Elizabeth Cobbs, Ph.D.
Dwight E. Stanford Emerita Professor
San Diego State University Dept. of History

Leslie Hawke for Peace Corps Park: Finding purpose in service

Tue, 09 Dec 2025 04:04:13 GMT

Dear Supporters,

One sweltering July morning in 1999, I found myself standing in a packed, under-conditioned subway car on my way to work in lower Manhattan. It was the Monday after the death of JFK Jr. and I distinctly remember looking out at the crowded platform and hearing a little voice in my head saying: “You know, accidents do happen—and if you died tomorrow, you would be so embarrassed at how you’ve been spending your life lately.”

Leslie Hawke
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Romania (2000-02)
Founder, OvidiuRo and The Alex Fund

November Newsletter: Peace Corps Park begins to take shape!

Thu, 20 Nov 2025 19:08:47 GMT

November Newsletter: Peace Corps Park begins to take shape!

Dear Supporters,

There is a time in every major, long-term project when things become “real” and move from idea to execution. I’m pleased to share with you that Peace Corps Park took that step this week, for me at least, when I came down to Atlanta with members of our design and fabrication team to select, in person, the Silver Cloud granite that will be shaped into the Park’s three benches.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Construction Update: Peace Corps Park is ready to rock!

The timeline for Peace Corps Park is not something that can be set in stone (much depends on our fundraising momentum), but the literal granite that will form the Park’s three benches has been procured and that means we can start to plan for all the subsequent milestones that get us to construction at the site in Washington D.C.

Designer Larry Kirkland, Quarra Stone partners, and Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation team members visited Broad River Quarries outside of Atlanta this week to see the Silver Cloud granite in person and select the exact sections of stone that will be quarried for the Park.

Most important for this initial visit was for Larry to examine the grain pattern in different sections of the quarry to envision how it might best be oriented when formed into the curved bench design. With the highly contoured shape of the open-palmed hand that will be carved from one end of the stone, the specific direction of the grain can have a significant impact on the look and feel of the design.

With the granite selected and purchased, the next step will be to cut the actual blocks that will then be shipped to Quarra, our fabrication partner in Madison, Wisconsin, to be shaped. Because our granite is next in line to be cut, we anticipate loading the blocks for transport as soon as March. As usual, expect to see updates in our newsletter and social media channels of all milestones as Peace Corps Park takes shape!

Plan your end-of-year giving

With the end of 2025 coming up, we wanted to remind everyone that it’s never been easier to include Peace Corps Park in your annual giving, and we’re regularly integrating new ways to make it easier to support the project.

For those in our community who are over 70 ½ years old and need to make required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their individual retirement accounts , your gift of up to $108,000 would be free from federal taxes (and state taxes as well, for some).

For those with Donor Advised Funds , our new partnership with DAFPay (see the option on our donation form ) makes it easier than ever to direct funds to Peace Corps Park by providing a seamless connection with major fund administrators.

For instructions on how to make your donation, visit the Ways to Give page on our website, and if you have a question you don’t see answered there, please let us know at info@peacecorpscommemorative.org .

Y ou ask, we answer

In Glenn’s many travels to share the vision for Peace Corps Park, and in our whole team’s many interactions with people in our community, we have heard many great questions from people interested in the many aspects to consider when building a new federal commemorative work.

We are pleased to share the answers to the more common and some less-common questions we have heard in a new FAQ page on our website. You can read about Park basics like timeline and budget, and about our contingency plans to ensure the best stewardship of donor funds.

If you have any questions that you don’t see answered, please let us know by replying to this email or by sending us a message at info@peacecorpscommemorative.org .

Juliet Sorensen joins Advisory Board

Members of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s Advisory Board serve as champions and valuable sources of strategic insight, providing professional expertise, connections to local, national, and international resources and many other forms of assistance to further our mission. This month, we are honored to welcome Juliet Sorensen (Morocco 1995-97) to our team. See the full list of Advisory Board members on our website.

Juliet brings 20 years of experience in the legal field, across academia, nonprofits and trial law. She currently serves as director of the Rule of Law Institute and Program in Rule of Law for Development (PROLAW) at Loyola University Chicago’s School of Law, and previously was a clinical professor of law at the Center for International Human Rights at Northwestern’s Pritzker School of Law.

She also has experience in nonprofit leadership, serving as executive director of Injustice Watch, an award-winning nonprofit investigative journalism organization focused on systemic inequities in courts, and as the founder of the Northwestern Access to Health Project, a community-based partnership at the intersection of human rights, global health and development.

Juliet also brings a family connection with the Peace Corps, as her father, Theodore C. "Ted" Sorensen, was a principal speechwriter and Special Counsel to President John F. Kennedy.

Our entire advisory board, board of directors and leadership team are thrilled to have Juliet’s expertise in service of Peace Corps Park, and know the project is elevated by her support.

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since October 29, 2025:

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$10,000 - $19,999

Nicholas Craw*

$5,000 - $9,999

Ellen Cohen

Leslee Hackenson

Vernon Phillips*

Charles Shelan

$1,000 - $4,999

Frank Almaguer*

Amy Balcius

Keith Bell*

Ruth and Mike Berry*

Edwin Demerly*

Hon. Sam Farr*

Matthew Gerhardt*

Mary Martia Glass*

Marcia A. Grubb*

Anne Tourgee Howes

Donald R and Haideh N. Lightfoot

Diana MacArthur*

Sandra Voge

Frank Yates

Charles Yonkers*

Other gifts to $999

Chris Aaront

Anonymous

Thomas Appel*

David Bachner

Juliana and James Bancroft*

Carolyn Bargman

Ann Baum, G. Kenneth and Ann Baum Philanthropic Fund*

David A. Baur*

Charles Beach*

Carole Beauclerk

Carolyn Behr*

Donald R. and Pamela C. Benson

Pete Bine

Melanie Boulet

Carol Brooks

Bee Campbell*

Mary Christopherson*

Daniel Cory

Donald Crane

John Crowley

Lon Davis

Rosalyn P. Doggett*

Debra Drew

Richard Drum*

Helene Dudley*

Mark Duey

Amy Earle*

David Edwards*

Lily Fairweather

Howard Fenton*

Steven Fischer

John Geiger

Sandra Gong

Blanche and Mike Griffin*

Peter M. Hansen*

Erika Harris*

Marsha Hedrick

Robert Henderson

David Hennekes*

Wayne Hillard

Jane Hoffman

Lauren Homan

Martha Allshouse Hull

Elizabeth Jenkins-Joffe

Neil Jorgensen

Ellen Kargl-Humphrey

Carolyn Kari*

Donor Name Anonymous

James Kinder

Caroleah Kotch

Eric Kraus*

Melody Lacina

Ray Landy

Evelyn Kohl LaTorre

Peter Lee

Gloria Levin*

Bette MacLennan

Christine MacNaughton

Pamela McCarthy

Macon McCrossen*

John McNamara

Staci Mitchel

Wendell E. Morse, Jr.

Linda Meyers

Barry Nissly

Storry Norman

Ann O'Malley

Roger Olson*

Kathleen Orsini

Margaret Woehrle Palu

Arthur Porter

Thomas Prol

Bob Reyes

Rona Roberts*

Donald and Kathleen Romero*

Janet Bente Romero*

Gabriel Ross*

Bruce and Shelley Ross-Larson

Jill Shaw

Douglas Sheer

Paul Sigala*

Nancy L. Simuel*

Stephanie Smiley

Daryl Smith

Dane F. Smith, Jr.*

Norma Smith Wilson*

Joe Smith-Sreen

Robert Smythe*

Sheri Stonier-Montoya*

Jon Sultinen

Evangeline Tierney

Norman Turrill

Tom Vernon*

Joe Zucchini

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Hoyt Aiken

Ellen Davis-Zapata

Greg Emerson

Luis Garzon-Negreiros

Donald Hodgen

Linda Kolko

Judy Marcouiller

Cynda H. McMahon

Marty Mueller

Nancy Nuechterlein

Shawn Reagan

Jessica Rogers

John Sommerhauser

Peter J. Stubben

Mary Lou Weathers

Anna Whitcomb

Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Dec. 10-14 Northern California: Liberia IX Reunion reception

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

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

October Newsletter: New partners join the fundraising effort

Thu, 30 Oct 2025 16:00:44 GMT

October Newsletter: New partners join the fundraising effort

Dear Supporters,

You hear from me a lot, so it’s always a breath of fresh air (for me, as well) when others bring their perspectives to the campaign for Peace Corps Park; and, even though they are all supporting the same project, I love to hear the unique motivations they bring to their decision to contribute.

This month we welcomed our latest advocate, Judy Guskin , who is sometimes referred to as the “Mother of the Peace Corps” for her instrumental role in building support on college campuses for John F. Kennedy’s bold idea back in 1960. But instead of using her message to make a nostalgic appeal to the “day it all started, 65 years ago”, she shared a resounding call to action and a reminder that ideas need to be followed by action to truly make an impact.

The rest of the Peace Corps Park team and I have long been motivated by the idea of breaking ground next year, in conjunction with the 65th anniversary of the creation of the Peace Corps, and the actions of this community is what will make that a reality.

As a federal commemorative work that will be owned in perpetuity by the National Park Service (NPS), the Foundation must have every dollar raised to cover the cost of construction (and the contribution to the NPS permanent maintenance endowment) before we can break ground.

So please, consider making a first, or additional, tax-deductible gift to the Park this year , and forward our newsletter to others in your life who share our values and believe in their critical role in telling the full story of our nation in the monuments and memorials of Washington, D.C.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

An upgrade for DAF payments

A significant number of contributions to the Foundation come from Donor Advised Funds (DAFs), a streamlined and tax-advantaged way to put your charitable dollars to work. We’re excited to partner with DAFPay to provide a secure and seamless way to direct funds to Peace Corps Park.

Your credentials are not viewed or saved by DAFPay or the Foundation, and access to your account is limited to the current visit, so you can connect with confidence. You’ll see the DAFPay option on our donation form’s payment section and we hope you’ll find it a more convenient way to support the project.

Please feel free to let us know how we can make donating even easier for you!

RPCV groups amplify the Park’s message

Peace Corps DR all-volunteer reunion

For the Peace Corps Dominican Republic’s 2025 gathering, celebrating more than 60 years of service, three notable Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) from the Foundation’s Board of Directors and Advisors recorded personal messages to their fellow DR RPCVs. Reflecting on their service in the DR and affirming their support for Peace Corps Park, former Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams (1967-70), former Congressman Joe Kennedy III (2004-06) and former Senator Chris Dodd (1968-71) represented the passion that our leadership team has for the project.

View their messages of support on our YouTube channel.

Peace Corps Iran Association conference

Showcasing our fundraising partners

The progress we have made in raising funds for Peace Corps Park – more than $6.4 million to date – has been fueled by the consistent support of the RPCV community, and we’ve seen the impact that individuals can have when they join together to make a difference.

Some RPCV groups have joined the effort with fundraising campaigns of their own to make Peace Corps Park a reality, and we are happy to showcase them and others making group donations on a new page on our website . You can visit any time to see the updated totals for each campaign, and find links to their landing pages to contribute. Your individual donation will still find its way onto our Supporters page, but donating through the campaign highlights your group’s or cohort’s contribution to the effort.

If you want to learn more about how your group can mobilize to be a part of the Peace Corps Park story as a fundraising partner, reach out to Ari Richard at arichard@peacecorpscommemorative.org .

"Mother of Peace Corps" lends her voice

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since September 25, 2025:

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$50,000 - $99,999

Maureen Orth*

$25,000 - $49,999

Mark & Kathryn Ford Family Foundation

Elena Russell*

$10,000 - $24,999

Daniel Duff*

William Morrow*

$5,000 - $9,999

Joan A. Lim

Douglas Shifflet*

Sue Louise Ward

$1,000 - $4,999

Eugenia Castleman

John and Karen Dixon*

Daniel Duff*

David Dupras*

Sherwood Guernsey*

Lyle Harding*

Mark and Rossana ODonnell

Jerri Rush*

Stan Shields

Peter Tabet

Patricia Waak*

Dana and Rich Wekerle

Linda Wetzel-Hurley

Anthony Zollo

Other gifts to $999

Linda and Gerry Ashmore*

Margaret Benz

Darline Braz

James Bryon

Wendy Cleary

Thomas Cohen

Roger Conrad

Judith Dwan Hallett*

George Economides

Susan Eymann

Mary Galloway

David Garza

Jane Gore

Kathryn and James Groller

Yvonne Hauwiller

Henry Homeyer*

Brian Houseal*

Geraldine Joyce

Donna Katz

Suzanne Kelly

Robert Kendig*

Mary Kritz*

Stanley Laser

S. David Laveton

Glenn Legacki

Anne Linn

Nanette and David Magnani*

Jack David Marcus

Diane McCormack*

Tom McCormick

Tom Montelione

Michael Murray

Judith Musick

Robert Navin

John Nolan

Jeanne Paul*

Kate Raftery

David Richter

Alice Root Montero

Betsey Rubin Rosenbaum

Elsie Samora Sanchez

Christine Saudek*

Douglas Schermer*

John and Sarah Seybold*

James Shepard

Charles Shields*

Lawrence Shirley*

Patrick Solomon

Gregory Strick*

Robert Sullivan

Bill Threlkeld

Donald R. Watson*

James Weathersbee*

Charles White

Jean Wintermute*

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Hoyt Aiken

Linda Barnett

Rick Bird

Ellen Davis-Zapata

Elizabeth Downes

Greg Emerson

John Feighery

Luis Garzon-Negreiros

G. David Hicks

Elizabeth Hinshaw-Osgood

Peter Hofman

Ann Hopkins

Laura Kettel Khan

Linda Kolko

Roni Lerner Love

Deborah Manget

Judy Marcouiller

Cynda H. McMahon

Marty Mueller

Nancy Nuechterlein

Bill Piatt

Richard Pyle

Shawn Reagan

Jessica Rogers

Robert Smythe

John Sommerhauser

Peter J. Stubben

Mary Lou Weathers

Anna Whitcomb

Kathleen Williams-Ging

Chuck Wolf

Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

This week, Glenn is representing the Peace Corps community and Peace Corps Park at the Independent Sector's National Summit in Atlanta, Ga. Bringing together organizational leaders, development professionals, and grantmakers, the event seeks to build the collective power of nonprofits and philanthropy. He’s also wearing his hat as an advisory board member of the National Museum and Center for Service .

If you or your group are interested in learning the details of our plans for Peace Corps Park, Glenn spends a great deal of his time traveling across the country and back, meeting with stakeholders across all 50 states. He is always happy to share the vision in person—and there’s a good chance he’s already planning to be in your area! Just reply to this email and let Glenn know if you’d like to arrange a meetup. Up next:

Nov. 7 Philadelphia

Dec. 11-13 Northern California

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

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

Judy Guskin for Peace Corps Park: Turning inspiration into action

Thu, 16 Oct 2025 22:47:03 GMT

Dear Supporters,

As one of the Peace Corps’ earliest acolytes – I was there at 2:00 a.m. at the University of Michigan the night a young John F. Kennedy proposed a new way to serve our country – I’ve been asked to tell my story many times.

But I don’t want to tell you about that night 65 years ago. I want to tell you about what happened after that night.

September Newsletter: A new way to serve

Thu, 25 Sep 2025 14:58:11 GMT

September Newsletter: A new way to serve

This week, we celebrated the 64th anniversary of JFK signing the Peace Corps Act, and while it is one of several milestones in the history of volunteer service that we mark, the day that “made it official,” is one of the most significant in the shared story of every single person who’s worked in, for or with the Peace Corps since 1961.

President Kennedy opened his remarks that day noting that “With the enactment of this legislation, an avenue is provided by which Americans can serve their country in the cause of world peace and understanding…”

He was creating a new way to serve, and changing the definition of what it means to be an American, to be a patriot. It was a big idea, made a reality by a bipartisan group of legislators and colleagues who believed that ideas can inspire. It's the same idea that motivates us to inspire future generations, and we know this community can come together to make it happen.

So please, join us and help make Peace Corps Park real. Help us ensure that the spirit of service has a permanent place in our nation’s capital.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

A new look at the futue site of Peace Corps Park

We are excited to share a new perspective on the future site of Peace Corps Park that underscores the amazing location that we were able to secure from the National Park Service. A short walk from both the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall, and across the street from the Taft Memorial, Peace Corps Park will be in very good company in our nation's capital.

You can watch the video on our YouTube channel , and don’t hesitate to share it with others to give them a bird’s-eye view of the future site of Peace Corps Park.

PCCF treasurer joins senior Peace Corps staff

Peace Corps Park in the news

We often praise the generous community of supporters who have made financial contributions to Peace Corps Park, but there are plenty of other ways that everyone in this community can contribute to the project. This month we highlight a few recent mentions that help underscore the importance of our work and the gap we are trying to fill in our nation’s definition of itself, represented by the federal memorials and monuments in Washington, D.C.

Congressman Brian Baird: Why Isn’t America’s Greatest Story Being Told?

Congressman Brian Baird, a six-term member of Congress and founder of the National Museum and Center for Service, gave an inspiring speech at the TEDxPacific Avenue conference this summer that simply and persuasively made the case for honoring service in visible ways.

“I believe we need to honor all forms of service. Not because the people who serve demand it or seek it, but because they deserve it,” he said. “And maybe more importantly, because we need to see it. Especially in America now. We need to see examples of selflessness, not selfishness, of people who give to others because it’s the right thing to do.”

Watch his full TED talk on YouTube.

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since August 26, 2025:

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$20,000 - $49,999

Robert G. Clark

$5,000 - $9,999

Diana T. MacArthur*

Eleanor and William Revelle**

$1,000 - $4,999

Ned and Norma Benner
Henry and Elizabeth Carmines*
Steven Choi*
Geri Critchley*
Dr. Peter J. Dalum*
Ed Demerly*
Melanie Grant*
Kathryn Larson and Laura Coffee
Mickie Lee-Merslich*
Finlay and Willie Lewis
Friends of Malaysia*
Arianna Richard*
Ken and Katherine Weaver

Other gifts to $999

Janice and Paul Arcidiacono
Vicky Thoma Barrette*
Peggy Bromley*
Chicago Area Peace Corps Association
Pete Coombs
Edwin Fountain*
Pamela George and W. David Austin*
William Grindley*
William Hall
Peter Hansen*
Thomas Kirchberg*
Linda Layfield
Guy Toby Marion
New Mexico Peace Corps Association
Michael Ohanlon
Richard Pfau*
John Quigley*
Daniel Regan
Edward Russell*

William Sachs*
Jamari Salleh
George M. Vitaliano*

Helen Wheeler

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Hoyt Aiken
Linda Barnett
Rick Bird
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
G. David Hicks
Elizabeth Hinshaw-Osgood
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Linda Kolko
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Judy Marcouiller
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Nancy Nuechterlein
Bill Piatt
Richard Pyle
Shawn Reagan
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Peter J. Stubben
Mary Lou Weathers
Anna Whitcomb
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Chuck Wolf
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Sept. 28 Santa Cruz, CA : NorCal PCA Annual Meeting

Oct. 3-4 Washington, D.C.: Peace Corps Iran conference

Oct. 7 New York City : NYCPCA-Peace Corps Park reception

Oct. 25 Miami: South Florida RPCVs Annual Meeting

Dec. 11-14 Oakland, CA: Liberia IX reunion

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

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

August Newsletter: Inspiration from a hammer and chisel

Thu, 28 Aug 2025 16:27:09 GMT

August Newsletter: Inspiration from a hammer and chisel

Dear Supporters,

As you know, I am constantly traveling on behalf of Peace Corps Park (see the “Where is Glenn?” section at the bottom of this and every newsletter), and while that travel sometimes leaves me with precious little free time, I am often struck by how fulfilling my work promoting Peace Corps Park is for me personally.

Last month I talked about the magic of in-person connection, and how valuable it is to make the case for the project through a conversation, because there are so many reasons to support this symbol of our shared values in Washington, D.C.

I find tremendous inspiration from this effort because it is so personal – all of us in this community of service and global partnership can see ourselves and our values reflected in Peace Corps Park, no matter how much we can contribute, and that makes it a joy to talk about.

This month’s newsletter is a perfect example: We share a new design spotlight highlighting the decision to enlist a master stone carver and MacArthur “Genius” grant recipient to chisel every letter by hand into the Park’s granite benches, showing our unwavering commitment to building a symbol that will stand in stone forever.

We also share our 2024 annual report that recaps the significant milestones we achieved last year, as well as our slide presentation that lays out the case for the Park to prospective donors. And we are proud to announce that our group has received platinum status from Candid (formerly Guidestar), a distinction given to less than one percent of nonprofit organizations.

Of course, while this flagship project is compelling in itself, we still need your help to accelerate the fundraising campaign that will allow us to break ground before our authorizing legislation expires. So read on to learn how you can support Peace Corps Park, and please consider forwarding this email to people in your network, who can sign up for the newsletter themselves at peacecorpscommemorative.org/news .

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Design Spotlight: Inspiration with a hammer and chisel

We have talked a lot about the inspirational power of Peace Corps Park, which will remind visitors of the importance of service and global partnership, but nowhere is this mission more directly expressed than in the inscriptions on the benches encircling the Park’s world map.

We’ve shared the text of the quotes themselves – from John F. Kennedy, Sargent Shriver, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Nelson Mandela – and this month we’re taking a look at how those inscriptions will come to life in the Silver Cloud granite that will make up the Park’s benches.

That granite , which is quarried in the state of Georgia, is very dense, with low water retention. It’s just the type of granite that master stone carver Nick Benson prefers to work with. “The tighter the grain, the better for me – especially when dealing with a smaller character like we are using,” he says. “The finishing will come out really well with this material.”

Benson is a third-generation stone carver (his father carved the inscriptions for the John F. Kennedy Memorial at Arlington National Cemetery), and the latest owner and creative director of the John Stevens Shop that has been operating in Rhode Island since 1705. He brings his artistic expertise in calligraphy to his physical skill with a hammer and chisel to designs and letterforms that range from the classic to the modern. In 2010, he won a MacArthur “Genius” grant to explore how the digital world affects our perception of beauty, a topic that fascinates him as someone who works primarily in the analog medium of stone and sculpture.

If you have a choice between a machine-made thing and a handmade one, Benson says. “The handmade one is always better: It has inconsistencies, little details that reveal the human hand behind it, and that is what makes it beautiful.”

Indeed, Peace Corps Park’s design team , led by Larry Kirkland, initially explored inscribing the quotes using an automated sandblasting process but they were unsatisfied with the results. In this case, the human hand is superior to the machine, so Benson joined the team.

The first task was to choose a font. It would need to be one whose lines are bold enough to show up well in stone, as you lose about 15 percent of the weight that you see on a screen when you carve the letters into granite. He also wanted to use a more modern look, rather than the ancient-Roman style common in other commemorative works of Washington, D.C., so he selected a more contemporary sans-serif font.

“It’s bold but fun, with a little sweep to the stroke that gives it some character,” he said. Benson created the font for the Yale University Art Gallery, and used it for the Four Freedoms Park Memorial on Roosevelt Island in New York.

Benson has also worked on the Eisenhower and MLK memorials, and finds his own inspiration in the words that commemorate such important symbols in American history. “When I’m on site managing a project I often find myself stepping back and seeing one of these inscriptions and it hits you like a sledgehammer,” he says.

Speaking of the quotes that he and his team will carve into the Peace Corps Park benches at the fabrication site in Wisconsin, he adds, “Yes, these ideas were spoken in a specific era and context but they transcend time. That’s what hits so hard: These words are for all time. ”

Introducing our 2024 Annual Report

Making the case for Peace Corps Park

As many in our community know, federal rules for new commemorative works mean that we can’t break ground on Peace Corps Park until all needed construction costs are fully accounted for. This means that our fundraising efforts are the top priority of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation, with Chief Advancement Officer Glenn Blumhorst meeting with prospective donors of all kinds – both from within the Peace Corps community and from philanthropists who may not have a direct connection to the program.

One of the key materials in making the case for the Park is a slide presentation that gives an overview of the project and where it stands, our mission and our plans to support the educational and inspirational function of the Park once it is built. We’ve decided to share this presentation on our website, for all those in our community who are curious about how we talk about the project in our fundraising efforts.

Check it out on our website at peacecorpscommemorative.org/about and share the link with anyone in your network who you think might be interested in supporting the project!

Platinum status for transparency

How to get involved: RPCV Groups

The generous support we have received from the grassroots efforts of RPCV affinity groups has totaled more than $120,000 for Peace Corps Park so far – proving that when our community unites around a shared vision, we can move mountains.

Groups across the country are sparking conversations about our collective legacy, sharing stories, and building momentum for a project that will honor every RPCV’s service for generations to come.

Every single group has a unique power to amplify this movement. Whether you represent 15 returned volunteers or 150 of them, your network trusts you – and that trust is invaluable in spreading our vision and finding new sources of support. If you and your group is ready to get involved and advocate for Peace Corps Park, there are several great ways to do that:

Spread the word effortlessly – Have your board and members subscribe to our newsletter . You’ll get updates on all progress and milestones, event announcements, deep looks at the work and thought that goes into designing and building a new federal commemorative work, and inspiring stories from our community that you can share with just one click.
Amplify on social media – Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn for ready-to-share content about the project. One repost from your group account reaches dozens of RPCVs we might never connect with otherwise.
Explore a deeper partnership – Email our community outreach officer Ari Richard at arichard@peacecorpscommemorative.org to discuss setting up a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign and other collaboration opportunities tailored to your group’s interests.

The momentum is building for Peace Corps Park, and you have a chance to be part of its story with your support noted on the Park’s website forever. Don’t let your group miss being part of this historic effort to enshrine our shared values in the landscape of our nation’s capital.

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since July 29, 2025:

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$5,000 - $9,999

Chris and Jeannie Siegler*

$1,000 - $4,999

Mark Edleson
Friends of Morocco
Judith Guskin
Marjorie Maritzen*
Bruce Moen
Leonard Oppenheim
Vincent Radke*
Jensy Patterson Richards*

Other gifts to $999

Donna Budway
Terrence J. Carlin
Gary Drimmer
Karen Dunne*
Mark Francis
Francis and Chris Gaebler*
Don I. Gray
Malie Carolyn Gray
Donna Grennell
Diane Hibino
Jasmin Hunter
David Ingram
Kirk Iversen
Linda and Topper Johntz
Ever Loved Inc.
John Kopec
Pamela Martin
Virginia A. McArthur*
Brian McBride
Macon McCrosson*
Michael McLaughlin*
Roger Olson*
Terrell Otis
Patricia Phillips
Kate Quigley Lynch

Michael G Robinson*
Lori Rolleri
Ronald A. Schwarz*
Steve Somerson*
Dorothy Soper*
Shauna Steadman
George M. Vitaliano
Valerie Wheeler

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Hoyt Aiken
Matthew Baysden
Rick Bird
Anthony Carroll
Craig Cooper
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
G David Hicks
Elisabeth Hinshaw-Osgood
Ann Hopkins
Linda Kolko
Judy Marcouiller
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Nancy Nuechterlein
Bill Piatt
Richard Pyle
Shawn Reagan
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Chuck Wolf
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Aug. 31 Arlington, VA : NoVa Summer Potluck

Sept. 21 Bozeman, MT : Annual RPCV group meeting

Oct. 3-4 Washington, D.C.: Peace Corps Iran conference

Oct. 7 New York City : Peace Corps Park reception

Oct. 8 Boston : Peace Corps Park reception

Oct. 30 Washington, D.C.: Peace Corps Park reception

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

July Newsletter: Embracing the magic of in-person connection

Thu, 31 Jul 2025 03:56:57 GMT

July Newsletter: Embracing the magic of in-person connection

Dear Supporters,

I believe that relationships are best built face-to-face. It’s why I travel around the country to meet in person with Peace Corps Park stakeholders to present the vision for the project. There’s no substitute for the connection you can make around an idea in person, and giving the opportunity for people to ask questions always helps us better understand the motivations (and concerns) of our broad community of supporters.

My colleagues and I were delighted to share the vision for Peace Corps Park with attendees at the Peace Corps Connect conference hosted by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) in Washington, D.C. this month. Our display at a table in the exhibit space attracted a lot of attention, and we were energized by the amount of people who came to learn more about our efforts to build this lasting symbol to our shared values in our nation’s capital. We had so many conversations and were thrilled with the support and enthusiasm we received.

It was an active weekend, with Peace Corps Park Advisory Board Chair Jody Olsen hosting a lunch with her cohort of former Peace Corps directors, and Arianna Richard and I joining the Friends of Togo annual meeting and potluck, where we were presented with a $2,000 donation from this group of returned volunteers, former staff, and host country partners. Several people also visited the future site of Peace Corps Park near the U.S. Capitol and National Mall.

We found so much common ground among everyone we connected with, further proving the strength of this vision, and are inspired to redouble our efforts to bring this inspiring project to life in Washington, D.C. and through its digital companion experience.

Thank you for being a part of this story, and for anything you can do–whether that’s making a donation or telling others in your network about the project and encouraging them to support it. That is how we are going to get this done, and every contribution counts.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Design Spotlight: Designing for (against) skateboards

A particular challenge that groups like ours face in designing public spaces is not just building for that space’s optimal, intended purpose but to do so while also controlling for the unintended purposes it may be put to. If you are a skateboarder, you already know where this is going. There are skateboarders all over the world, and no matter where they are they make the city their skate park. The aesthetic and athletic value of their sport notwithstanding, skateboards’ metal trucks can wreak havoc on any stone step, curb or public bench they grind on.

The Peace Corps Park design team , led by Larry Kirkland and his design team and Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, knows how attractive long, curved stone edges (like those on the granite benches that form the centerpiece of the Park) are to skateboarders, so they reached “across enemy lines” to consult with a skate park designer in Los Angeles and anticipate how skaters might try to use the space.

The resulting analysis shows surfaces for sliding and grinding on all parts of the benches: Inner edges, outer edges–even on the irregular contours of the hands shaped into one end of each bench. The consultants also identified the most likely takeoff routes and acceleration zones, giving Kirkland and team two key problems to solve to ensure the Park’s surfaces aren’t worn away, chipped or discolored by Washington D.C.’s community of street surfers: discourage grinding on the benches and make skating on the granite pavers uncomfortable.

“The simple answer that we all see used in every city was to use some kind of metal stopper to stop the grinding,” Kirkland said, “but we all agreed that there must be a better solution.”

Looking for a way to better integrate the skateboard deterrent into the design of the benches, he sought to take advantage of the fact that each bench will be made from three different blocks of granite and turn the seam between each block into something functional. The result (on the right side of the image below) is a stainless-steel element that protrudes from the bench surface where necessary (the horizontal surfaces) but sits flush on the vertical surfaces that won’t see skateboards.

As for the second problem, we spoke about the artistic and symbolic value of the textured pavers at the center of Peace Corps Park in a previous update , but their design also reflected careful consideration of its effect on skateboarding.

In designing the exact depth and pattern of the texture that will be carved into those granite pavers, the team considered the diameter of wheelchair wheels and skateboard wheels to land on a depth that would impede a skateboard but not a wheelchair.

Once the physical samples of the pavers came into the office, the team took out a skateboard (and a wheelchair) and tested the design in real life before they finalized the design.

Their approach is just one more example of the high standard the Peace Corps Park design team has brought to every element of its vision, insisting that the artistic concept be reflected in every part of the design, and not taking the “easy” solution to a practical problem if that means compromising the symbolic value of the Park.

With this commitment, we know that Peace Corps Park will be integrated into the D.C. landscape and daily life of its people while ensuring it retains its visual appeal to inspire generations to come.

Park team makes an impression at Peace Corps Connect in Washington, D.C.

This month, some of us from the Peace Corps Park team joined Peace Corps community members from across the country for two days of discussion, inspiration and partnership at NPCA's Peace Corps Connect conference in Washington, D.C. It was a reminder of the power of in-person conversations to show, not just tell, what this project means to us and our community, and how we can involve as many people in the effort as possible.

Peace Corps Park had a table in the exhibition space, set up with textured granite samples and plaster models of the Park’s three benches to give people a tactile experience to complement the maps and renderings on display. Simply put, we were delighted by the response of the many Returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) and friends of the Peace Corps who came to learn more about the project. It’s clear that so many of us are motivated to join together to establish a permanent commemoration of our values in Washington, D.C.

We were delighted to share our vision for the Park with Dr. Allison Greene, the current CEO of the Peace Corps, and we met leaders from diverse RPCV affiliate groups whose enthusiasm for the project will animate many future conversations about potential partnerships—both for fundraising and for events to be held at Peace Corps Park once built.

We were also particularly inspired and motivated by the more recently returned volunteers we met, who showed just as much passion and support for this lasting symbol to our shared story as those in our community who have been supporting Peace Corps projects for decades. We look forward to working with them, and others, to make Peace Corps Park a reality as soon as possible and thank them for their support!

Verify your listing in our annual report

We are currently preparing the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s 2024 Annual Report, which will list all donors who contributed last year in addition to highlighting other developments and operational details for the period. While we always strive to capture donors’ names accurately, we invite you to check the draft donor list and let us know if you see any issues with how your name is listed! If your name is not on the list and you believe it should be, please let us know by replying to this email.

Click here to review the 2024 donor list.

Fundraising Update

This month, we wanted to check in on the contributions from RPCV groups, so many of which have supported Peace Corps Park with either a group donation or a joint fundraising campaign and made a significant impact on our progress. The multiplying efforts of group campaigns like this will be critical in helping us reach our fundraising targets, and we invite all groups to join us in accelerating our fundraising by contacting Ari Richard at arichard@peacecorpscommemorative.org .

RPCV Group Campaigns

On July 19, Chief Advancement Officer Glenn Blumhorst and Community Outreach Officer Arianna Richard were graciously invited to join the Friends of Togo for their regular business meeting and dinner. We are thrilled to announce Friends of Togo pledged a group gift of $2,000 and celebrate their inclusion among the many RPCV affinity groups that support Peace Corps Park. Thank you Friends of Togo!

We thank all of the RPCV groups who support the Park, and whose combined efforts have raised more than $118,000 so far :

Colombia XIII $25,000

Colombia I $19,233

Friends of Malaysia $17,103

Northern California Peace Corps Association $12,395

Colombia VIII $7,353

Colombia III $7,207

Colombia II $6,250

Friends of Korea $5,000

Guatemala III $4,353

India VIII $2,973

Venezuela UCD II $2,650

Guatemala VII $2,500

Friends of Togo $2,000

RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison $2,000

San Diego Peace Corps Association $1,990

Friends of Nigeria $1,000

RPCVs of South Florida $1,000

Kentucky Peace Corps Association $1,000

Sacramento Valley RPCVs $300

Inland Northwest Peace Corps Association $100

Mountain Laurel RPCVs $100

Tanganyika I & II $100

Charlotte Area Peace Corps Association $50

Nepal XV $50

Individual Donations

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since June 25, 2025:

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$250,000 - $499,999

Jacqueline Badger Mars*

$50,000 - $99,999

Ron Boring*

$5,000 - $9,999

Karim and Lisa Abuhamad

Mary Sue McNeill*

$1,000 - $4,999

Anne R. Cross
Friends of Togo
Carole S. Gates
Patricia and Randall Lewis*
Vivian Morgan-Mendez*
RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison
Deb Stapleton
Ambassador Pamela White
Charles Yonkers

Other gifts to $999

Dan Baker
Janet Barnett
Don Boileau*
John Carter
The Cooley Fanning Family Fund
Bruce Corker*
Thomas Curtin
Mary Donnelly*
John L. Duenes*
Emily Eisenhauer
Charles Feinstein
Jacob Feldman
Friends of Malaysia*
Walter Galloway
Maxine A Gere
Emily Hane
Lee Hougen*
Thomas Kirchberg*
Rose Kyprianou
Warren Lewis*
Ada Jo Mann
Barbara Meyer
Russell Morgan*
Edward Oshiro*
Maureen Reidenbacg*

Allen Roberts*
Veronica Shad
Adrienne Stone
Kathleen Westgard
Carol Leviton Wetterhahn*

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Hoyt Aiken
Linda Bennett
Matthew Baysden
Rick Bird
Anthony Carroll
Craig Cooper
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
G David Hicks
Elizabeth Hinshaw-Osgood
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Linda Kolko
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Nancy Nuechterlein
Bill Piatt
Richard Pyle
Shawn Reagan
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Peter J. Stubben
Mary Lou Weathers
Anna Whitcomb
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Chuck Wolf
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Aug. 23 Washington, D.C.: Friends of Tanzania annual meeting

Aug. 31 Arlington, VA : NoVa Summer Potluck

Sept. 21 Bozeman, MT : Annual RPCV group meeting

Sept. 24-27 Santa Fe, NM : Wine and Chile Festival with Peace Corps Park reception at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art (registration details to follow)

Sept. TBD Chicago, IL: Peace Corps Park reception

Oct. 3-4 Washington, D.C.: Peace Corps Iran conference

Oct. 7 New York City : Peace Corps Park reception

Oct. 8 Boston : Peace Corps Park reception

Oct. 30 Washington, D.C.: Peace Corps Park reception

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

June Newsletter: We are still pioneers

Thu, 26 Jun 2025 20:15:14 GMT

June Newsletter: We are still pioneers

Dear Supporters,

More than 60 years ago today, the very first Peace Corps Volunteers gathered to turn President Kennedy’s bold vision into reality and begin training for deployment to Colombia, Tanganyika (now Tanzania) and Ghana. These trailblazing volunteers had no roadmap to follow, no institutional memory to lean on when things got tough, no host-country partners with experience hosting volunteers before. They were pioneers.

It’s this pioneering spirit that unites all of us in the development community. We go in by ourselves, without the protection of the armed forces behind us. We are chosen for our grit, our adaptability, for our courage to go farther than we have ever gone before, and to find common ground with the people we find there. We share a gift of true understanding that all people are connected, and that our success depends on each other.

It’s this same perspective that has driven the artistic vision of Peace Corps Park, which we are happy to say has taken another step forward with approval of the innovative cane-detection feature conceived by our stellar design team . Described in detail below, it’s the final element of the Park’s design, further reinforcing the theme of the interconnectedness of all people, and we are thrilled with how seamlessly it integrates into the overall design.

This month, we also feature an inspiring message from a former Peace Corps director, underscoring the common goals that all of us in the Peace Corps community share, and the importance of solidarity in telling our story.

This is the reason we are building Peace Corps Park on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., and why we ask everyone in our community to stand up and stand with us: Because it will be not only a national landmark but a global educational resource to help us tell our unique story and inspire future generations.

We are still pioneers, and the work we do has always come down to the motivation that lives in all of us as individuals. Each one of us carries the weight of telling this part of America’s story. So on this anniversary of the moment when JFK’s vision became a reality, we ask you to think about what you can contribute to this lasting symbol of our values.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Design Spotlight: The final details

As an artistic work and public space, Peace Corps Park’s design has to meet practical requirements as well as artistic ones – we’ve talked about this in previous design spotlights on the approach to the textured elements of the world map at the center of the Park (remember the “coefficient of friction”?), and today we share the story behind a small but meaningful refinement of the design to accommodate accessibility requirements.

Whenever a part of a commemorative work like ours is raised or projecting out from its base, there must be a physical reflection of it on the ground below to ensure that vision-impaired visitors using a cane can navigate the space safely. In the case of Peace Corps Park, that affects the elevated parts of the Park’s three granite benches – the hands and fingers – that are raised up off the ground.

The most common way to meet the requirement is to include a raised curb, at least four inches tall, which the Peace Corps Park design team considered in its initial renderings but was never fully satisfied with. They came up with another solution that involved a small metal railing as a more visually appealing way to signal the benches’ footprint, but again found the design lacking.

“We felt it was a trip hazard, and something quite alien to the overall design of the Park,” said our lead designer Larry Kirkland, and so it was back to the drawing board.

This time, Kirkland and team enlisted the help of an expert in meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), who explained the less-obvious shortcoming of that design being that it’s clearly an element put there specifically for the visually impaired, rather than something that accomplishes the goal but with a fully integrated design that looks like it belongs there naturally. “That really lit up a lightbulb for us,” Kirkland said.

Collaborating with the team at Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, they devised a solution that is elegant in its simplicity and powerful in its symbolism: A series of ripples in the granite pavers of the world map at the center of the Park, designed to look like they were caused by the benches themselves hitting the surface of the stones representing the world’s oceans.

“It adds a layer of meaning to the design, in that it implies that those ripples will continue to expand and intersect, which is what the Peace Corps is all about: The intersection of cultures and peoples around the world,” Kirkland said.

With the largest of the ripples meeting the four-inch height required for accessibility, this design was a perfect solution, with stakeholders at the National Park Service and U.S. Commission of Fine Arts giving their enthusiastic approval to integrate this feature into Peace Corps Park’s final design.

While it took numerous iterations, this one element serves as an excellent example of the outsize impact that such small details can have on the overall experience of the Park, and is a testament to our design team’s tireless efforts to ensure that all elements work together to create this powerful and lasting symbol. For Larry Kirkland, that has been the goal from the beginning.

“With this solution, there is now no element in the entire park that isn’t part of the meaning and the message. For me as an artist, that’s really really satisfying,” he said.

Remembering a Peace Corps legend

We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of one of the founders of the Peace Corps, journalist Bill Moyers, who died today in New York. He was 91, and is survived by his wife, three children, six grandchildren, and a great-granddaughter.

Moyers was a foundational force in the creation of the Peace Corps, having been a close aide to Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson when President Kennedy proposed the idea for the program in 1961. He was soon appointed the agency’s first Associate Director for Public Affairs and moved on to serve as Deputy Director in 1962, working directly with Sargent Shriver to design the organizational structure and operations for the new initiative.

He was also closely involved with the planning of Peace Corps Park, and contributed valuable advice in a brainstorming and strategy session convened in 2014 by the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation that included notable historians and journalists like Bill Josephson and David Brinkley.

F. Chapman Taylor joins Advisory Board

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s Advisory Board serves as a champion for Peace Corps Park and a valuable source of strategic insight. Its members provide their professional expertise, diverse knowledge of community perspectives, connections to local, national, and international resources and many other forms of assistance to further our mission. This month, we are honored to welcome F. Chapman Taylor (Samoa 1982-84) to our team. See the full list of Advisory Board members on our website.

Solidarity in the Peace Corps community

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since May 28, 2025 :

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$20,000 - $49,999

Anonymous

$10,000 - $19,999

Kevin F. F. Quigley and Susan Flaherty*

$5,000 - $9,999

John and Jody Sperry*

$1,000 - $4,999

Robert Coffey
Diana Conway
Peter V. Deekle*
Alicia Falsetto and Doug Strauss
James Feaster*
Mary Hudson Kelley
Margo Jeanchild
Charles R. Larson Fund*
Dennis Lucey*
Alexis Rieffel*
Alan Robock
Paul Sack*
Dan Waldman

Other gifts to $999

Yael Abouhalkah
Robert Acker
Clare Adams
Nuzhat Ali
Henry Alviani
Terry Applegate
John Baird*
William Benjamin
Douglas Boren
Susan M. Bracken
Jay Carver
Cincinnati Area RPCVs
James and Joyce De Deo*
Bob Englund
Karis Erwin
Sharen Gendebien*
Martin Gleason*
Goldsmith Family Charitable Fund*
Sarah Grote
Robert Halyburton
Peter Hansen*
Loren Hintz
Michael Hirsh*
William Hollerman
Linda Howat*
Karen Hymbaugh
Kathy Jacquart
Amanda Keiser
Nancy Kish
Eric Kraus*

Richard Levinson
Mark Lopes
Sarah McMeans*
Gary Mitchell*
Paricia Corcoran Molumby*
Ronald Morgan*
William Neale
Anne O'Neill
Robby Robinette
Daniel Sayner
Elizabeth Schutt
Shelly Segall*
Anne Zahorik Shapiro*
Sheldon Starman*
Edith Sternberg
Gregory Strick*
Charles and Nancy Sweetman*
Allen Turner
Paulina Vlasic
Janet Walters
Andrew Wilcox

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Aiken
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Anthony Carroll
Craig Cooper
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
Peter Hofman
Laura Kettel Khan
Linda Kolko
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Cynda McMahon
Marty Mueller
Nancy Nuechterlein
Shawn Reagan
Jessica Rogers
John Sommerhauser
Peter J. Stubben
Anna Whitcomb
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Washington, D.C.: The Cosmos Club

Last week, members of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Board of Directors and Advisory Board convened at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C. to present the vision for Peace Corps Park to existing and prospective donors. It was a successful and elegant event that has already accelerated our fundraising campaign, bringing together distinguished guests to reinforce the importance of this project.

The inspirational program included speeches and stories from former Peace Corps Directors Aaron Williams and Carrie Hessler-Radelet, PCCF President Tony Barclay, and our newest Advisory Board member, Chapman Taylor. Most of our guests stayed well after the program ended to share stories and discuss our strategic approach, and shared feedback on what a positive event it was.

And we want to do more such events in your city! If you or your group are interested in learning the details of our plans for Peace Corps Park and bringing VIP guests together to support the effort, Glenn is happy to come to you. Just reply to this email and let Glenn know if you’d like to arrange a meetup, and chances are he’s already planning a visit to a city near you! Up next:

July 23-25 Oshkosh, WI : Air Adventure
July 26 Michigan Upper Peninsula
July 27 Traverse City, MI
July 28 Chicago, IL

Aug. 31 Arlington, VA : NoVa Summer Potluck

Sept. 24-27 Santa Fe, NM

Oct. 7 New York City : Peace Corps Park reception

Mark you calendar: Wine, chiles, and Peace Corps in Santa Fe

Join fellow Peace Corps community members in Santa Fe, NM for the Wine and Chile Festival , from September 24-27! This vibrant celebration of New Mexico's culinary and cultural traditions offers the perfect opportunity to reconnect with fellow returned volunteers, staff, and friends while exploring the artistic heart of the Southwest. On Thursday, September 25, we're honored that Peace Corps friend, Sandra Zane, will host a special reception at Zane Bennett Contemporary Art in the historic Railyard Arts District, where you'll experience exceptional modern and contemporary masterworks on paper in an intimate gallery setting. Located at 435 S. Guadalupe Street alongside the innovative form & concept art space, this reception will blend Peace Corps fellowship with Santa Fe's renowned arts scene, creating an unforgettable evening of community, culture, and connection amidst the festival's festivities.

Stay tuned for more information on how to register for the event.

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Bob Taft for Peace Corps Park: We are all a part of this legacy

Thu, 12 Jun 2025 01:54:53 GMT

Bob Taft

Governor of Ohio, 1999-2007
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Tanzania, 1963-65

May Newsletter: Inspiring the next generation

Thu, 29 May 2025 22:28:13 GMT

May Newsletter: Inspiring the next generation

Dear Supporters,

It’s graduation season these days, with millions of new graduates at college campuses across the country looking ahead to the world they will inherit, and thinking of what their path through it will look like.

Many of us in the Peace Corps community faced that same question, at that same time, and chose to serve, to partner with people who spoke other languages and lived different lives from us, far away from our homes. We joined a larger community of service, of people who choose partnership over division, cooperation over discord, and who recognize that we are stronger when we work together.

The next generation is stepping into a world full of possibility, looking to make an impact, looking to live with purpose. Looking for inspiration.

Symbols inspire. Symbols like Peace Corps Park – chiseled into granite in our nation’s capital – telling an American story and inspiring others to answer the call to serve.

So please, consider making a recurring gift to multiply your impact on this project , and join our growing list of supporters in planting a flag for peace in Washington, D.C. and paying our own inspiration forward.

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)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Exciting updates to meet an ambitious vision

When the capital campaign for Peace Corps Park began in earnest three years ago, our best estimate of total costs was $10 million, to cover the planning and construction process and fund the Foundation’s operations for the duration of the project. Now, with design approval almost fully secured from the various stakeholders involved, we have a more precise understanding of the Park’s design, the scope of its artwork, landscaping needs, lighting plans, and accommodations for visitors who have vision or mobility impairments.

To turn this vision into reality, the Foundation has engaged JM Zell Partners, Ltd. to manage the project, a real estate consulting firm that has worked on projects including The Phillips Collection , The People’s House: A White House Experience , and the National Museum of Women in the Arts . As project managers, the team at Zell will manage the construction process, and work to ensure that the Foundation’s established project goals and schedule are maintained.

The first step in this process involves a detailed review of projected costs by our internal team, the project management team, and our world-class design team. We will have an update in the coming months that will reflect the campaign target necessary to cover construction planning and completion, the digital companion app, and the endowment fund that allows the National Park Service to maintain Peace Corps Park in perpetuity.

The Park’s updated, comprehensive budget will reflect, among others, the following considerations:

Enhancement of the sculptures through increased size and detailing, and incorporation of modifications from stakeholders at the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and National Park Service.
Increased costs due to inflation and the rising price of materials, labor, and construction services since the design process began in 2018.
Accessibility features , including sensory-friendly elements to ensure that the Park is inclusive of all visitors.
Enhanced project management measures and contingencies to safeguard the Park’s timely completion.
Major events , including groundbreaking and dedication ceremonies, to celebrate this monumental journey.
Digital companion development , such as a visitor app and virtual explorer, which will bring Peace Corps Park to life for visitors in person and online.

Thankfully, contributions from more than 2,300 donors to date have raised a total of $6 million . We are strongly committed to raising the remaining funds as quickly as possible, both to mitigate the effect of potential inflation and to meet the moment when the meaning and message of the Peace Corps Park will be vigorously expressed.

We are immensely grateful for your continued support – either by making a financial contribution or by sharing news about the project with your network – that will help us reach the numerous milestones on the way to groundbreaking within the next 24 months, such as selecting and quarrying the granite, and sculpting of the artwork before it is brought to the Park site.

The next step in this process is already underway, with the design team’s artists beginning to prepare the physical modeling and mockup of the Park’s sculptural elements. We will share our progress in future newsletters, and appreciate this community’s support in keeping the momentum going strong!

Building inspiration with Bob Vila

For many of us, Bob Vila is a household name. Known primarily for his many years on television hosting shows about home improvement, he is also an RPCV who credits his time as a volunteer in Panama (1969-70) as a seminal milestone on the path that would become his life’s work.

You may have seen Bob’s message to our community in our last email, but if not, check out the full post and share the link to one of our most well-known advocates!

Traveling to Washington, D.C. this summer?

If you are planning to visit Washington, D.C. this summer, whether to attend Peace Corps Connect, conduct business, or do some tourism, we invite you to discover the vision for Peace Corps Park in person. Members of the Peace Corps Park team will be available to meet with you and organize a visit to the future site of our landmark initiative, so if you are planning on being in the area, we’d love to connect!

RSVP with this form for details on a hosted site visit this summer.

Peace Corps Park is becoming a reality at a crucial moment when showcasing Peace Corps ideals on our national stage has never been more vital. Join us in honoring and preserving our legacy of cross-cultural understanding and collaborative service that has defined our mission for generations.

Fundraising Update

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since April 28, 2025 :

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$20,000 - $49,999

Scott Francis and Susan Gordon

Scott and Muriel Nichols*

$10,000 - $19,999

Cristina Morgan, in memory of Steve Bergren

$1,000 - $4,999

Dr. E. Jackson Allison and Susan Wilson*
Ed Demerly
Hon. Steven Driehaus
John Fletcher, Jr.*
Dorothy and George Gamble*
Elizabeth Kok
Holly Larner*
Barbara and Bill Oppenheimer*
Nancy Polich*
William Romenius*

Other gifts to $999

Thomas Ainlay
Thomas Appel*
Roderick Baker
Juliana and James Bancroft*
Thomas Bartlett
Terri Bergman*
Herb Blank
Harvey Botzman*
Peter Boynton*
Ellen Braswell*
Eileen Cavan
Donna Chalmers
Mary Christopherson*
Paul Cloyd*
Roxanne Cull
Kathryn Day
Sherry Dean
Jim Doyle
Richard Drobnick
David Edds
Kelly Elko
John Ferrick*
Anne Fitzgerald*
Leslie Fox
Stephen Freeman
Keith and Lois Gallaway
Elizabeth Gray
Pam Greenwood*
Katherine Griggs
Gloria J Haars*
Ted Hochstadt*
James and Zona Hostetler
Pamela Isabel and Larry Hughes
Sally Keddal
Kent Kluth*
Nathan Koble
Lynn M. Koch
Danny Langdon
James and Deborah Lawler

John Leister

Ralph Lueck

Paul Murphy

Stuart Naranch

Roger Olson*

Richard Orem

Sally Orme

Ted Pack

Thorburn Reid*

James Roark

Donald Romero

Mark Rosenberg*

Cliff Sanderlin

Robert Shaw

Mona Sherrell

Philip Smith*

Jennifer Ter Molen

Sherwood Thomas

Jeraldine van den Top*

Jason Michael Walker

Peggy Walton

Dale Weitekamp

Therese Wingate

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Aiken
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick and Karline Bird
Anthony Carroll
Craig Cooper
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
G David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Nancy Nuechterlein
William Piatt
Richard "Dick" Pyle
Shawn Reagan
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Peter J. Stubben
Anna S. Whitcomb
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Chuck Wolf
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Albuquerque: Peace Corps Bolivia reunion

In early May, Peace Corps Bolivia RPCVs and former staff invited Chief Advancement Officer Glenn Blumhorst to share the vision for Peace Corps Park at their reunion in Albuquerque, which featured a wide-ranging group of volunteers that included RPCVs from the very first cohort to serve in 1962 and the very last one, who served until the program’s expulsion in 2008. We thank this dynamic group for their interest in Peace Corps Park and look forward to their support moving forward!

If you or your group are interested in learning the details of our plans for Peace Corps Park, Glenn spends a great deal of his time traveling across the country and back, meeting with stakeholders across all 50 states. He is always happy to share the vision in person, and there’s a good chance he’s already planning to be in your area! Just reply to this email and let Glenn know if you’d like to arrange a meetup. Up next :

June 12-15 Seattle, WA
June 16 Kansas City, MO (KCAPCA cocktail event)
July 23-25 Oshkosh, WI : Air Adventure
July 26 Michigan Upper Peninsula
July 27 Traverse City, MI
July 28 Chicago, IL

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Bob Vila for Peace Corps Park: Not everything we build will last forever, but our values will

Thu, 15 May 2025 16:37:21 GMT

Most people know me from the almost 30 years I’ve spent on television hosting educational shows about home improvement, but what most of them don’t know is that my journey started in the Peace Corps.

When I went to Panama to serve as an urban community development volunteer in 1969, it was my first time working with my hands to help people build shelter. Seeing the impact of that work was transformative, and I’ve dedicated myself and my philanthropic efforts to the cause of homelessness ever since, inspired by the values of community partnership that are at the heart of Peace Corps service.

When I made the decision to serve, I didn’t know a single person in my high school who was interested in the Peace Corps except me. But in Panama–and ever since–I found a community of like-minded people who understand that when we work together, we can build truly meaningful things.

It’s up to us to make sure America never forgets that.

Because it seems that society has shifted, with young people today seeming more preoccupied with the material world and losing sight of the importance of altruistic pursuits, and with people becoming more polarized than ever.

I don’t know how to fix this culture, but I know that the Peace Corps, and its mission, is part of the answer.

Peace Corps Park is a critical commitment to our shared legacy, not only because of its physical role among the monuments and memorials of Washington, D.C., but also because of the digital experience that will tell the story of the Peace Corps to a much wider audience.

That is why I’ve chosen to make a donation , and to support the effort by sharing a bit of my story, because reminding the world about our commitment to peace and partnership is critical at a time when relationships with our allies are being tested every day.

Not everything we build will stand forever, but our values certainly will, and we must make sure that happens. So please join me in supporting Peace Corps Park and help us build this inspiring vision in the heart of our nation’s capital.

Thank you for your support,

Bob Vila

Host, This Old House, 1979-89
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Panama, 1969-70

April Newsletter: A robust, nonpartisan coalition for global peace and partnership

Wed, 30 Apr 2025 02:24:21 GMT

April Newsletter: A robust, nonpartisan coalition for global peace and partnership

Dear Supporters,

In a world that seems increasingly divided, our community stands as living proof that connection across differences isn't just possible—it's transformative. Whether that’s connecting with people in other countries in the Peace Corps or connecting with fellow community members through local organizations, we are united in our belief that we are stronger together .

This belief extends well beyond the 240,000 Americans who have served in the Peace Corps and those who have been impacted by their work. It includes values shared by every AmeriCorps alum who has helped improve the lives of the most vulnerable communities in the country; every USAID and Millennium Challenge Corporation employee who has ensured that lives are saved in the places where other aid efforts don’t always reach; every State Department employee that has dedicated themselves to forging relationships with counterparts across every region of the world; every person who, in ways big or small, freely gives of their time and resources to those who have less opportunity.

We all have in common a commitment to friendship - to helping bridge gaps within and among diverse communities, and to helping forge friendships with the rest of the world.

The coalition we are building is robust, nonpartisan, and committed to our values, and now more than ever I am reminded of how important it is that these values are given a permanent home in the landscape of Washington, D.C. to make them part of our national story for generations to come.

Everyone in this big tent can make a difference, whether it’s through a small donation or a large one, and recurring supporters amplify their impact with a monthly contribution to accelerate our shared path to Peace Corps Park. I thank you all for your contributions.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Donor recognition plan expands

We're excited to share some wonderful news about donor recognition at Peace Corps Park: The National Park Service has approved the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation's request to adjust the recognition threshold for the park's on-site donor plaque to $250,000—significantly lower than the traditional $1 million requirement typically applied to Washington, D.C. memorials and monuments.

This special accommodation recognizes that Peace Corps Park has a more modest budget than many of the capital's larger memorial projects, and helps ensure that its major contributors are a physical part of its story during the up to 10 years that on-site recognition is permitted.

As you may remember from previous updates, the NPS does not allow any permanent recognition of individual names on federal commemorative works (the reason that there will be no engraved bricks acknowledging donors at Peace Corps Park), so we have taken this principle to the digital side with a virtual donor wall on our website .

Every contribution to Peace Corps Park—whether $25 or $250,000—plays a vital role in bringing this meaningful project to fruition, and every single donor will be recognized through our comprehensive appreciation program, which includes:

Permanent listing on our digital donor wall
Recognition in our annual report and monthly newsletters
Invitations to groundbreaking and dedication events
Personalized certificates of appreciation when construction of the Park is complete

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation remains committed to honoring every supporter who helps create this living tribute to all those who share our values of global peace and partnership, and there are many ways to give , so we encourage everyone in our community to join the effort !

Ron Tschetter joins advisory board

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s Advisory Board serves as a champion for Peace Corps Park and a valuable source of strategic insight. Its members provide their professional expertise, diverse knowledge of community perspectives, connections to local, national, and international resources and many other forms of assistance to further our mission. This month, we are honored to welcome former Peace Corps Director Ron Tschetter to our team. See the full list of Advisory Board members on our website .

A bestseller from a Park advisor

Get a head start on your 2025 tax deductions

Many of us who have just filed our 2025 tax returns might have felt that familiar feeling that we could have contributed more to philanthropic causes, and reduced our tax burden as a result. It’s the best return on investment there is, where your money makes double the impact, both on supporting the causes you care about and in saving you money on your taxes.

Get a head start on next year’s returns with a donation to Peace Corps Park! There are many ways to give , and every contribution makes a difference. One option that many supporters have chosen is to direct the annual required minimum distribution from their IRA to the project through a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD), which allows them to support our efforts without having to dip into other current accounts.

See details about this and other ways to give on our website .

Fundraising Update

San Diego meets the moment

In February, the Northern California Peace Corps Association, having raised more than $10,000 in its fundraising campaign for Peace Corps Park, saw an opportunity to amplify its impact by advocating for the Park with their neighbors at the San Diego Peace Corps Association.

The result was a potluck dinner and presentation from our team on the vision for Peace Corps Park, and a unanimous vote for the San Diego PCA to launch a fundraising campaign of its own. The group quickly met its goal of individual contributions to secure a matching contribution from the group, raising almost $2,000 and growing.

We send them our thanks and invite other groups to follow their lead by setting up a partner fundraising campaign (it’s easy!) to

share with your network. Please reach out to Ari Richard at arichard@peacecorpscommemorative.org to discuss details.

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges these fundraising partners and the following donors who have made generous new contributions or pledges since March 26, 2025 :

See our digital donor wall showing all cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park !

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$20,000 - $49,999

Sara and Bill Morgan
Philip Ruppe

$10,000 - $19,999

Thomas L. Birch

Anthony M. Lofaso*

Jack and Angene Wilson*

$5,000 - $9,999

Steven Graham*
Deborah G. Moskovitz*

$1,000 - $4,999

Anderson Family Donor Fund*
Juliana and James Bancroft*
Jane L. and Charles A. Beach*
Thomas Cutler
Ed Demerly
Charles L. and Nancy T. Donahue*
William and Frances Irwin*
Susan Malick*
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Niskanen*
Jerri Rush*
San Diego PCA*

Other gifts to $999

Thomas Appel*
RoseAnn Aronin
Deidre Barnwell
Keith Beck*
Terri Bergman
Sue Boucher
Margaret Byrne
Kyle Carter
Mary Christopherson*
Michael Coulson*
Peter Cross
James and Joyce De Deo*
H. Jesse and Gloria Dubin*
Frederick Eisenbud*
John Evans
Brad Favor
David Foster
Ryan Gladysiewicz
Luigi Guarino
Bryce Hamilton*
Robert Heinrich
Linda Howat
Kevin Kennett
Stephen Kottmeier
Andrea Kruse*
Joseph Lipari
Lawrence Miller
Turalu Brady Murdock
Peter Nerone*
Arthur Orr

Richard Pfau
*John and Eileen Quigley

Beverley Rannow

Catherine Raymond

Ross Royster*

Doris S. Rubenstein*

Michael A. Santarelli

Charles D. Smith

Reuben Snipper

David Snyder*

Victoria Tunba

Helen Wand*

Michael Wanigasekera

Dana Weimar

Karl Whitney

Stephen Wingert

Gail Yates*

Anthony Zola

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Aiken
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick Bird
Anthony Carroll
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
G David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Cynda McMahon
Marty Mueller
Bill Piatt
Richard Pyle
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Peter J. Stubben
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Chuck Wolf
Darrell Young

Where is Glenn?

Chief Advancement Officer Glenn Blumhorst continues to travel the country – sometimes in his own airplane – meeting with Peace Corps community stakeholders across all 50 states. Whether you (or your group) are visiting our nation’s capital or hosting a meeting in your area, he is always happy to share the vision for Peace Corps Park in person and would love to connect. Reply to this email and let Glenn know if you’d like to arrange a meetup! Up next :

May 2-4 Albuquerque, NM : Peace Corps Bolivia Reunion ( More info here )
June 1-4 New York City
June 11-15 Seattle
June 21* Washington, D.C .: Donor Recognition Reception (date to be confirmed)

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

March Newsletter: Updated timeline: The path to Peace Corps Park takes shape

Thu, 27 Mar 2025 18:12:50 GMT

March Newsletter: Updated timeline: The path to Peace Corps Park takes shape

A stone block being shaped for the Emanuel 9 Memorial in South Carolina, at the Quarra Stone Company

Dear Supporters,

The journey to build Peace Corps Park has been a long and–dare I say–arduous process, but with design approval secured late last year, we are thrilled to find ourselves moving on to the fun part: Preparing to actually build this lasting symbol of our shared values in Washington, D.C.

Our stellar design team , under the leadership of Larry Kirkland and Associates and Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, has been hard at work planning the execution of this ambitious legacy project ever since we got the green light in October, negotiating with our project management team to ensure the Park can efficiently be realized to the highest standard.

The key takeaway to this moment is this: Peace Corps Park is no longer just an idea , no longer just a design or a concept on a piece of drafting paper. There is real stone to cut, actual inscriptions to carve , granite to texture for the world map , trees to plant . We are now able to start the actual work, fabricating the stone benches and pavers to be ready for groundbreaking at the Park’s site on Louisiana Ave., a stone’s throw from the U.S. Capitol building and the National Mall.

This moment also represents a new phase of our fundraising : With money being spent to begin the off-site work that will bring the design vision to life, it’s essential that we ramp up our capital campaign to ensure that no disruptions to the timeline are caused by a lack of resources.

The generosity of this community – including the leadership of our board, the partnership of RPCV groups, and the leading gifts we received in 2024 from Jacqueline Mars and Ces Butner – has advanced us almost halfway to our revised goal, and we know that it can get us to the finish line.

With regulatory and design requirements largely satisfied, we ask everyone in our community, as well as the people in your network who share our values of peace and global partnership, to do everything you can to help make Peace Corps Park a reality. Whether through a generous donation of your own , or by amplifying our messages with your networks over email or social media, every one of us can do our part to ensure that the Peace Corps legacy occupies a permanent place in our nation’s story, carved into stone to inspire future generations.

We appreciate your continued support, and are honored to have your partnership.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Increasing clarity on the path to Peace Corps Park

It was September 2020 that the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts first approved the design concept for Peace Corps Park, setting off a four-year process of refinement with various agencies and partners that culminated in final design approval in October 2024.

Securing that final approval means that we are now in the construction planning process, getting everything aligned and ramping up our fundraising efforts to put chisel to stone and build our way to groundbreaking.

This phase is providing us with a more precise understanding of the costs for artwork fabrication, site construction and landscaping, and we will be revising our fundraising goal accordingly to ensure the park meets the highest standards and fulfills its ambitious promise.

As part of the process, our team is also establishing a clearer timeline for Peace Corps Park, to anticipate what financial targets will have to be met to keep up with the outlays needed for all of the off-site fabrication that needs to be completed before breaking ground in 2026. Some key milestones on the road ahead:

Final construction documents
Bench and stone mockups
Specific granite selection
Stone fabrication
Hard construction begins
Completion and dedication
Commissioning

This timeline reflects our commitment to deliver a thoughtfully designed and meticulously crafted park experience, and we will continue to share our progress with you as the physical work proceeds alongside our fundraising campaign.

We are encouraged to have raised almost $6 million so far thanks to the generosity of this dedicated community, and as we enter this next phase of the process, we invite you to continue making an impact on this extraordinary endeavor . Together, we are shaping a lasting space that honors the profound legacy of the Peace Corps in our nation’s capital.

New exhibit puts Peace Corps on display

Our partners at the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience celebrated the opening of a new exhibit hosted at the International Peace Museum in Dayton, Ohio last month. Ubuntu in Action: Exploring the Peace Corps and Shared Humanity features artifacts, photographs, videos, and interactive exhibits representing the many facets of Peace Corps life.

The centerpiece of the collection, Patchwork of Peace (1990), is a nearly 30-foot-long community quilt made from individual panels that narrate a volunteer’s experience with fabrics and messages from around the world. The massive work is a living tapestry of collective memory and cultural expression, and a powerful embodiment of social cohesion that has resonated loudly with the exhibit’s visitors.

The Museum team marked the opening with an event on January 31 and are excited to receive anyone in the Dayton area throughout the duration of the show, which is scheduled to run until April 27 .

Carol Spahn joins advisory board

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s Advisory Board serves as a champion for Peace Corps Park and a valuable source of strategic insight. Members provide their professional expertise, diverse knowledge of community perspectives, connections to local, national, and international resources and many other forms of assistance. This month, we are honored to welcome former Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn to our team. See the full list of Advisory Board members on our website.

New website, same mission

Today we are happy to announce an updated website on a new platform that will better support our fundraising efforts, so you’ll see some changes the next time you visit us at peacecorpscommemorative.org .

We’ve made our Supporters page easier to navigate and find all donors by name, as well as donations made in tribute. We will honor every donor on our virtual donor wall, with their name etched in digital stone in perpetuity, their contributions a permanent part of the Peace Corps Park story.

We’ve included more information about the Park’s design story , and built our newsletter archive back to the first edition, capturing the evolution of our project since the capital campaign began in earnest.

Help us amplify our impact by forwarding our emails to your network, or sharing a link to the new site and encouraging them to join us!

Fundraising Update

As the Peace Corps Park fundraising campaign approaches the $6 million mark, we gratefully acknowledge the following donors who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since February 26, 2025 .

See our growing list of cumulative gifts to Peace Corps Park

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$50,000 - $99,999

Eleanor R. Lewis in memory of Roger K. Lewis*

Maureen Orth*

$20,000 - $49,999

D. Wylie and Janet Greig*
Matthews Family Charitable Fund
Bob Vila

$10,000 - $19,999

George and Carol Chaffey

$5,000 - $9,999

Randolph Adams
G. Kenneth and Ann Baum
Philanthropic Fund
Tom Bloch and Jessica Wolfe
Karen Keefer*
Ruth O. Selig, William O. Selig and
Deborah O. Selig in memory of
Roger K. Lewis
Robert and Judith Terry*

$1,000 - $4,999

Donald and Kae Dakin
Katherine (Kay) and Kevin Dixon*
Friends of Malaysia*
Edmond and Peggy Kavounas
Tim Lawler

Other gifts to $999

Anonymous
Barry S. Adamson*
Sierra Anderson
Skip Auld
Arlene Barilec
Kevin Cavanaugh*
Charities Aid Foundation of America*
Peter Cross
David and Audrey Fielding
Tim Frahme
Betty Gerner
Patrick Grecco
Jacqueline Hayes
Pete Helgren
Cindy Holcomb
Linda Howell Gray
Rita Hurley-Chiles
Carolyn Jacobyu
Ever Loved Inc.*
Taylor Kay
Rosemary KimBal
Louise Krumm
Michele Lagoy*
Russell Lawrence
Marlene Martin
Nancy McLure
Lawrence Miller
Mink-Ling Family Charitable Fund
Joyce Mary Moses
Paul Mullins
Alex Orland
Adrian Paul
PayPal Giving Fund*
Lynda Phillipp
Vernon Phillips
John and Eileen Quigley
Daniel Schall
William Selig
Laura Sofen
Daniel Sperling
Don Spiers
Floyd Thompson
Linda Vene

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Aiken
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick Bird
Anthony Carroll
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Luis Garzon-Negreiros
G David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Roni Lerner Love
Phil Lopes
Deborah Manget
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Bill Piatt
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

Where is Glenn?

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

February Newsletter: Now is the time to show our strength in unity

Fri, 28 Feb 2025 03:17:25 GMT

February Newsletter: Now is the time to show our strength in unity

Dear Supporters,

One thing I have always appreciated about the Peace Corps community is how the values that unite us go deeper than any that could divide us. President John F. Kennedy referred to “our great common cause” of solidarity and global partnership as the path to world peace, and the Peace Corps was an embodiment of that vision.

Today, our nation’s longtime commitment to that common cause is being severely tested, and our individual and collective challenge as a community is to strengthen our dedication to promoting peace and improving the human condition for people everywhere.

Peace Corps Park represents a cornerstone of this commitment, and we are resolute in our efforts to enshrine our shared values of service and partnership into the bedrock of our nation’s capital.

Everyone who contributes to the Park is investing in a project that represents the best of America, one that symbolizes the ideals and values of Peace Corps service: That we are stronger when we work together, and that it’s better to be friends than enemies. It represents an historic past – JFK’s bold vision for a nation under threat – and a hopeful future. We are writing the story of our nation in Washington, D.C., and building a legacy to inspire future generations to serve.

The time is now to build this lasting symbol of hope and solidarity, and we invite you to join our community of supporters , whose generosity has helped us achieve all of our design and planning milestones so far. Every contribution makes a difference, and I can’t think of a better community of difference-makers to partner with in this important project.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

An audience with Peace Corps’ new CEO

New exhibit puts Peace Corps on display

The Museum team marked the opening with an event on January 31 and are excited to receive anyone in the Dayton area throughout the duration of the show, which is scheduled to run until April 27 .

Senator Chris Dodd joins advisory board

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s Advisory Board serves as a champion for Peace Corps Park and a valuable source of strategic insight. Members provide their professional expertise, diverse knowledge of community perspectives, connections to local, national, and international resources and many other forms of assistance. This month, we are honored to welcome Senator Chris Dodd to our team. See the full list of Advisory Board members on our website.

Fundraising Update

With contributions from diverse supporters connected to the Peace Corps community, we are inspired by the coalition of support that this project has mobilized so far. This month we highlight both the group and individual donations that continue to propel this campaign, and invite everyone in our audience – and the friends and family you mobilize on our behalf – to join us in accelerating our fundraising and bring us ever closer to breaking ground.

RPCV Group Campaigns

At the center of our effort to build this lasting symbol of Peace Corps values is the generous and passionate community of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers that are making it possible. We have said that this project is of and by the many people who have been directly touched by the Peace Corps experience, and organized RPCV groups continue to rise to the challenge to give Peace Corps Park a true foundation of grassroots support.

The Foundation is happy to welcome both the San Diego Peace Corps Association and Friends of Malaysia to the list of RPCV groups supporting Peace Corps Park in Washington, D.C. with dedicated fundraising campaigns, and we thank all of the RPCV groups whose combined efforts have raised more than $75,000 so far:

Colombia I $18,233

Northern California Peace Corps Association $12,057

Colombia VIII $7,353

Friends of Malaysia $7,185

Colombia II $6,250

Colombia XIII $5,000

Friends of Korea $5,000

Guatemala III $4,250

Colombia III $3,603

India VIII $2,973

Guatemala VII $2,500

Venezuela UCD II $2,475

Friends of Nigeria $1,000

RPCVs of South Florida $1,000

Kentucky Peace Corps Association $1,000

Sacramento Valley RPCVs $300

Inland Northwest Peace Corps Association $100

Tanganyika I & II $75

Charlotte Area Peace Corps Association $50

If your group would like to partner on a fundraising campaign, or to support Peace Corps Park in any other way, connect with Ari Richard at arichard@peacecorpscommemorative.org to discuss further.

Individual Donations

We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions or pledges since January 26, 2025 :

See our growing list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

* New gift in addition to prior gift

$50,000 - $99,999

Eleanor R. Lewis in memory of Roger K. Lewis*

$20,000 - $49,999

John Hoffman*

$10,000 - $19,999

Angene H. and Jack A. Wilson*

$5,000 - $9,999

Randolph Anthony Adams

$2,500 - $4,999

Kay and Kevin Dixon

$1,000 - $2,499

John and Jennifer Bost*
Tom and Marylu Gouttierre
Christine Hadsel
Klaus Heimburg
Charles Hirschman
Renice Jones
Nanette and David Magnani*
Patricia Matisz Smith
Robert A. Taft

Other gifts to $999

America’s Charities*
Carol Belanger
Harvey Botzman
Dona Boyce-Manoukian
Bill Britt
Rhoda K. Brooks
Michael Bruinooge
Julie Castillo
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Anne Arnold Dachs
Tom DeFayette
James DeHarpporte
John Dixon
Richard Drum
Catherine Fox
James Freeman*
Kay Frishman
Brian Gray
Michael Hayes*
Ann Hopkins
Rita Hurley-Chiles
Thomas Kajer
Mary Klein
Elizabeth Kok
Holly Larner
Barbara Lester
Frances Li
Anthony Lofaso

Nicholi Maillard
Jack McCord
Ken Millett
David Motoki
Paul Murphy
Donella Novak
PayPal Giving Fund
Dan Peed
Michael Pinkston*
Eric Prosnier
Kara Lynn Rankin
Janet Bente Romero
Betty Anne Scalise
Nancy Slade
Mallory Smith
Frances Smithwaite
Joan Swetz
Doris Vincent
Patricia Waak*
James Warren
Charles Wolf
James Wolter
Deborah Zavracky

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Aiken
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick and Karline Bird
Anthony Carroll
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
G David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Bill Piatt
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Penny Taylor
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

Where is Glenn?

Chief Advancement Officer Glenn Blumhorst continues to travel the country meeting with Peace Corps community stakeholders across all 50 states. Whether you or your group is visiting our nation’s capital or hosting a meeting in your area, he is always happy to share our vision for Peace Corps Park in person, and would love to connect with you. Reply to this email and let Glenn know if you’d like to arrange a meetup! Up next :

Feb 28 Palm Beach, FL : RPCV Luncheon
Mar 2 Miami, FL : South Florida RPCV Dinner
Mar 8-11 Northern California
Mar 12-17 Southern California
Apr 11* Washington, D.C. : Cherry Blossom Donor Recognition Reception (date to be confirmed)
May 2-4 Albuquerque, NM : Bolivia All Staff and Volunteer Reunion ( More info here )

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

January Newsletter: Our values need champions, and your voice matters

Tue, 28 Jan 2025 01:04:33 GMT

January Newsletter: Our values need champions, and your voice matters

Dear Supporters,

I have long said that Peace Corps Park is an initiative of and by this passionate community of returned volunteers – and all those who believe in the values of international peace and partnership. With our recent end-of-year fundraising campaign, which raised more than $700,000 to help us tell our story in Washington, D.C., we are reminded of the passion of this community and express our sincere gratitude for the support we have received, big and small, from our diverse group of contributors.

Two of the most important ways we evaluate our fundraising are by looking at how many new donors we are attracting, and how many existing donors are being motivated to give again. Of the almost 400 people who made contributions to Peace Corps Park since Giving Tuesday, more than a third were repeat donors, meaning we are both attracting new support and motivating our existing donors to increase their impact. As we enter the second half of the fundraising effort, we are more inspired than ever by the growing number of supporters working together to make Peace Corps Park a reality.

We have heard from so many of you how meaningful it was to hear the messages from our end-of-year campaign advocates about their belief in the importance of Peace Corps Park, and their reasons for supporting the project. We are honored to have such distinguished voices advocating for the Park, including champions for the Peace Corps in Congress, an influential director of the Peace Corps, and an international diplomat who was inspired as a child by the Peace Corps Volunteers who were assigned to his hometown.

At a time when many of us share concerns about America’s commitment to longstanding global partnerships, it’s critical that we use our voices to help more people understand the positive impact that programs like the Peace Corps have on building allies and partners in every region of the world.

An inspiring quote from a recent op-ed in the Washington Post resonates especially loudly in describing the importance of the symbols that stand on the National Mall, a backdrop of presidential inaugurations and speeches that have defined our country for generations.

“Things change over time. Stories, even national myths, get updates as new champions emerge from different groups. Often unwelcomed, their contributions long underappreciated, these people became sources of national greatness nonetheless, earning their places in America’s story and their spots in its pantheon.”

Thank you for your support, in whatever way you are able to provide it, in making the values of the Peace Corps part of America’s story.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Peace Corps Park advocates lend their voices

Peace Corps Park’s end-of-year campaign included testimonials from four key supporters who lent their voices, names and support to our effort to build this lasting symbol of our shared values in Washington, D.C. Their motivations speak to the importance of this project, and inspire all of us with their dedication and leadership. In case you missed them, read their appeals (and all of our archives) in the news section of our website .

Steve Fischman makes a generous donation

Like many supporters of Peace Corps Park, Steve Fischman was thinking about the future when he chose to make a generous donation of $250,000 to build this symbol of our shared values in Washington, D.C.

Based in Boston, his real estate projects have spanned the country, leaving an impact in bricks and mortar. He is particularly motivated to see Peace Corps Park become a reality in such an important location in sight of the U.S. Capitol.

“To be there standing among the other memorials shows how important the Peace Corps is,” he said. “It hopefully will get the world to notice and to think about what a great opportunity this is, was, and could still be.”

Please join us in thanking Steve for his support.

Storytelling that makes a difference

Storytelling has always been an important part of the Peace Corps’ “Third Goal” to help Americans better understand other cultures and peoples, and it will be a central component of the educational role of Peace Corps Park, helping both digital and in-person visitors get a broad picture of how volunteer service makes a better world. This month we highlight a few storytelling initiatives that support this mission.

Fundraising Update: $700,000 closer to our goal

We have been so inspired by the generosity from this community, with 397 contributors giving more than $700,000 to the Park’s year-end fundraising campaign. We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since November 26, 2024 :

See our growing list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

$250,000 - $499,999

Steve Fischman*

$100,000 - $249,999

Kevin F.F. Quigley and Susan L.Q. Flaherty

$50,000 - $99,999

Robert Y. Olsen

$20,000 - $49,999

Robert Crooks*
John Hoffman*
Ken and Lucy Lehman
Chris and Kathleen Matthews
JM Zell Partners Ltd*

$10,000 - $19,999

Albert H. "Tony" Barclay*
George and Carol Chaffey
Jacqueline Denning
Franklin R. Innes*
Eric Melby and Pamela Tripp-Melby
Josephine K. "Jody" Olsen*

$5,000 - $9,999

Donna M. Anderson*
Glenn and Cathy Blumhorst*
Judy Greenspon*
Susan Corcoran Hayes*
Margaret Riley*
Christopher J. Siegler*
Cecilia M. Stratford*
Robert Terry and Judith Whitney-Terry*
Mal Warwick*

$2,500 - $4,999

India VII RPCVs
Priscilla Goldfarb*
Marjorie Maritzen
William Morrow
Carrie Hessler-Radelet*
Sarah Wells*
Aaron Williams*

$1,000 - $2,499

James and Juliana Bancroft
Charles and Martha Clifford*
Gail Coburn
Merrie Henshaw Corbett
Geri Critchley*
Jay Davidson*
Rosalyn P. Doggett*
Elliott Fiedler
Bonnie S. Gottlieb*
Lyle Harding*
Ray C. Haselby
Charles Hobbie
Sarah Connolly Jordan
Barbara A. Kelly*
Christopher and Claudine Klose
Sam Lawson and Laurel Mayer*
Nancy Maier
Anthony Michael Marzolla*
Michael and Hannah Mazer
Raymond and Judith McGuire*
Carolyn A. Mulford
Matthew Niskanen*
Jonathan Eric Pearson
Mary Pendleton*
Patty Reed
Alexis Rieffel*
Richard M. Roderick*
Anne Lawrence and Paul Roose
Jerri Rush*
Michael Sears
Douglas & Margaret Sheldon
Maricarmen Smith-Martinez
Genevieve Wangsness
Arnee Blauer Winshall
Steven Wolf*

Other gifts to $999

Annette Acosta
Joe Adair*
Mary Ahrens
Alice Alexander*
Martha Allshouse Hull
America's Charities
Donald Anderson
Jean Ansell
Thomas Appel*
Mary Jo Arnoldi*
William David Austin
David Ayres
Robert Bach
Baitz Family
Leigh Baker
Mary Alice Ball*
James Barborak*
Katherine Barotti
Frederick Barton
Bette Bass*
Carrie Bassett
Sondra and William Bechhoefer*
Leo Bellantoni
Nancy Bennett
R. Scott Berg
Jon Berg
Blackbaud Giving Fund*
David Blackstun
Amy Blackwell
Wade Blackwood
Lonna Bloom
William Booth
Anna and Parker Borg
Andrew Bosco
Nathaniel Bowditch
Fran Bowman
Kathleen Brandes
Nick Bubnovich
Ann Buessing Johnston
Martin G. Burns
Jim Caffrey*
Daniel Cahill
Benny and Carol Cespedes*
Charities Aid Foundation*
Lori Christenson
Mary Christopherson*
Donna D. Clarke
Paul Clifford
Paul Cloyd
William Combs*
Jaime Comella
Paul Converse*
Jennifer Cook
Nancy Corn
Patrick Corrigan
Michael Coulson
Brent Cromley
Stephen Culp
Dawn Daniels and Mark Miller
Leita Davis
James De Deo
Robert Denniston*
Mary DeWitt-Dia
Margaret Dickenson
Kerry Dinneen*
Cathleen Disney
Jerry Doll
Hallie Mitchell Dow
Mary Dowling
Richard Drobnick
Jan Droegkamp
Helene Dudley*
Bruce Edwards*
Frederick Eisenbud
Mari Ennis-Applegate
Thea Evensen*
Jim Feaster*
Thomas Fisher
Anne Fitzgerald
Allen Fleming
Kenneth E. Flies*
Roger Follas
James Freeman
Melissa Frisk
John E. Frost*
Elizabeth Fuhrman
Bill Gallagher*
Dorothy and George Gamble
Cathleen Garman
Christine Gavitt*
John and Ellen Geiger
Sharen Gendebien*
Matthew Gerhardt*
Bret Gifford
Lorraine Gill
Ted Goble
Donald Gogniat
Deanna G. Goldstein
Gloria J. Haars
Andrew Haering
Don Haffner
Christine Hagerbaumer
John Hale
R. Diane Hall*
Bryce Hamilton*
Hammig/Shipley Fund
Thomas Marvin Hancock
Connie Hankins
Peter Hansen
James Hanson
Christopher Haragan*
Charmaine Harkins
Kathleen Harnig*
Erika Harris*
Michael Hayes
Zeida Heavener
Harvey Helfand
Matt Henderson and Barb Bessette-Henderson
David Hennekes
Thomas Hesketh
Donald Hesse
Michael Heyn
Donald Hodgen*
Rebecca Z Hoff
Ruth Hoffman
Anne Holic
Priscilla Hoobler
John Hooper
Arthur Horowitz
Paul Ingle

Dee and Kay Jacobs
John Jacobs
Janice Jedkins
Allen Jokinen
Kathleen Jones
Gregory Junge
Carolyn Kari*
Paula Keady
Terry Keir
Madeline Kellner
John Kelly*
Sonya Kibler
Sarah Kinder
Kris Klein Pfaff
Kent Kluth
Lawrence Knowles
William A. Kolbe
Helen Kott
Marcia Krasnow
Teresa Kuklinski
Karen Larson*
Leonardo Lazaro Alonso
Gail LeBow*
Timothy E. Leifer
Marvin LeRoy*
Ronald Levesque
Sarah Levin
Mark Levine
Victoria Littlejohn
Henry Loeser
Carroll Long
Glenn Love
Peter Lowenthal
Brendan Lupetin
John Macchi
Mary Dana Marks
Elizabeth Mathewson
Diane McCormack
Stephen McCutchan*
Elaine A. McDermott*
Janis McGlone*
Therese M. McWhinney
Barbara Meyer*
Nancy and L. John Meyers
David Miller
MaryAnn Minutillo
Gary Mitchell
Harvr Mogul
Julie Montgomery and Todd Sheffield
Katherine Montgomery*
Ann Moore*
Nancy Morrissey
Dick Morten
Wesley Mukoyama*
Joel Mullen
Ronald Munia
Frances Mys
Suzanne Nilsen*
Nancy J. Nusz
Roberta Nutt
Timothy O'Brien
Ann O'Malley
Noreen O'Meara
Bud and Sue Oliveira*
Edward Oshiro
PayPal Giving Fund*
Jon Perry
Becky Peters
Richard Pfau
Ann Pfingsten*
Margaret Pollack
Robert Postle
Thomas Potter*
Laura Potts-Wirht
Primerica
David Purcell
Richard "Dick" Pyle
Andrew Quinn
Michael Rainey
Russell and Mary Ramirez
Stephen and Sandra Randels
William Reese
Nancy Rich*
Arianna Richard*
Theresa Ring
Allen Roberts
Bob Roberts
Alan Robinson
Richard M. Roderick*
Bill Roelofs*
Peter and Matina Ross
Vicky Rosser
Steve Rothe
Ross Royster
Beth Russell
Kelly Russell
Barbara Ruys
Antonio and Michele Sacconaghi*
William Sachs
Theres Salus*
Joseph Schoder*
Eleanor Schofield
Karen Schwarzwalder and Dave Ferguson
Shelly Segall*
Alexander Shakow*
Maureen Shanley
Frances Shapiro-Skrobe
Richard Shaver
Kathryn Shaw-Gardner*
Richard Sidy
Paul Sigala
Tom Sinclair*
Duane and Janet Smith
Judith A. Smith*
Mike Smith*
Philip Smith*
Robert Smythe*
Harvey Somers
Dennis Sommer
Dorothy Soper*
Sallie Sperling
Daniel Sprague
Sheldon Starman
Maurice Sterns
Ben F. Stetson
Sheri Stonier-Montoya*
Barbara Stout
Erik Streed
Gregory Strick*
Peter Stubben*
Donna Sumption
Allan and Bonnie Sweet*
Charles and Nancy Sweetman
Christopher Szecsey*
Nancy Talbott
Joby Taylor*
D. Theiler
Michael Thomas
Shirley Thompson
Kay Thompson
Paul Thompson
Pat Toalson
Marie and Nathalie Torrens
Michele Tsuchiya
Gabriel F. Tucker
Victoria Tunba*
Richard and Julette Uebner
Jeraldine van den Top
Mattie Vega
Tom Vernon
Thea Vierling
Julie Walstra
Robert Waltermire*
Theodore Walters
Helen Wand*
Charles and Betsy Warner
Mary Lou Weathers
Rita Weil
David Weiss*
Dana Wekerle
John Wenderoth
Mary Ann Wertenberger-Hart
Conrad Wesselhoeft
Carol and Ralph Wetterhahn
Leslie Wexler*
Anna Whitcomb*
Martha Whitman and Larry Frankel
Jerry Withers
Susan Wolfson
Jennifer Woltz
Christopher Wolz*
Diane Wood
Joe Yanci
Elaine Yastishock
Gail Yates*
Alan Yount
Fortune Zuckerman

* New gift in addition to prior gift

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Sue Aiken
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick and Karline Bird
Anthony Carroll
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes

Greg Emerson

John Feighery
G. David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Roni Lerner Love
Phil Lopes
Deborah Manget
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Bill Piatt
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Penny Taylor
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn

Connect with us in person

If you are in the Dayton, Ohio area, I’d love to see you at the opening of the new exhibit from our friends at the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience, Ubuntu in Action , on January 31 at the International Peace Museum.

Of course, I am always happy to share our vision for Peace Corps Park in person with your group, so please reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup and I’ll do my best to work it into my schedule!

Coming up next:

Jan 30-31: Ohio
Feb 27-28: South Florida
Mar 8-11: Northern California
Mar 11-15: Southern California

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Joe Kennedy III for Peace Corps Park: Peace Corps Park is about our identity as a nation

Mon, 30 Dec 2024 00:36:19 GMT

Dear Supporters,

When I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in the Dominican Republic, trying to keep as low a profile as a six-foot tall red-headed American guy can, I remember a moment on a crowded bus when I felt a tap on my shoulder. A local man asked me, “are you from the Peace Corps?”, and told me that as a boy, his village didn’t have water until a Peace Corps Volunteer helped install a clean water system. He had never gotten the chance to thank that young man.

As one of the more than 240,000 returned Peace Corps Volunteers who have served in over 142 countries around the globe in the past six decades, being part of this group is, and will always be, the proudest line on my résumé.

President Kennedy saw a nation that was the best version of itself—a place that found power not only in strength, but in justice and in decency. And the impacts of Peace Corps Volunteers resonate especially loudly at this moment in time, when once again we are engaged in a battle for the identity of our country.

That is the opportunity that Peace Corps Park gives us: To inspire people with the idea behind a bold civic experiment—one about more than just security or diplomacy, but about our character as a nation.

So, let’s be the country that gave the world the Peace Corps . A country that refuses to set anything less than a high-water mark for human rights. A country that sees dignity in diversity, one that keeps its promises. A country that is not just great but truly good.

Thank you for your support and partnership,

Joe Kennedy

Board Director, Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation
U.S. Representative (Mass. 4th District, 2013-2021)
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Dominican Republic (2004-06)

Kul Chandra Gautam for Peace Corps Park: Support the mission of peace and solidarity in Washington D.C. and the world

Mon, 23 Dec 2024 00:21:16 GMT

Dear Supporters,

I write to you today as one of the thousands of Nepalis–and perhaps millions of people around the world–whose lives have been touched and transformed by their association with the Peace Corps.

I am in the last phase of my life now, after a successful career and fulfilling life devoted to serving humanity. I do not need or seek any more personal awards, rewards or glory now.

But I do cherish a hope – a dream really – that we can turn this wonderful program and the community of people it represents into an inspiration for people around the world to dedicate themselves to helping those in need no matter where they are.

Please help the Peace Corps Foundation make this dream a reality.

Kul Chandra Gautam

Assistant Secretary-General of the United Nations (2000–2007)
Deputy Director, UNICEF (2000–2007)

Hon. Carrie Hessler-Radelet for Peace Corps Park: America needs Peace Corps Park, now more than ever

Tue, 17 Dec 2024 21:14:17 GMT

Dear Supporters,

From my experience as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Samoa to my term as director of the Peace Corps, I have seen how lives are changed by people working together, through service, to further the cause of peace. That service is an important part of our nation's legacy.

Americans have always stood for democracy, justice, equality, and service. The belief that what unites us is so much greater than that which divides us. The knowledge that, through service, we can create a better world together. These are the values that continue to draw people to our shores and reflect the best of America.

Peace Corps Park is a space where stories of service will come alive—a place where we will celebrate the uniquely American spirit of Peace Corps dedicated to fostering understanding and building bridges of peace. It is a place where anyone, regardless of culture, race, faith, ethnicity, or background, can reflect upon the idea that we are all part of one human family.

Peace Corps Park is more than a place on the map. It is a living, breathing testament to America’s compassion and perseverance in service of humanity. Please join me in ensuring that this symbol of the American idea becomes a reality, with a donation that will ensure future generations are inspired by the ideas that inspire us.

Your generosity is not just an investment in a park; it is an investment in hope and the idea that, even in times of division, we can find common ground. That even when challenges feel insurmountable, we can persevere. That together, through compassion and action, we can create a world that reflects the very best of who we are.

Many thanks for your support, and for your faith in the power of peace through service. Let’s work together to make our vision a reality.

With warm regards,

Carrie Hessler-Radelet

Board Director, Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation
Director, Peace Corps (2014-17)
Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Samoa (1981-84)

Hon. Sam Farr for Peace Corps Park: Let’s give peace a permanent space in Washington, D.C.

Tue, 10 Dec 2024 21:08:42 GMT

Dear Supporters,

When I was in Congress, they called me “Mr. Peace Corps” for my consistent advocacy on behalf of the agency that inspired me to 44 years of service in elected office.

My two years in a poor barrio in Medellin, Colombia taught me how to listen to the needs of the people living around me to find real solutions to the problems felt by people in poverty everywhere. I learned that if someone has a safe place to sleep, access to education, and quality health care, then they have a chance in this world, and that philosophy has animated my lifelong commitment to service here in the U.S.

The Peace Corps is a powerful idea that remains as bold as it was almost 65 years ago, and that boldness deserves a place among the monuments and memorials that decorate the landscape in Washington, D.C. Like me, tens of thousands of Peace Corps Volunteers learned how to hear, from listening in a foreign language and observing, from a place of total immersion, how to fix things abroad that also needed fixing back home. Our nation is stronger for it.

Peace Corps Park is a ray of sunshine in a divided world, representing our belief that idealism gets results. Please join us in ensuring the Park becomes a reality at a time when we need to advocate loudly for our values . “Yes we can!”

John F. Kennedy believed that telling the Peace Corps story back home was a lifetime commitment. I’m sure if he were alive now he’d still be saying, “Ask not what Peace Corps Park can do for you, but what you can do for the Park”.

We are asking our community of supporters to help us raise the remaining amount needed to put shovels in the ground and to be part of the team that made this permanent symbol of peace and partnership in our nation’s capital a reality.

Thank you. Give peace a chance.

Sam Farr
Peace Corps Colombia (1964-66)
U.S. Congress, D-Carmel, Calif. (1993-2017)

Invest in the future with Peace Corps Park on Giving Tuesday

Tue, 03 Dec 2024 23:37:05 GMT

Invest in the future with Peace Corps Park on Giving Tuesday

Dear Supporters,

Every year, the season of thanks encourages us to reflect on the things we are grateful for, but also to think about the future and the world we want to see. For Peace Corps Park, we are so grateful for the achievements of the past year–both in inspiring major donors like Jacqueline Mars and Ces Butner and in securing design approval from the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts–and profoundly excited about the future. With more than $5 million already raised, the only real hurdle in this journey toward groundbreaking is raising the remaining funds for this meaningful project.

On this Giving Tuesday, we invite everyone to make Peace Corps Park a central part of your giving plans with a tax deductible donation . There are many ways to give , and all of them will help bring Peace Corps Park to life in our nation’s capital. Most of all, your generosity will help us match Ces Butner's $500,000 gift before the end of the year and show how this community can rise to meet his challenge.

At its most impactful, your charitable giving is an investment in the future: A way of saying “the world would be a better place if more people lived these values.” And while Peace Corps Park will commemorate the bold vision that JFK laid out when creating the Peace Corps almost 65 years ago, our mission is decidedly forward-looking. We believe the world is a better place when people from different walks of life partner with each other in service of a shared future, and that creating a permanent beacon to these ideals in our nation’s capital is a critical part of telling America’s story to the more than 25 million people who visit the National Mall every year.

But supporting Peace Corps Park means more than just helping to build a physical space in Washington, D.C.: The Park’s digital companion app will reach millions more, serving as virtual guide, docent, and teacher to visitors from around the world. By sharing the Peace Corps experiences of volunteers and their local partners, the Park will advocate loudly for the benefits of service and inspire people to live these values every day.

So we ask you to give in gratitude for what you got from your Peace Corps experience. Give for those future generations who will shape the next 65 years of the American experiment, and to ensure that our story is told for years to come. Join us and all of those in this community who have already given, and whose names will be etched in history as supporters of a project that will live on long after we do.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

November Newsletter: Announcing a major gift in this season of thanks

Tue, 26 Nov 2024 23:25:50 GMT

November Newsletter: Announcing a major gift in this season of thanks

Dear Supporters,

From the very beginning of this community’s effort to build Peace Corps Park, it has been clear that the project would resonate beyond the approximately 250,000 Americans who have served in the Peace Corps. We are thrilled and honored this month to announce a $500,000 contribution from the CesTRA Butner Family Foundation and its founder “Ces” Butner, an entrepreneur and philanthropist based in Oakland, California.

Ces was not a Peace Corps Volunteer like his brother and sister, but he is no stranger to service: His generosity with both his time and financial contributions to his local community have proved Ces’s commitment to a lifetime of service, and we are deeply honored by his support.

You can read more about Ces below, but if you take anything from this news, it should be that the community of people who believe in the importance of a lasting symbol to the values of service and partnership in our nation’s capital is indeed broad. One need not have been a Peace Corps Volunteer to understand the impact our shared values can have on the world, so please don’t be shy when talking about this project–and your own reasons for supporting it–with your friends and family this Thanksgiving season.

Of course, leadership by the community of returned Peace Corps Volunteers (RPCVs) continues to be a key driver of our fundraising, and we are excited this month to share updates on the grassroots efforts of groups within the Peace Corps community to make the Park a reality. We have been humbled by the self-organization of RPCV groups and specific cohorts of volunteers, and have initiated dedicated fundraising partnerships with some groups mobilizing their membership on our behalf. The momentum is building, and the generosity of this dedicated community will help get Peace Corps Park to the finish line.

As we approach the season of giving, and giving thanks, all of us at the Foundation are proud to count you among our community, and encourage you to reflect and take pride in your contributions to making Peace Corps Park a reality , whether by amplifying our message or making a donation yourself. We are stronger together, and this effort will ensure that future generations are inspired by the values of service and partnership, making this country and the world stronger in the process.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

P.S. - Read to the bottom to see which group was the first to hold an event at the Peace Corps Park site!

Ces Butner makes $500,000 gift

This month we give thanks to the CesTRA Butner Family Foundation for its $500,000 donation to Peace Corps Park, our second gift of this size and an inspiring kickoff to our end-of-year fundraising campaign. “Ces” has encouraged our community to match the gift by the end of this year, and we invite everyone to answer the call with a tax-deductible donation.

Kevin F. F. Quigley joins Advisory Board

This month, we are pleased to welcome Kevin F. F. Quigley to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s Advisory Board , whose members provide their expertise, knowledge of constituent perspectives, connections to local, national, and international resources, and many other forms of assistance to help fulfill the Foundation’s mission.

Storytelling that makes a difference

Building momentum at the grass roots

Across the country, groups of returned volunteers continue to organize and mobilize to build awareness of Peace Corps Park and to lend their voices to this landmark initiative. Their leadership underscores that Peace Corps Park is an effort of and by the community whose ideals it will enshrine.

The combined efforts of RPCV affinity groups have raised almost $26,000 so far, and we appreciate their support for this legacy project:

Charlotte Area Peace Corps Association
Friends of Korea
Friends of Malaysia
Friends of Nigeria
Friends of Sierra Leone
Inland Northwest Peace Corps Association
Kentucky Peace Corps Association
Northern California Peace Corps Association
RPCVs of New Jersey
Sacramento Peace Corps Volunteers
South Florida RPCVs

In addition to these country of service and geographic affinity groups, we recognize and celebrate the country cohorts who have self-organized to make generous gifts to Peace Corps Park. Their combined efforts have raised more than $46,000 .

Colombia I, II, III, IV, VIII, XIII
Guatemala I, III, VII
Tanganyika I, II
Venezuela II

We are so thankful to have this community’s support, and welcome all RPCV groups and cohorts to join the effort and help make Peace Corps Park a reality! Reach out to Arianna Richard at arichard@peacecorpscommemorative.org to get more information on partnering on a fundraising campaign.

Fundraising Update

Thanks to the latest contribution from the CesTRA Butner Family Foundation, we are making significant progress toward our campaign goal of $10 million, with more than $5 million raised so far. We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since October 24, 2024 :

See our growing list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

$500,000 - $999,999

CesTRA Butner Family Foundation

$20,000 - $49,999

Michael Vergason

$10,000 - $19,999

Friends of Pat Cloherty
Muriel and Scott Nichols*

$5,000 - $9,999

Friends of Malaysia

$2,500 - $4,999

James G. McGeorge
WattersFarfan Fund*

$1,000 - $2,499

James and Juliana Bancroft
Maureen Carroll
Barnett Cline
Nicholas Craw*
Katherine Crosson*
David and Connie Dupras
Patrick Fine*
Melanie Grant
Kentucky RPCVs
Nancy Kelly and Michael Hagan*
Marcia K. Lang and Jay Jackson
Charles R. Larson*
Franklin B. Price*
Jensy Patterson Richards*
Michael W. Tiernan

Other gifts to $999

Michael Abkin
America’s Charities*
Carl Bartone
Tal Beery
Joan Boyle
Jacqueline Butler-Diaz
Ann Rowe Church
Diana Donlon
Mary Donnelly
Father Henry L. Doyle*
Brendan Doyle
Barbara Dye
Patricia Edmisten*
Gizem Eren
Howard Fenton*
Henry and Jaki Florsheim
Bruce Fortin
Benjamin Friedman
Margaret A. Garber
Richard B. Geltman*
Pamela G. George*
Eric and Ana Maria Graber
Anna Grady
Joan Grant
Malie Carolyn Gray
George Hess
Wiliam Hetzer*
Michael H. Hirsh
George Johnston*
Rebecca Jones Munger
Dennis Kaltreider
Joan Kelly
Roy Kornbluh*
Iris Krieg
David Lambert
Colleen Lambert
Evelyn LaTorre*
Beatrice and David Leibson
Gloria B. Levin*
Alice Levine
Nancy Neaher Maas
Michael Maidenberg
Michael McLaughlin
June McMahon
Robert J. and Jane H. Meade*
Robin Moller
Julie Montgomery and Todd Sheffield
Nancy Morrin*
Betsy and Jon Rosenbaum*
Karen R. Proffitt
Diane Raymond
Donald Rogers
James Salvatore
Joseph Schoder
Larry Silvester
Michael Solovev
Teresa Somers
Richard and Harriett Swarttz
Daniel M. Taubman and Lizabeth T. Levin
Christina Tedder
Mary A. Thorne*
David Vancelette
David Venzon*
Ted Wachter
Leon Weintraub*
Christy Wyckoff
Edward Yates

* New gift in addition to prior gift

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick and Karline Bird
Anthony Carroll
Ellen Davis Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
G David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Phil Lopes
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Bill Piatt
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Penny Taylor
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

Peace Corps Park hosted its first (informal) reunion in October, with the Brazil XVI cohort inviting me to share our plans for the Park and joining me on a visit to the Park’s site next to the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. It was a beautiful day, and a wonderful event that gave me a preview of the many purposes that Peace Corps Park will serve once it’s built.

Whether your group is visiting our nation’s capital or hosting a meeting in your area, I am always happy to share our ambitions for Peace Corps Park in person, and I’d love to connect with you. Reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

Coming up next:

Dec 6-9: Gulf Coast and South Florida
Dec 13-17: Northern California - Liberia IX Reunion
Dec 27-Jan 17: Arizona
Jan 9-12: Ohio

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

October Newsletter: Final design approved by the CFA

Thu, 24 Oct 2024 04:41:28 GMT

September Newsletter: Peace Corps Community Leading the Way

Dear Supporters,

We are so delighted to share with you a major milestone in the development of Peace Corps Park, as both the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Park Service have approved the final design !

Representing an effort 10 years in the making since the project received Congressional authorization, these critical stakeholders in the final approval process have given us the green light to build this lasting symbol to values of service and partnership in Washington, D.C. The National Capital Planning Commission comes next, and we expect to secure their approval by the end of the year.

Achieving this step marks a huge milestone on our journey, reflecting the tireless efforts of a dedicated staff and team of volunteers, and we couldn’t have done it without the support of this impressive community. We also could not have done it without the passionate and devoted leadership of Roger K. Lewis, our longtime president and the driving force behind the progress of the past years. We will miss Roger deeply , and remain more committed than ever to seeing his vision become a reality under the leadership of Tony Barclay and Aaron Williams , who have stepped into new roles this week.

With the blessing of our primary stakeholders in government, the next major step toward putting shovels in the ground is fundraising. This is where you come in: The generosity of this community has gotten us this far, and it will be your leadership that gets us to the finish line. Whether that’s by including Peace Corps Park in your ongoing giving plans or by helping us get in touch with people in your network who share our commitment to inspiring future generations around the values of peace and partnership, every contribution helps.

Raising the remaining funds needed to build the Park and endow its future maintenance by the National Park Service is now our top priority. With nearly $5 million raised from our 1,000-plus donors so far ( thank you all !), we are well on our way to meeting our target and bring this meaningful project to life.

We invite everyone in the community to join this effort, and together we will make this happen!

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Leadership update

For 16 years, our President Roger K. Lewis built a world-class team to make Peace Corps Park a reality, both in the design expertise that continues to drive the artistic vision of the Park, and in the administration of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation itself. We are fortunate to benefit from the skills and experience of such an accomplished board of directors, and we are pleased to announce that they have elected Tony Barclay , the Foundation’s vice president, to complete Roger’s current presidential term, with former Peace Corps Director Aaron Williams finishing out Tony’s term as vice president.

As we move into the construction planning phase of the project, the Foundation will also be evaluating project management partners, to bring on board critical skills around planning and operations, and to ensure the highest standards are met in the construction of Peace Corps Park.

A long journey to the National Mall

The journey of the Foundation, and the commemorative work that came to be called Peace Corps Park, goes back 23 years and reflects the mobilization and dedication of dozens of leaders in the Peace Corps and volunteer service community. From securing legislation after an advocacy effort that spanned three sessions of Congress to assembling a world-class design team, the Foundation has accomplished so much already thanks to your support. See the full timeline here .

Phase 1: Congressional Approval (2001-2014)

Founding directors Susan Flaherty and Kevin Quigley created the “Peace Corps Museum and Memorial Foundation” with Tom Roha in 2001 , raising seed funding and awareness in Congress, and exploring a partnership with various sites in Washington, D.C., including the U.S. Institute of Peace, Kennedy Center, and Newseum.

The organization was renamed in 2008 to Peace Corps Foundation, dba Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation, and began an advocacy campaign on Capitol Hill in partnership with Jonathan Pearson at the National Peace Corps Association that mobilized dozens of supporters around the goal of establishing a commemorative work to the Peace Corps. Legislation authorizing the project was first introduced in the House of Representatives by Sam Farr (D-CA) in December 2009 .

Bills in both the House and Senate were introduced in 2011 but not passed before the end of their respective congressional sessions.

Roger K. Lewis became president of the Foundation in 2012 , and a refreshed Board that included directors Bonnie Gottlieb, Gordon Radley, and Ellen Lewis began pursuing a dedicated, standalone site for Peace Corps Park while ramping up the advocacy campaign on Capitol Hill.

Phase 2: Design Selection (2014-2018)

With the legislation secured, the design process for Peace Corps Park could begin in earnest. The Foundation worked closely with the National Park Service to select a site among 16 different locations in Washington, D.C., choosing the triangle of land at Louisiana Ave. in November 2014 .

The Foundation then launched an online design competition in March 2015 , with more than 180 proposals submitted. While the many creative visions that were presented impressed the panel of judges, none were accepted as meeting the ambitious goals for the symbolism and functionality of the project, and the Foundation’s Board of Directors decided a more targeted approach was necessary.

What followed was a two-year process of soliciting design proposals from other noted architects and sculptors, with the ultimate selection of Larry Kirkland and Associates to conceptualize the artistic vision of the Park in April 2018 .

While Kirkland and landscaping partner Michael Vergason worked with their creative teams to plan the optimal layout for the half-acre site, a parallel effort sought to extend the authorizing legislation in Congress beyond its original 2021 deadline. Rep. Joe Kennedy III introduced the Peace Corps Commemorative Extension Act on December 17, 2020, which was quickly and unanimously approved in the House and Senate, allowing until 2028 to complete construction.

Phase 3: Design Development (2018-2024)

Starting from the initial concept sketch, Peace Corps Park’s design went through numerous reviews by the Commission of Fine Arts (CFA), National Park Service, and National Capital Planning Commission (NCPC), with significant milestones coming from CFA approvals in September 2020 and November 2021 and NCPC approval in September 2022 .

Major evolutions to the Park’s design during this process included landscaping solutions using native plants and trees to replace the initial concept of a glass-and-steel canopy over the site, and the change from a more abstract form for the stone benches, which will be carved from Silver Cloud granite sourced near Atlanta, Ga., to a more realistic approach with three subtly different hand positions.

The team also worked with our design partners to select the best treatment for the world map in the Park’s central plaza to ensure accurate sizes of landforms and a projection that wouldn’t favor any single continent. Because the map will differentiate landmasses from oceans using different textures in the pavers–made from a lighter Virginia Mist granite–the team refined those textures to ensure accessibility for visitors with mobility impairments so that it would be comfortable for wheelchair users but also a deterrent to skateboarders.

Concerns with storm water drainage led to a modified approach to the three granite benches encircling the plaza, ensuring enough clearance below the benches for leaves and debris to be washed out. An impact assessment was conducted in October 2023 to ensure that no historical artifacts or city services would be impacted by the site’s construction.

With the team’s consistent dedication to addressing any concerns from our stakeholders in government, securing approval of the final design from the CFA on October 17, 2024 and the Finding of No Significant Impact by the National Park Service on October 18 have moved us ever closer to the final sign-off needed from the National Capital Planning Commission.

We now focus our energy on the final push to groundbreaking.

How you can make a difference

We are pleased to be at this pivotal point in the long journey of Peace Corps Park, which has also included non-stop fundraising efforts that have raised almost $5 million raised toward our campaign goal. While advancing the Park through the design process, the Foundation’s board of directors has demonstrated exemplary financial leadership, having collectively raised or contributed more than $1.5 million even before our capital campaign began in earnest in 2023.

Significant donations, including a $500,000 contribution from philanthropist Jacqueline Mars, a $250,000 grant from the PepsiCo Foundation, and other notable gifts from organizations like the Sargent Shriver Peace Institute and the Jones Day Foundation, have laid a strong financial foundation for Peace Corps Park.

To put shovels in the ground though, we must “close the gap” and raise the remaining $5 million to build Peace Corps Park and to endow its future maintenance by the National Park Service. Just as the efforts of thousands of members of the Peace Corps community have ensured strong support for the Peace Corps over the decades, you can help ensure that Peace Corps Park will be a part of the 65th anniversary of the agency in 2026.

Thankfully, the effort is well underway, and we look forward to a successful end-of-year campaign with the participation of this remarkable community of stakeholders. Your continued leadership will be essential in this final phase of fundraising as we accelerate toward our goal.

We especially appreciate the many contributions we’ve received in memory of Roger K. Lewis , which has proved how impactful it is when a group of people mobilize in support of a cause that matters to them. In this vein, we have multiple partner campaigns underway with groups of returned Peace Corps volunteers, and more to come before the end of this year.

Now is the time to be a part of this landmark initiative by making a tax-deductible donation on our website , or by sending a check payable to “Peace Corps Foundation” to 5636 Connecticut Avenue, NW; Suite 42143; Washington, DC 20015.

There are many other ways to support our mission, including gifts of stock, donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions from your IRA, charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, and bequests. Learn more about how to support the project here.

Fundraising Update

As we begin our end-of-year giving outreach, we do so with $4.8 million raised since our campaign began. We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since September 26, 2024 :

See our growing list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999

Edie and Jonathan “Jeb” Eddy

$2,500 - $4,999

Paul Sack*

$1,000 - $2,499

Samuel Cabot III
Robert Graulich and Scotland King*
Nancy Hullihen
Michael and Pegi Touff*
Sam Lawson and Laurel Mayer*
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Niskanen*
Jean O'Loughlin and Michael Walach
Vincent J. Radke*
Elizabeth Winkler

Other gifts to $999

Norma Abe
Martin Acevedo and Virginia Lockhart
America's Charities*
Bruce Anderson*
Thomas Appel*
David A. Baur
Sherrie Borden*
Gus Breyman
Lawrence Brown*
Jill Curry
Karen Dunne
Tamara England-Zelenski
John Ferrick
Jinnet Fowles
Francis Gaebler
Diane Shugrue Gallagher
Carolyn C. Gallaher
Nancy Gallant
Richard Gallivan
Chris and Rob Giallongo
Eric Gorovitz
Gregory E. Griffith
Charles and Judy Higgins
Gail LeBow*

Steve Lowry
Sherry Manning
Elaine A. McDermott
Darwin Popenoe
William Stacy Rhodes*
Ann Sager
Thomas Sinclair
Richard Stiefvater
Virginia Winchester

* New gift in addition to prior gift

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Anthony Carroll
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
G David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Nancy Kelly
Laura Kettel Khan
Phil Lopes
Roni Lerner Love
Deborah Manget
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Bill Piatt
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

As always, I continue to host small gatherings and meetings with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park. I’d love to connect with you or your group to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together. Reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

Up next:

Oct 28-29: Washington, DC - Brazil XVI Reunion

Nov 20-25: Eastern Pennsylvania

Dec 6-7: Jacksonville, Fl. - First Coast RPCV Gathering

Dec 7-10: South Florida

Dec 13-15: Northern California - Liberia IX Reunion

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

News: Design approvals mark major milestone for Peace Corps Park

Mon, 21 Oct 2024 03:40:19 GMT

It is with great pleasure that we announce a major step forward in the timeline of Peace Corps Park, with final design approval by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts at its last meeting on October 17.

The Foundation has been working tirelessly with the CFA since the site selection process in 2014 to refine our design approach, using creative problem solving to address feedback around the symbolic representation of the world map in the Park’s central plaza, the granite benches encircling it, the inscriptions carved into the stone, and many other aspects of the Park’s concept.

Our expert design and landscaping team, led by Larry Kirkland and Michael Vergason, made countless refinements to the plan to ensure the best possible artistic and practical expression, some of which we have shared in our recent newsletters .

We are thrilled to see the fruits of this collaboration, and are looking forward to finalizing the engineering plan to make the design a reality.

Another critical stakeholder in this process is the National Park Service, which will maintain the Park in perpetuity once built. On Friday, October 18, the NPS issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for Peace Corps Park, a precursor to obtaining final approval from the National Capital Planning Commission, which is expected to review the plan in its December meeting.

With the Park’s design process in its final stages, we turn our attention to raising the $5 million needed to put shovels in the ground, and look to our generous and dedicated community to get us to groundbreaking and make Peace Corps Park a reality!

In Memoriam: Roger K. Lewis (1941-2024)

Fri, 04 Oct 2024 03:25:37 GMT

Dear Friends and Supporters,

It is with a heavy heart that the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation announces the passing of our President, Roger K. Lewis, who died on Wednesday at his home in Washington, D.C. after undergoing a medical procedure. He was 83, and is survived by his wife Ellen, their son Kevin and his wife, and four granddaughters.

Roger’s dedicated leadership and steadfast commitment to Peace Corps Park has been critical in building the coalition that brought us from the initial concept through a competitive design competition and numerous rounds of design reviews to an elegant result that is scheduled for final approval this month. His legacy will live on in our hearts, and in every part of this project that he championed with such vigor and skill.

A celebrated author, architect and journalist, Roger’s history with the Peace Corps and volunteer service dates from his time in Tunisia, where from 1964-66 he worked with local partners to design some 30 government buildings as a Peace Corps Volunteer. After returning to the U.S., he opened his own architecture and urban design firm, and worked on a range of projects that included residential developments, community centers, and affordable housing. At the University of Maryland in College Park, he served on the faculty for 37 years, and was a founding faculty member of the School of Architecture, where he taught and mentored dozens of young architects.

Roger was well known and influential as the author of “ Shaping the City ”, a column that appeared in the Washington Post for more than 30 years. The column featured his clever cartoons and commentary on the changes in the urban landscape of our nation’s capital and the implications for the people who live and work there. For many years, he was a regular guest addressing these topics on WAMU’s weekly Kojo Nnamdi Show. He also volunteered his time and lent his design expertise as an advisor on commemorative works such as the World War I Memorial that was dedicated just three weeks ago.

His journey as a champion of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation began more than 12 years ago, and its work remained Roger's most passionate commitment until the day of his death. He was instrumental in persuading Congress to authorize the project under the Commemorative Works Act in 2014 and worked as a close partner with the National Park Service, which will own Peace Corps Park in perpetuity. In subsequent years, he led the PCCF in sponsoring a series of competitions to select a design team, and interacted continuously with the chosen designers, public artist Larry Kirkland and landscape architect Michael Vergason, to refine the design and secure formal approval. After our $10 million capital campaign got underway, Roger became our most eloquent and persuasive spokesman.

Roger’s passion for the values of peace, generosity and friendship have left an indelible mark on us, on Peace Corps Park, and on the countless visitors who will experience the meaning and message of the Park. We are lucky to have benefited from his wisdom and guidance and invite all of those who knew and loved Roger to share your tributes to him in whatever form you like. You may share your memories of Roger in a reply to this email, and we thank you for your role in ensuring that his legacy lives on in Peace Corps Park.

With affection and deepest respect,

Tony Barclay

Acting President, Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Peace Corps Education Volunteer, Kenya, 1968-70

September Newsletter: Peace Corps Community Leading the Way

Fri, 27 Sep 2024 03:15:07 GMT

September Newsletter: Peace Corps Community Leading the Way

Dear Supporters,

Getting the word out about Peace Corps Park means getting out into the community, and I’ve just returned from back-to-back trips in different directions from Washington, D.C.—one to the Northeast, then another to the Southwest. Aside from meeting with some amazing folks in the Peace Corps community, what made these trips especially enjoyable was that I was able to combine them with one of my other passions: Aviation.

I’ve been flying airplanes as a private pilot since 1985 and found there’s no better way to rationalize flying than to “drop in” somewhere on behalf of the Peace Corps Foundation. Whether that means flying up the Hudson River and across Long Island, with stops in Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard to join returned volunteers for a gathering on Cape Cod or logging 24 hours of roundtrip flying from Kansas City to the Grand Canyon to visit with Peace Corps friends and supporters in Arizona, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, it’s a fabulous way to see the country and engage with our supporters.

Of course, the many complexities of planning a safe and successful multi-city flight–the intended flight path, the expected resources required, the unpredictable issues with weather, air traffic control, technical problems–mean there’s nothing quite like being “on final approach” near the end of a long journey.

For Peace Corps Park, we “have the field in sight” – not yet on final approach, but getting closer to our destination. We are confident that “the powers that be” will give their approval to Peace Corps Park’s final design in October, and as we approach this pivotal moment, we reach out to all of you–and your networks–to join the campaign to raise the remaining funds needed to put the first shovel in the ground.

By supporting the Peace Corps Foundation, you provide the vision, inspiration, and dedication to plan and carry forward this unprecedented landmark initiative.

We can’t do it without you.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

It Takes a Village

Since the founding of the Peace Corps in 1961, volunteer service has resonated loudly outside of the population of people who have answered the call to dedicate two years of their lives to partner with communities around the world. It remains the strongest brand in volunteerism and even those who may not have felt the pull to travel so far from home find identity in its message of community service and grassroots partnership. Returned volunteers - who end up in all sectors of life, are ambassadors for these values, and many devote themselves to a lifetime of service.

From its inception, Peace Corps Park has been a community-driven vision that has emerged as the flagship initiative of the Peace Corps community, embodying the “third goal” of the Peace Corps, to help Americans better understand the world’s cultures. Telling the “rest of America’s story” of friendship, partnership, and peace–beyond the Peace Corps echo chamber–has long been a priority of those who have served and who value service.

After the Peace Corps Foundation's founding in 2002 by Kevin Quigley and Susan Flaherty, it took years of advocacy in Congress from thousands of returned Peace Corps Volunteers, former Peace Corps staff, family, friends and supporters of the Peace Corps to pass bipartisan legislation in 2014 authorizing a commemorative work in Washington, D.C. There is no place more symbolic and more impactful to share our message than on the piece of federal land we have secured, steps from the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall that welcomes more than 25 million visitors each year.

Across the country, grassroots groups agree. They continue to organize and mobilize to build awareness of Peace Corps Park and to lend their voices to this landmark initiative, and the project is elevated by their support.

Many, including Friends of Korea, RPCVs of New Jersey, Friends of Nigeria, South Florida RPCVs, Charlotte Area Peace Corps Association, Inland Northwest Peace Corps Association, Sacramento Peace Corps Volunteers, the original Colombia I cohort and Tanganyika I and II are raising funds or have made financial grants to help make Peace Corps Park a reality. RPCV groups at the Department of Interior and the National Park Service have partnered with us to raise awareness, conceptualize the educational programming, and define a vision for their participation in the Foundation’s operation of the Park into the future.

The most recent campaign to launch, endorsed by Congressman Sam Farr and the Northern California Peace Corps Association, is a great example of the momentum we are building to meet our target of groundbreaking next year, which would allow us to formally dedicate and open the Park in 2026 for the 65th anniversary of the creation of the Peace Corps.

We are honored to have also received meaningful support from the loved ones who have made donations in memory of those they have lost. The families of Jerry McMahon and of Stephen Schilling have ensured that their loved ones’ legacy is commemorated through Peace Corps Park.

Already, the Park is meeting its goal of uniting the many groups that make up the Peace Corps and broader volunteer service community in planting a flag in the nation’s capital. With your continued support, Peace Corps Park will help raise the profile of the Peace Corps itself, and its mission to create a more peaceful world through friendship, partnership and understanding.

Design Spotlight: Giving Shape to Water

Public works like Peace Corps Park, which will join the ranks of the National Park Service’s portfolio of commemorative installations in the nation’s capital, have a high bar to meet in both innovation and artistic expression. That was only one of the motivations to partner with renowned artist Larry Kirkland and his dream team of specialists in stone carving, landscaping, and managing the complexity of engineering public spaces like ours. Last month , we highlighted the team’s approach to representing the world’s continents in the map’s central plaza. This month, we look at water.

To maintain the symbolism of one connected world, Kirkland and his team have focused on using different textures and finishes to separate features, rather than inlaid borders or different types of granite. As we noted last month, textured pavers must be accessible for people using wheelchairs and other mobility aids and must not be dangerous for people walking in heels. On top of that, they must do everything they can to deter skateboarding.

A rendering of the plaza at Peace Corps Park shows textured granite pavers intended to represent the world's oceans.

Kirkland’s solution was inspired by work in other media. “I have seen images of wooden paneling that had been treated with an adze that I liked,” he said, referencing the organic pattern that emerges when carving away bits of the material’s surface. He shared the concept with his fabrication partner, who turned it into a 3-D pattern that their machinery can apply to the granite.

“We want something evocative of the water, but comfortable enough for people in high heels - at least as much as other surfaces in DC, like brick sidewalks and cobblestones,” he says. “It’s of course easier to use existing pavers but we wanted something new.”

Fundraising Update

We continue to make progress toward our goal of $10 million, with more than $4.2 million raised since our campaign began. We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since August 29, 2024:

See our growing list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

$25,000 - $49,999

Elena Russell*

$10,000 - $24,999

Dr. Steven W. Mackie*

$5,000 - $9,999

Friends of Abby Rosenstein*
Northern California Peace Corps Association
Sue Louise Ward*

$1,000 - $2,499

Edward (Ted) Heid
Mickie M. Lee-Merslich
Leo K. Monaghan
James Ramakka

Other gifts to $999

America's Charities*
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Linda and Gerry Ashmore
Laurence Del Rae
Marilyn Douglas
Phyllis Hammond
Treffle LaFleche

* New gift in addition to prior gift

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Anthony Carroll
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Nancy Kelly
Laura Kettel Khan
Phil Lopes
Cynda McMahon
Marty Mueller
Jessica Rogers
John Sommerhauser
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

Anyone who knows me knows that I love talking about Peace Corps Park, about my experience as a volunteer in Guatemala, and about any of the exciting projects currently underway in the Peace Corps community, and I’d love to talk about it with you! I’m constantly traveling–whether meeting with key stakeholders around the country or flying my friends or loved ones around in my plane–and am always happy to add a new stop onto my itinerary. Reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

Up next:
Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 Quebec City: Sierra Leone I Reunion

Oct 9 Washington, D.C. - 250 & Beyond Service Symposium

Oct 16-20: Washington, D.C. - Malawi V Reunion

Oct 18-21: Bethesda, MD - India VIII Reunion

Oct 28: Washington, DC - Brazil Reunion

Nov 20-25: Eastern Pennsylvania

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

August Newsletter: A beacon of hope for Peace Corps values

Fri, 30 Aug 2024 02:17:39 GMT

August Newsletter: A beacon of hope for Peace Corps values

Dear Supporters,

Most memorials and commemorative works – in Washington, D.C. and around the country – are edifices to the past: Honoring the sacrifices of former leaders and citizens, ensuring that they are not forgotten. What we are doing with Peace Corps Park is different. We believe the values of peace and partnership are eternal, and the spirit of service among younger generations will ensure that they are not relegated to a past era.

The Peace Corps is in fact alive and well. In its resilience, it has emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic and global evacuation better than ever, with previous and new host countries eagerly inviting the Peace Corps to send volunteers to partner with their communities. We applaud the more than 2,700 PCVs who are currently serving in 60 countries around the world, and the Peace Corps leadership that is raising the profile of the agency through innovative and creative tactics such as Each One Reach One , online marketing, and even television commercials issuing a bold challenge to serve.

President Kennedy made the same bold challenge in his 1961 inaugural address, inspiring and igniting young people in the U.S. to "Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country." The sentiment that every person can make a difference is also expressed in the motto of the United States, "e pluribus unum", or “out of many we are one." It reminds us that anyone, of whatever background, can become an American and that we belong to a common humanity that stretches across the world. These values are as old as this country itself.

The Peace Corps manifests these American beliefs that individual lives matter; that every person can make an impact in their community; and that by living and working with mutual respect and trust alongside others beyond our shores, we are laying the groundwork for a better and more peaceful world.

Peace Corps Park will be a beacon of hope, a physical manifestation of our continued commitment to the eternal American values of partnership and multiculturalism. We thank you for being a part of it.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Design Spotlight: One World, Carved in Stone

As an enduring symbol of global partnership and unity, every element of Peace Corps Park’s design reflects the deliberate choices that support our shared mission. It took months–years, even–to find the right partner to execute this vision in Larry Kirkland . This month we take a deeper look at the approach to the world map etched in granite at the center of Peace Corps Park, and the many thoughtful considerations that went into its design.

Ours is not the first attraction in Washington, D.C. to feature a world map depicted in granite – visitors to the U.S. Navy Memorial see a world map depicted in its central plaza. There, a focus on the world’s oceans motivates a presentation using two types of stone, separated with inlaid metal borders.

But Kirkland and his team designing Peace Corps Park are driven to represent one world, as accurately as possible, differentiating landforms and oceans with texture instead of borders and different types of granite.

When dealing with textured stone though, you must ensure that it’s safe to walk on, and accessible to visitors using wheelchairs or other mobility aids. To get technical, that all comes down to the “coefficient of friction” - essentially, how slippery the surface is. This means that the highly-polished granite that would give the best color contrast would not meet our requirements for accessibility for all visitors.

The solution from our design Dream Team is to sandblast a texture through a stencil, carving ⅛-inch grooves into a 1-inch thick leathered, honed granite base. The grooves intersect within the landmasses instead of conforming to political borders, reinforcing the idea of the shared world we all inhabit.

“Talking to Peace Corps Volunteers, it’s the one-to-one connections they make during their service that are the most meaningful and impactful. So by making those grooves cross occasionally, that increases the coefficient of friction while supporting the symbolic value,” Kirkland said in describing the approach.

Similar thought has been given to the treatment of the oceans in Peace Corps Park’s central plaza design. Look out for more in our next newsletter.

Impactful New Additions to our Advisory Board

The Peace Corps Foundation’s Advisory Board serves as a champion for Peace Corps Park and a valuable source of strategic insight. Members provide their professional expertise, diverse knowledge of constituent perspectives, connections to local, national, and international resources and many other forms of assistance to help fulfill our mission. This month, we are honored to welcome Terry Lierman and Chris Matthews to the team. See the full list of Advisory Board members on our website .

Terry Lierman

Chris Matthews

Why I Give: Honoring a Life of Service

Fundraising Update

We continue to make progress toward our goal of $10 million, with $4.2 million raised since our campaign began. We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since July 25, 2024:

See our growing list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

$10,000 - $24,999

Mary Martia Glass*

$5,000 - $9,999

Ambassador Thomas N. Hull and Jill P. Hull
Donald Lovett
Deidre Schilling family, in honor of Stephen W. Schilling

$1,000 - $2,499

Don Grandis
John Mello
Matthew Niskanen*
RPCVs of South Florida

Other gifts to $999

America's Charities
Thomas Appel
David Baur
Monique Berces-Mardenly
Victor Bullen
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Steven Choi
Luis A. Crouch
Bruce Edwards
Steve Ewing
Michael Fitzgerald
Francis and Chris Gaebler
Martin Gleason
Edward Kloth
Lea Loizos
George Steve Lowry
Irwin Oler
Barbara and Bill Oppenheimer
Christine Elizabeth Saudek
Victoria Tunba
University of Minnesota Retirees
Association
Richard Vobroucek
Jean Wintermute
Christine Wrona Giallongo
Martin Zone

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Donations in memory of Abby Rosenstein (Senegal 2016)
Anonymous
Wendy & Steve Abrams
Susie and David Borovsky
Susan and Michael Fromm
Susie Goldstein
Sam Hershman and Jordan Miller
Steven Lowenstein
Theresa Manley
Sara Mollins
Cindy and David Pogrund
Terry Presslak
Kathy Raby
David and Karen Rosen
Sandy Rosen
Sheri Warsh - Levenfeld Pearlstein

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Anthony Carroll
Linda Barnett
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
Greg Emerson
John Feighery
Ann Hopkins
Nancy Kelly
Laura Kettel Khan
Phil Lopes
Marty Mueller
Jessica Rogers
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

Save the Date to Honor the Values of Service

Join PCF’s Chief Advancement Officer Glenn Blumhorst at the 250 & Beyond Symposium , organized by The National Museum and Center for Service and Independent Sector, on October 9. The national campaign to honor, celebrate, and inspire American service marks the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence and honors the values that Glenn works tirelessly for every day on behalf of Peace Corps Park.

This national initiative will kick off on October 9th with a hybrid Service Symposium featuring inspirational keynotes, panels of practitioners, networking opportunities and resources to bring exhibits of service to schools and communities across the country.

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

I continue to host small gatherings and meetings with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park, and I’d love to connect with you or your group to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together. Let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 Quebec City: Sierra Leone I Reunion

Oct 9 Washington, D.C. - 250 & Beyond Service Symposium

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

July Newsletter: Now is the time for this critical symbol of unity and partnership

Fri, 26 Jul 2024 01:37:16 GMT

July Newsletter: Now is the time for this critical symbol of unity and partnership

Dear Supporters,

“Peace requires the simple but powerful recognition that what we have in common as human beings is more important and crucial than what divides us.” – Sargent Shriver

The Peace Corps’ founding director spoke those words more than 20 years ago, yet they are as relevant today as ever. The recent attempted assassination of former President Trump, provoking – at least momentarily – bipartisan calls for national unity, underscores the palpable divisions in our country and the urgency to come together despite our differences.

In his 2021 book, The Call to Unite: Voices of Hope and Awakening , Sargent Shriver’s son, Tim Shriver, urged “We need more uniters now, because we’re caught in a crisis of division.” He asks “How can we move from a culture that divides us to a culture that unites us? The call to unite…is a voice sounding inside of us. In every crisis, if we listen to our hearts, we can hear the call to unite. It’s what invites us to hope. It’s what guides us to love. It’s what sustains us on the journey to justice.”

I firmly believe that, once created, Peace Corps Park will serve a meaningful role in restoring national unity by reminding Americans of the core values that we have in common, and the importance of partnership for the common good. It will fill a void in our nation’s story, told almost exclusively by Washington's tapestry of memorials dedicated to the leaders and citizens who served and sacrificed defending freedom. Peace Corps Park will present a different narrative , that of our steadfast commitment to people-to-people service and global citizenship at a critical time in our history.

The Park’s welcoming space and digital companion will not only honor the past, but will inspire future generations to engage in service that transcends borders. The design is a physical manifestation of the American ideals of friendship, peace, and understanding: Three outstretched arms reaching out to the world. It serves as a reminder of the more than 250,000 Americans who have carried these values across the globe through the Peace Corps, and who continue to make a difference within their local communities upon their return.

The anticipated approval of Peace Corps Park’s final design by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts this September will mark a pivotal moment in this landmark initiative’s development , setting the stage for groundbreaking in 2025. Dedication of the park in 2026 will not only celebrate the 65th anniversary of the Peace Corps but will also coincide with the 250th anniversary of America's founding, symbolizing a commitment to volunteerism and global cooperation – a cornerstone of American values.

Indeed, we need more uniters. We need more changemakers, more innovators, more consensus builders, more visionaries, more social entrepreneurs, more community leaders, and more public servants who have experienced the transformational power of service and partnership.

Thank you for being a uniter.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

PS: If you’d like to read Tim Shriver’s book, The Call to Unite, drop me a note and I’ll send you a copy, courtesy of Tim and me.

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Igniting the Flame for National Service

On June 21, Peace Corps Foundation Advisory Board Chair and former Director of the Peace Corps Jody Olsen participated in the Service for America Summit at Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C. The goal was to bring notable leaders together to advance the promotion of military, national, and public service. President Joe Biden recognized the significance of the gathering in an official letter, writing, “As you gather for the Service for America Summit, I want to thank you for your commitment to making sure our democracy endures. You remind us that there is nothing beyond our capacity when we act together.”

The event, jointly organized by the Selective Service System (SSS), Department of Defense (DoD), AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and Office of Personnel Management (OPM), gathered more than 150 leaders and subject matter experts from federal and state government agencies, as well as the nonprofit and the private sectors. It included a service leadership panel featuring SSS Acting Director Joel Spangenberg, Peace Corps Director Carol Spahn, Michael Smith, Chief Executive Officer of AmeriCorps, Ashish Vazirani, Performing the Duties of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness at DoD, and Veronica Hinton, Associate Director for Workforce Policy and Innovation at OPM. They discussed key priorities to enhance young people’s awareness of service opportunities.

Image of (and shared by) AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith on X from the Service to America Summit.

“ It renewed my passion for all of us to volunteer, to serve ,” says Dr. Olsen. At the conference, Peace Corps Deputy Director David White shared these inspirational words: “We believe…in national service…we know its transformational power to build connections to see beyond our differences. But we are witnessing fewer Americans willing to answer the call to serve. We must reignite that flame of national service in this newest generation of leaders who will inherit the world we leave them.”

With the number of applicants falling far short of the global demand for Peace Corps Volunteers, Peace Corps Park couldn’t be more timely and essential to achieving the Summit’s ambitions. It will tell the stories of service to visitors for generations to come, who will be reminded of the compassion, generosity, and sense of partnership that motivate Americans to serve their country in the cause of world peace and human welfare.

Peace Corps Park Design Spotlight

A key design element that will be included in the anticipated approval by the Commission of Fine Arts in September is the landscaping conceived by our partner Michael Vergason Landscape Architects . The team at MVLA has designed a welcoming parklike setting to create a contemplative and inspiring space with more than 1,200 trees and plants representing more than 20 species and varieties.

The National Capital Planning Commission asked us to use only native species, which MVLA was able to achieve, with the exception of three species: Prunus laurocerasus ‘Otto Luyken’ Cherry Laurel, Galanthus elwesii Snowdrops, and Scilla siberica Siberian Squill, which were selected for their dependable performance in urban garden settings.

A majority of the plantings are part of two biofiltration basins that will serve as pollinator gardens using native plants such as milkweed, Clethra and Itea that attract and nurture the monarch butterfly and other important species. Many pollinators couldn't be considered because of the National Park Service’s concerns about maintenance, so finding hardy native varieties was especially important.

And, of course, with seasonal plants come leaves and other debris, so the team found a low-maintenance solution in the willow oak, which has long, narrow leaves that scatter easily in the wind.

We will continue to share details about the Park’s design and the thoughtful, intentional work of our design team , which has been exemplary in working around the many considerations that have gone into this project.

San Miguel to Slater, MO: Bringing the World Home

Other Ways to Support the Park

Want to make a significant contribution to the Peace Corps Foundation and our mission to create Peace Corps Park? A financial gift is one of the many ways to do so, and every amount makes a difference (especially if you can commit to a recurring monthly donation), but there are so many other ways you can help this project.

Consider offering your volunteer expertise to advance our cause: Whether researching and writing grant proposals, organizing a peer-to-peer fundraising campaign with your RPCV group or cohort, or lending a hand with outreach and events, we welcome anyone who would like to be a part of this landmark initiative.

Tell us how you’d like to contribute by emailing us at info@peacecorpscommemorative.org .

Fundraising Update

We continue to gain momentum toward our goal of $10 million, with $4.1 million raised since our campaign began. And you can now follow along with our fundraising progress on the new donation tracker on our homepage! We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since June 27, 2024 :

See our growing list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

$100,000 - $249,999

F. Chapman Taylor

$10,000 - $24,999

Gerald and Marcia Faust, Sophie Faust, Scott and Stephania Faust Leeper

$5,000 - $9,999

William and Francis Irwin*
Lucas and Janet Parsch

$1,000 - $2,499

Susan Malick*
Friends of Nigeria
Michael Kavanaugh

Other gifts to $999

America's Charities*
Thomas Appel
Sarah Bluth
Bill Brock
Deborah S. and John F. Carter
Francis Catania
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Mary Katherine Crangle
Nathan Danielsen
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Peter V. Deekle
Emily Edwards-Dambach
Stephen Michael Ehret
Therese Glowacki
The Goldsmith Family
Leigha Groves
Shar Hellie
Erica Herrmann
G. David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Alan Johnston
Mary Langevin
Dennis Lazarus
Jeffrey Levine
Roni Lerner Love
Meryl Blau Menon
Robert Miller
Barbara and Bill Oppenheimer
Anna Prow
Alan Renninger
Eric Ries
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Howard Soroos
Pat Stocker
Dan Taylor
Karen Viskochil
Michael Waite
Linda Woessner

* New gift in addition to prior gift

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Anthony Carroll
Linda Barnett
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
John Feighery
Ann Hopkins
Nancy Kelly
Laura Kettel Khan
Phil Lopes
Marty Mueller
Jessica Rogers
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

I continue to host small gatherings and meetings with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park, and I’d love to connect with you or your group to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together. Let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

Aug. 15 Zoom Presentation - Friends of Nigeria
Aug. 20 - 25 Boston and Cape Cod
Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 Quebec City: Sierra Leone I Reunion

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

June Newsletter: Into the home stretch of Peace Corps Park’s design

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 15:56:11 GMT

June Newsletter: Into the home stretch of Peace Corps Park’s design

Dear Supporters,

For as long as I have served this diverse community that we all are building around the values of service and partnership, I never cease to be impressed and energized by the continued support — in all forms — that you have given Peace Corps Park.

That support means even more now that we are in sight of final design approvals for Peace Corps Park, which we expect to be wrapped up at the end of this summer. Working closely with our partners at the National Park Service and other stakeholders, we are now focusing on the many small details that will ensure that the Park meets the highest standards of inclusion and accessibility, and that its design is optimized for the long-term maintenance of the site no matter what seasonal and environmental conditions are thrown at it. We’ll be sharing more about these considerations over the coming weeks as we iron out the details.

As we approach the final design approvals, our collective efforts to meet our fundraising goals will be the last thing standing between us and breaking ground. To recognize the particular commitment made by our recurring monthly donors, we are excited to launch our Ambassadors program this month. See the fundraising update below for more information.

Some of you may also remember a survey we shared to get your input on our plans for the interactive companion app that will serve as a guide, docent and storyteller to our visitors, both in-person and digitally from all over the world. We are delighted at how many of our supporters have shared your thoughts with us, and we invite anyone interested in this component of Peace Corps Park to take five minutes to answer the survey if you haven’t already. We will follow up in the coming weeks with those who volunteered to share your thoughts in more detail and together we will ensure that the digital experience is as engaging as the physical one!

Finally, we wanted to clear up a point of confusion between our project and an effort to build a “Peace Corps Plaza” in Minnesota: Donations to Peace Corps Park do not include engraved pavers. While you won’t see your name on a brick, your contribution to making the Park a reality will have an amplified impact with the profile granted by its federal status and its presence in our nation’s capital.

All supporters – no matter the size of their contributions – will be recognized in perpetuity on our website.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

A rendering of Peace Corps Park showing textured pavers in the central plaza

Finalizing Peace Corps Park’s Design

It took more than 10 years for Peace Corps Park to advance from the point of congressional authorization in 2014, to site selection in 2015, to design concept approvals in 2021 and 2022, to the final design acceptance by the U.S. Commission for Fine Arts, the National Capital Planning Commission, and the National Park Service – anticipated at the end of this summer. We’re now in the final stages of design development, as the remaining details are reviewed and revised to perfection in a collaborative approach with these federal agencies. So, what’s in a design?

One of the most salient features of Peace Corps Park’s design is compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). For example, the textured surfaces depicting land and water masses on the park’s central plaza must avoid materials or construction methods that create bumpy and uneven surfaces. The surface design of the plaza has a texture intended to create an uncomfortable surface for the two-inch diameter wheels most common to skateboards, while larger diameter wheels common to wheelchairs will sense only a very subtle vibration from our Virginia Mist pavers.

We’ll be sharing details of these and other design considerations as we iron out the remaining details on our website in the coming weeks!

Peace Corps Park Stands Alone

We’ve heard from many of you that recent promotions of an envisioned “Peace Corps Plaza” in Plainview, Minnesota, issued by the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) and the Peace Corps Legacy Association (PCLA), have caused confusion about whether donations to the Peace Corps Foundation include personalized brick pavers for Peace Corps Park in Washington, D.C.

To clarify, the NPCA/PCLA campaign has nothing to do with Peace Corps Park, whose unique status as a federally (or more accurately Congressionally) recognized federal commemorative work comes with some limitations: The National Park Service does not permit any form of permanently inscribed donor recognition at any of its federally owned and maintained commemorative works.

As a result, we recognize donors at all levels on Peace Corps Park’s digital donor wall , where they may be viewed in perpetuity by visitors from around the world. For our most significant supporters, the National Park Service permits the Foundation to honor lead gifts by affixing the donor’s name to a plaque installed for 10 years at Peace Corps Park.

Introducing our Ambassadors Program

Peace Corps Park relies on the generosity of our donor base, and we’d like to recognize the particular contributions of monthly recurring donors . Unlike one-time contributors, those who commit to monthly support represent a multiplier effect that amplifies their impact immensely. By making Peace Corps Park part of your regular charitable giving – at any amount – you become an ongoing advocate for the project.

That’s why this month we are happy to introduce our Peace Corps Park Ambassadors program, which will highlight recurring donors separately from our other generous supporters in the monthly fundraising update (see below) and on the Supporters page of our website.

Please consider turning your donation into a monthly recurring gift and multiply your impact on this ambitious and inspiring project!

Fundraising Update

We continue to make progress toward our campaign goal of $10 million, with nearly $4 million raised since our campaign began. The Peace Corps Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since May 23, 2024 :

See the full list of cumulative gifts here.

$50,000 - $99,999

Lewis-Sebring Family Foundation

$5,000 - $9,999

Joseph P. Kennedy*
Alex Quattlebaum

$2,500 - $4,999

Albert and Signe Lewis*

$1,000 - $2,499

Jeff Fletcher*
Bonnie S. Gottlieb*
Marcia A. Grubb in memory of Dennis Grubb
Peter von Christierson

Other gifts to $999

America's Charities*
Terry Applegate
Michael Blumhorst
Elinore Boeke
Charities Aid Foundation*
Dave Edwards
Cindy Foley
David Goldenberg
Mattie Harms
James Hill
Christi Murray
Tyler Posey
Ronald A. Schwartz
Sachiko Stark
Gail Yates

* New gift in addition to prior gift

PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS

(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)

Anthony Carroll
Linda Barnett
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
John Feighery
Ann Hopkins
Nancy Kelly
Laura Kettel Khan
Phil Lopes
Marty Mueller
Jessica Rogers
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young

IRA Distribution | Qualified Charitable Distribution

A qualified charitable distribution (QCD) is a distribution of funds from your IRA (other than a SEP or SIMPLE IRA) directly to a qualified charitable organization like the Peace Corps Foundation . Because the gift goes directly to the charity without passing through your hands, the dollar amount of the gift may be excluded from your taxable income up to a maximum of $100,000 annually (with some exceptions).

QCDs can be made by IRA owners who are 70 1/2 or older. QCDs made prior to the age you are required to take a minimum distribution from your retirement assets will not reduce or otherwise impact future Required Minimum Distribution. Your tax advisor can provide additional information on your particular situation.

Many who are required to withdraw from their IRA but who do not need the money for living expenses have chosen to make QCDs to support the work of the Peace Corps Foundation , and it may make sense for you too – contact the custodian of the retirement account to start the process and find more details on our website .

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

I continue to host small gatherings and meetings with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park, and I’d love to connect with you or your group to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together. Let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

July 16-22 Colorado
July 26-27 Washington, DC: Friends of Sierra Leone meeting
Aug. 15 Friends of Nigeria (Virtual Presentation)
Sept. 30 - Oct. 3 Quebec City: Sierra Leone I Reunion

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

May Newsletter: Finding inspiration from all sides

Tue, 28 May 2024 16:27:42 GMT

May Newsletter: Finding inspiration from all sides

Dear Supporters,

Last month, I had an amazing trip to Guatemala and reunited with many friends that I hadn’t seen since my last visit seven years ago, or even since serving there as a Peace Corps Volunteer from 1988-91. I was reflecting on how special it is to have maintained such strong relationships over more than three decades with a community of humble people living without many of the modern conveniences that we have here in the U.S. We all now have smartphones and social media, and the ability to harness digital technology to transcend borders–allowing people to connect with anyone, anywhere in the world–is an incredibly powerful force for friendship and peace.

I can’t help but see the connection to the digital platform that we will be building for Peace Corps Park. Not everyone in the U.S. can travel to Washington, D.C., much less so the people living abroad whose lives have been touched by the values of service and partnership that are at the center of this project, and the companion app will be a critical tool in allowing it to reach so much farther than the physical boundaries of the Park.

We invite everyone to help shape the app, so please take a few minutes to fill out this simple survey and let us know what you’d like to see in the Park’s digital visitor experience!

This month we were also deeply inspired by a service-commemorating event hosted by First Lady Dr. Jill Biden at the White House, where Peace Corps Foundation Chairman Roger K. Lewis was among those in attendance, to celebrate the National World War I Memorial. The event commemorated the many volunteers and donors who made the project possible, with Dr. Biden speaking beautifully about the broad community of people with connections to that war, ranging well beyond the soldiers and their families.

These themes resonate powerfully with what we are doing with Peace Corps Park, which aims to unite a group much wider than the 260,000 Americans who have served in the Peace Corps. We want anyone who has given part of their life to the values of service to see themselves in the Park, as well as the hundreds of thousands of partners and neighbors who have worked alongside Volunteers in the U.S. and overseas. We know that the values we share can inspire future generations to dedicate themselves to a life of service, and that’s why we continue to work tirelessly to make it a reality.

Of course, that can only happen with the support of this generous community, and this month we’d like to extend a special thanks to the Jones Day Foundation , which recently made a $50,000 grant to Peace Corps Park. With its D.C. office situated directly adjacent to the Park's site on Louisiana Avenue, we look forward to a fruitful partnership with our neighbor, a law firm with a focus on service and a rich history of pro bono work aligned with its values and mission.

Thank you for your continued generosity and support, and please let us know if you or your group would be interested in a joint fundraising initiative to help us accelerate progress on our fundraising goal of $10 million.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, Nation

al Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

First Lady Dr. Jill Biden

Connecting with the RPCVs of Washington, D.C.

Peace Corps Foundation staff were delighted to be invited to present our vision for Peace Corps Park at the most recent board meeting of the Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Washington, D.C. (RPCV/W), where we discussed the physical and digital plans for the Park with one of the principal stakeholder groups of returned Peace Corps Volunteers in the country.

We see great potential in such connections, as the power of RPCV groups to amplify the impact and footprint of the project makes them critical partners in ensuring the project is as inclusive of this community as possible. We extend our thanks to RPCV/W for the invite, and would love to connect with other affinity groups to help us shape this legacy project. Please contact Arianna Richard at arichard@peacecorpscommemorative.org to plan a chat!

Welcoming Jason Carter to the Advisory Board

Our advisory board serves the Peace Corps Foundation as a champion for Peace Corps Park and a valuable source of strategic insight. Members share their gifts in service to the Foundation's mission by providing their professional expertise, diverse knowledge of constituent perspectives, connections to local, national, and international resources, colleagues or peers, philanthropic support and many other forms of assistance. This month, we welcome Jason Carter to the Foundation’s Advisory Board .

Fundraising Update

See the full list of cumulative gifts here

$50,000 - $99,999

Jones Day Foundation
Roger K. Lewis*

$10,000 - $24,999

Tony Barclay*
Eleanor Lewis*

$5,000 - $9,999

Glenn and Cathy Blumhorst*
John L. and Sharon Hoffman
Michael Newman
Christopher Siegler*

$2,500 - $4,999

A.W. (Buster) Lewis*
Timothy M. Resch

$1,000 - $2,499

Sam Farr*
Eloina and Gale Gibson
Robert Graulich and Scotland King*
Nancy Kelly and Michael Hagan*
James Patrick King
Stuart Marshall Bloch and Amb. Julia Chang Bloch
Terry L. Lierman
Nancy Polich*
Jensy Patterson Richard
Jack Seybold and Sally O'Connell*
Peter Von Christierson
Anna Whitcomb*

Other gifts to $999

Linda Barnett*
Ellen Davis-Zapata*
Elizabeth Downes*
Father Henry R. Doyle
John Feighery*
G. David Hicks*
Ann Hopkins*
Edward Hromatka
Sharon Keid
Laura Kettel Khan*
Mary Kritz
Phil Lopes*
Julia Maxwell
Jim Moon
Marty Mueller*
Christi Murray
William Preston
Maureen Reidenback
DeAnne and Christopher Riddle
Jessica Rogers*
Christopher Shays
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young*

* New gift in addition to prior gift

As the bull market continues, consider donating stock!

On May 16, the Dow Jones Industrial Average topped 40,000 for the first time in history. That bodes well for stockholders… and for your Peace Corps Foundation! We’ve recently seen an increase in donations of stock, which are a great way to support the project without affecting your day-to-day spending.

You can make a larger impact by donating long-term appreciated securities, including stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, directly to charity. Compared with donating cash, or selling your appreciated securities and contributing the after-tax proceeds, you may potentially increase your gift and tax donation. Donating securities that have been held for a year or more offers the potential for a double tax benefit—a full fair market value tax deduction and elimination of capital gains taxes. Consult your tax advisor to know how this will affect your specific portfolio.

To make a gift of stock, see the instructions on our website .

Once the stock is received in the Foundation’s Vanguard account, it will be liquidated and you will receive a letter from us acknowledging the value of the donation as it arrived in the Foundation’s account. Please let us know that you are making a gift of securities and we’ll make sure to confirm receipt.

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

I continue to host small gatherings and meetings with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park, and I’d love to connect with you or your group to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together. Let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

June 1-6 Kansas City and Columbia, Missouri
June 9-11 San Francisco Bay Area
June 12-13 Ashland, Eugene, and Portland, Oregon
July 16-22 Colorado
July 26-27 Washington, DC: Friends of Sierra Leone meeting

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

April Newsletter: Leveling up on multiple fronts

Thu, 25 Apr 2024 16:38:36 GMT

April Newsletter: Leveling up, on multiple fronts

Dear Supporters,

Having just returned from a wonderful visit to my Peace Corps sites in Guatemala (more on that in our next newsletter), I am basking in the knowledge of the lifelong impact that service has both on those of us who engage in this kind of work and the partners that support us along the way. It’s why we do this, and the potential of Peace Corps Park to inspire future generations is a multiplier effect that we can’t ignore.

This month, we are excited to share a few updates that capture our tireless work to level up everything we are doing and make this project a reality.

First, we have released our most comprehensive annual report to date, noting the Peace Corps Foundation’s main accomplishments in 2023 and our progress toward the major milestone of approval on the final designs that will clear the way to break ground. We’ve also published the final inscriptions that will be included in the design proposal to be inscribed on the Park’s benches. And, we are seeking your input as we get the ball rolling on the digital companion that will enhance both the in-person and virtual experience of visiting Peace Corps Park.

As for the fundraising campaign, we are nearing the halfway point of our goal thanks to the recent challenge grant from philanthropist Jacqueline Mars and the matching gifts from so many of you who responded in kind.

You can keep the momentum going, so please consider making a donation today!

We’ve also refreshed our website and will be posting updates regularly between newsletters, so check out the Latest News section for the most recent developments on the Park's progress, and remember to share with your networks as well.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation

President and CEO, Nation

al Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Introducing Our 2023 Annual Report

Help Define the Park’s Digital Visitor Experience

A key component of Peace Corps Park is the digital visitor experience that will both enhance in-person visits to the site and allow people from anywhere in the world to take a virtual tour of the Park. We have begun planning the project with our goal to release an initial version ahead of the physical groundbreaking, and we’d like to hear your thoughts on what features you’d most like to see in a companion app and website.

We are very excited to develop this digital platform, as it will allow us to tell the Peace Corps story more deeply, with features on the history of the program, lists of volunteers who have served, and first-hand audio and video accounts of the impacts of service, both from volunteers themselves and the local partners they work with.

Please fill out this three-question survey to help us shape this critical component of Peace Corps Park!

Inspiring Inscriptions Will Capture the Timeless Values of Service

Thanks to your input and the counsel of our advisory board , we have finalized the selection of inscriptions to include in the proposal for Peace Corps Park’s final design. Critical in this effort was capturing both the values of international service and partnership, and representing voices that embody the principles on which the Peace Corps was founded.

With two quotes from the original architects of the program and two from inspiring leaders of countries that have hosted Peace Corps Volunteers, we are confident that the Park’s visitors will find inspiration no matter where they are coming from and hope that our partners at the National Park Service and U.S. Commission of Fine Arts agree.

“Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country”

The quote that started it all, from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1961, served as a rallying cry for thousands of Americans who made up the initial cohorts of Peace Corps Volunteers. It’s a call to action that still resonates today, and helps remind people that everyone has the power and potential to make a difference in the world. This quote will greet visitors at the Park’s main entrance on Louisiana Avenue, NW.

Find out more about this and the other quotes on our website .

Fundraising Update

The Foundation is excited to share that, thanks to the leadership of our Board and the generosity of this community, we are well on our way to matching philanthropist Jacqueline Mars’s $500,000 challenge gift to help make Peace Corps Park a reality. This boost has accelerated our progress toward the campaign goal of $10 million, with more than $3.5 million raised so far; we invite you to meet Mrs. Mars's challenge and help us get to the finish line !

We gratefully acknowledge the following individuals who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since March 27, 2024 :

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$2,500 - $4,999

Ron and Jane Brousseau
Eleanor and William Revelle
William Romenius*

$1,000 - $2,499

Patrick Cotter
Nicholas Craw and Lisa Blocklinger*
Martia Glass*
David and Champa Jarmul
Nancy Kelly and Michael Hagan*
Earl Kessler*
Beany Kogen-Wezelman
Mr. and Mrs. Matthew Niskanen
Douglas Shifflet
Ross Snow
Laverne and Allen Webb

Other gifts to $999

Archie W. and Wanita L. Blumhorst*
Lynn Bottazzi
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Robert Denniston
H. Jesse and Gloria Dubin
John Feighery*
Stan Garnett
Urbae Hall
Donald Hodgen
Judith Livingston
David Lough
Joel Mayer
Susan McDonald-Brodey
Christine McReynolds
Frank Mitchell
Marty Mueller
Wayne R. Nilsestuen
Margaret and Steve Norton
Amy Richwine
Jessica Rogers
Mary Rossi
Dane and Judy Smith*
Barbara Stender
Elizabeth Thomas
Alyce Tidball
Ambassador Gaddi Vazquez*
Barbara Waldschmidt
James Weathersbee
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Jean Wintemute*
Darrel Young*

* New gift in addition to prior gift

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 your social media platform of choice!

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

As usual, I continue to host small gatherings and meetings with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park. I’d love to connect with you or your group in the coming weeks to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together once it’s built. Please reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

June 1 Philadelphia: India V reunion
June 2-6 Kansas City and Columbia, Missouri
June 9-12 San Francisco Bay Area
July 26-27 Washington, DC: Friends of Sierra Leone meeting

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Design Update: Inscriptions that Inspire

Thu, 18 Apr 2024 16:58:16 GMT

Design Update: Inscriptions that Inspire

The Peace Corps Foundation’s advisory board , with the input of our passionate community, has selected the final inscriptions to include with the Park’s detailed design proposal that will be reviewed by the National Park Service and U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.

Critical in this effort was capturing both the values of international service and partnership, and representing voices that embody the principles on which the Peace Corps was founded.

With two quotes from the original architects of the program and two from inspiring leaders from countries that have hosted Peace Corps Volunteers, we are confident that the Park’s visitors will find inspiration no matter where they are coming from.

Proposed inscriptions:

“ASK NOT WHAT YOUR COUNTRY CAN DO FOR YOU – ASK WHAT YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY”

– John F. Kennedy

The quote that started it all, from John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address in 1961 , served as a rallying cry for thousands of Americans who made up the initial cohorts of Peace Corps Volunteers. It’s a call to action that still resonates today, and helps remind people that everyone has the power and potential to make a difference in the world. This quote will greet visitors at the Park’s main entrance on Louisiana Avenue, NW.

“PEACE IS OUR CALLING. PEACEMAKING IS OUR SKILL. THE WORLD NEEDS PEACE. PEACE NEEDS YOU”

– Sargent Shriver

R. Sargent Shriver, the first director (1961–66) of the U.S. Peace Corps, was a key architect of the program from the moment President Kennedy announced its creation. This quote, from his address at the John F. Kennedy Library on the 25th Anniversary of the Peace Corps in 1986, captures the timelessness of the values that inspired the agency from the beginning.

“BE NOT AFRAID TO SEEK PEACE, EVEN IF YOUR VOICE MAY BE SMALL”

– Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, president of Liberia (2006–18), was the first woman to be elected head of state of an African country and was one of three recipients of the 2011 Nobel Prize for Peace for their efforts to further women’s rights. She invoked the cause of peace in her Nobel Lecture upon accepting the prize on December 10, 2011.

“IT IS IN YOUR HANDS TO MAKE A BETTER WORLD FOR ALL WHO LIVE IN IT”

– Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela was South Afria’s first democratically elected president when he won the country’s first post-apartheid election in 1994 while in prison for his political activism. His commitment to justice and equality resonated beyond South Africa’s borders to inspire people around the world to work in the cause of peace. This quote was part of his speech at the 46664 concert in Hyde Park, London on June 27, 2008 for his charity promoting AIDS awareness.

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

March Newsletter: Full Speed Ahead

Thu, 28 Mar 2024 17:13:26 GMT

March Newsletter: Full Speed Ahead

Dear Supporters,

I am excited to write today with some great news on our latest fundraising effort. Last month we announced a $500,000 gift commitment for Peace Corps Park from Mrs. Jacqueline Mars, provided that we raise an equivalent amount to match. In the four weeks since, we have met the first $250,000 of the challenge and are well on our way to matching Mrs. Mars’s entire gift! The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation board of directors and advisory board led the way, with dozens of others responding enthusiastically and giving our campaign heightened momentum.

Meanwhile, Foundation board directors and our Peace Corps Park design team convened in Washington, D.C. with the National Park Service, as the final design is refined to perfection. Details like the placement of inscriptions on the granite benches, selection of lettering font, and accessibility measures are now nearly finalized. We anticipate approval of the final design by the National Park Service and U.S. Commission of Fine Arts within the next few months.

The Peace Corps Park team has expanded, too. Partnering with the design team, world-class stone letterer Nick Benson has been called on to carve the inscriptions onto the Park’s three granite benches. I’m delighted to also share that the Foundation has hired Arianna Richard (Eswatini 2019-21) and Greg Emerson (Peru 2002-05) to lend their expertise to the campaign. They join a cadre of volunteers including Jocelyn Cordell, Aida Downing, and Nancy Kelly (South Korea 1979-81) who give generously of their time and talent.

Finally, I must underscore the tremendous commitment of the Foundation’s board of directors and advisory board to the campaign for Peace Corps Park. Their exemplary financial, technical, and visionary leadership has been indispensable to our mission. Board Chair Roger Lewis alone has contributed an estimated 10,000 hours of professional services to the Foundation during his 15+ years of involvement.

You, too, can be an integral part of this legacy initiative by becoming a supporter - a gift of any amount will make a difference, and your impact would be multiplied by becoming a recurring donor. Thank you to everyone who has generously supported our mission so far!

Join me and thousands of others who are leading the way to bring the Peace Corps community’s flagship project to fruition. Your generosity is your legacy!

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PCCF Welcomes New Advisory Board Member

Nick Benson Sees the Writing on the Wall

Help Shape the Peace Corps Museum

Fundraising Update

We continue to make great progress toward our campaign goal of $10 million, with more than $3.5 million raised since our campaign began. The response to Mrs. Jacqueline Mars’s challenge to match her $500,000 gift commitment has been overwhelmingly encouraging, drawing an additional $250,000 to match it. The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since February 22, 2024 :

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$50,000 - $99,999

Thomas and Patsy Lightbown*
Sargent Shriver Peace Institute

$25,000 - $49,999

Tony Barclay*

$10,000 - $24,999

John and Analia Earhart*
Hon. Joseph Kennedy, III and Lauren Kennedy*
Mary Sue McNeill
Josephine “Jody” Olsen*
Jack and Angene Wilson*

$5,000 - $9,999

Deborah Crippen*
Daniel Duff*
Susan Corcoran Hayes*
Eleanor Lewis*
Donald R. and Haideh N. Lightfoot
Robert Terry and Judith Whitney-Terry*
Aaron Williams

$2,500 - $4,999

Michael Graglia
John Lewis
Amanda Lewis
Raymond and Judith McGuire*

$1,000 - $2,499

Dr. Jack E. Allison and Mrs. Susan Wilson*
Antoinette and Frank Almaguer
Keith and Carol Beck
Brad Carmines
Christopher Costa
Charles L. Donahue
Hon. Sam Farr*
Bonnie Gottlieb*
Steven Graham
Carrie Hessler-Radelet
Nancy Kelly*
Amanda Lewis in honor of John Lewis
David Liner
Dennis and Pamela Lucey
Anthony Marino
Wilson K. and Gwyn H. Mason*
Virginia McArthur*
Judy and Skip McGinty
M. Peter McPherson
Vivian Morgan-Mendez
Hyon and Timothy O’Brien
PayPal Giving Fund
Mark Richardson
William and Beverly Ricker*
Lex Rieffel*
Jerri Rush
Nancy Tiedeman and
Walter Mau
June Wiaz and Barry Moline
Ambassador Gaddi Vasquez
Kermit Leslie Young

Other gifts to $999

Vicky Barrette
Mary Adams
Arthur Albores
Alice Alexander
Bruce Anderson
Cheryl Anderson
Thomas Appel*
John Baird
Michael Banister
Pamela Bansbach
James Barborak
Linda Barnett
Dr. Lowell Barr
Michael Basile
Amanda Beck*
Carol J. Begeson
William P. Brandon
Peggy Bromley
Gay Brookes
Michelle Brooks*
Chris Carlisle
Charlie Carreras
Anthony Carroll*
Charities Aid Foundation of America
Jonathan Cohanne
Jac Conaway
Ron Cox
John Douglas Cuillard
Barbara Daly*
Arthur Davis
Ellen Davis-Zapata*
Kerry Dinneen
Janis Droegkamp
Peggy Dugan
Debbie Durham
Amy Earle
Ellen Field*
Kenneth E. Flies
Rose Ann Foreman and
Kenneth Sherber
John and Ellen Geiger
Richard Geltman
Sharen Gendebien
Richard N. Goldsmith
Eric and Ana Maria Graber
James and Patricia Gregoire
Blanche Griffin
Erika Harris
Jennifer Hawthorne
Patricia Helin
Elisabeth Hinshaw-Osgood
Grace Holt
Stephan Honore*
Benjamin Hubbard
Hannah Jiang
Linda Johnson
George Johnston*
Judy Joly
Barbara Jue*
William Jurkiewicz
Mary Kacen
Peter Kilmarx
Sharon R. Kinnear
Sarah J. Klinghammer
Howard Koons
Gary and Judith Kreyer
Michele Lagoy
Ellen Lanahan
Karen Larson
Burt Lazarin
Wade and Kimberle Linder
Arthur Thomas Linnell
Loretta Litke
Phil Lopes
Jack and Mary Madill
Rita A. Mays and Blaine McCutcheon
Patrick McCarthy
Bruce and Stormy McDonald
Sarah McMeans*
Barbara Meyer
Diana Meyers
Janice Miller
John C. Miller
Ann Moore
Deborah Most
Marty Mueller*
Wesley Mukoyama*
Alan Nathan
Jonathan Newell
Donella Novak
Aixa Nuno
Gregory O'Connor
Dian Odell
Vincent O'Hern
Barbara and Bill Oppenheimer
Richard Parker*
Donald Pattillo
Jerry Payne
Ann Pekarske Sager
Joseph Permetti
Tyler Posey
Reed Rambow
Maureen Reidenbach
Eric Ries
Rona Roberts
Bill Roelofs
Margaret Runnakko
Kathleen D. and James A. Russell
John H. Salem
Thomas M. Scott
Dr. William Seraile
Eugene and Kathleen Severens
Kathryn Shaw-Gardner
Steven Sheridan
Lawrence Shirley
Thomas Sinclair
Judith A. Smith
Robert Smythe*
David Snyder
Sheri Stonier-Montoya
Robert Sturm
Richard Swarttz
Robert and Carolyn Tafelski
Michael L. Telson
Evelyn Ternstrom
Carol Theil
Theodore A. Thompson
Charles and Carole Wallgren
Ruth Whitney
Sandra Wilcox Kuritsky
Jerry and Marcy Withrow*
Darrel Young*
Allene Zanger*
Gary Zimny

* New gift in addition to prior gift

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 your social media platform of choice! Follow us on any of the following networks, and re-share our posts to help raise awareness among your own community.

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

Throughout the year, I host small gatherings and meetings with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park. I’d love to connect with you or your group in the coming weeks to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together. Reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

Apr 3-6 Kansas City
Apr 7-8 Fayetteville & Little Rock
Apr 14-20 Antigua, Guatemala: Guatemala VII, VIII, and IX reunion
June 9-12 San Francisco Bay Area
July 26-27 Washington, DC: Friends of Sierra Leone meeting

To get a preview of my presentation, check out this brief video overview of Peace Corps Park posted by the Friends of Sierra Leone on their website .

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

February Newsletter: A Challenge to Inspire Us All

Thu, 29 Feb 2024 00:12:10 GMT

February Newsletter: A Challenge to Inspire Us All

Dear Supporters,

It’s now been more than a decade since Congress first authorized the establishment of a national commemorative work on Federal land in the District of Columbia “to commemorate the mission of the Peace Corps and the ideals on which the Peace Corps was founded.” For more than four years before that, thousands in the Peace Corps community had mobilized to advocate for the legislation and make the project possible.

We’ve come a long way since then. Following the Congressional authorization, we found a perfect site near the U.S. Capitol and National Mall, reviewed hundreds of design proposals, and landed on a beautiful parklike concept that was approved in November of 2022. As the final design nears completion, our vision is for Peace Corps Park to welcome visitors in person for the Peace Corps’s 65th and the United States’ 250th anniversary celebrations in 2026!

Since our fundraising efforts launched in earnest in 2023, we have raised well over $2.5 million of the $10 million needed to break ground. We are thrilled to share the news of the recent $500,000 challenge gift from world-renowned philanthropist Jacqueline Mars, giving momentum to our capital campaign at a critical time. We’ll be looking to match this generous contribution with support from our broad network of dedicated people who want to inspire generations of people through the values of partnership, service and compassion for others, and the Foundation’s board of directors and advisory board have already stepped up to lead the way.

Help us keep the momentum going by becoming a supporter - any amount will make a difference, and you can multiply your impact by becoming a monthly recurring donor. We thank all those who have generously supported our mission so far!

Join me and thousands of others who are leading the way to bring the Peace Corps community’s flagship project to fruition. We cannot do it without you.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Jacqueline Mars Pledges $500,000 Lead Gift

A Visit With the Peace Corps Director

PCCF Welcomes New Advisory Board Member

Fundraising Update

We continue to make great progress toward our campaign goal of $10 million, surpassing a milestone with the generous gift of Mrs. Jacqueline Mars. The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions and/or pledges since January 25, 2024 :

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$500,000 - $999,999

Jacqueline Mars

$100,000 - $249,999

Roger K. Lewis*

$50,000 - $99,999

Janet and Wylie Greig*
Maureen Orth*

$25,000 - $49,999

Donna Shalala
Jeff Zell*

$10,000 - $24,999

Glenn and Cathy Blumhorst*
Scott Nichols*

$5,000 - $9,999

Michael Newman

$2,500 - $4,999

Kay and Kevin Dixon*
Deborah Harding

$1,000 - $2,499

William Ackerman
John Arango
Linda Barnett
Susan and David Curry
Marty Mueller
Betsey Rubin Rosenbaum and Jon H. Rosenbaum
Charles Schumacher
Janet Toyooka Thibault
Darrel Young

Other gifts to $999

Mary Adams
Charles S. Amorosino, Jr.
Cheryl Anderson
Ralph Blessing
Marc Bosch
Frances Bowman
Ana Ciereszko
Maureen Crossey
Elizabeth Downes
Peter Dybwad
John Feighery
Gerald Finkelstein
Arthur J. Flanagan
Allen J. Gerber
Edward J. Gingras*
Stephen Glock
Bryce Hamilton
William Hetzer
Ann Hopkins
Sharon Keld
Robert Kendig
Howard Koons
Sandra Wilcox Kuritsky
Evelyn LaTorre
Linda Lipscy
Larry and Patty Longard
Michael McKibbin
Robert J. Meade
Marnie Mueller
Tom Mullins
Douglas Noble
Jessica Rogers
Margaret Runnakko
Ronald Schwarz
Amy Statsny
Victoria Tunba
Mary Weinhold
Kathleen Williams-Ging

Charlotte Area Peace Corps Association
Sacramento RPCVs

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

Throughout the year I’ll be hosting small gatherings and meeting with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park. I’d love to connect with you or your group in the coming weeks to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together once it’s built. Reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup!

Feb 22-27 South Florida from Vero Beach to Miami
Apr 14-20 Antigua, Guatemala: Guatemala VII, VIII, and IX reunion
June 9-12 San Francisco Bay Area

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

January Newsletter: Peace Corps Park starting 2024 off right!

Thu, 25 Jan 2024 00:32:32 GMT

January Newsletter: Peace Corps Park starting 2024 off right!

Dear Supporters,

As we begin 2024, I am immensely grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support for Peace Corps Park by this community during our year-end fundraising campaign. Thanks to your partnership, enthusiasm, and generous philanthropy, we have surpassed our 2023 fundraising goal of $2.5 million. We are starting the year well on our way to the $10 million goal that will allow us to break ground on this important project.

With your leadership, Peace Corps Park is not just possible, it is happening!

The Foundation’s capital campaign launched in earnest in 2023, with the first and foremost objective being to raise awareness of Peace Corps Park to lay the groundwork for our long-term mission. To that end, last year I traveled to 25 states to visit with stakeholders from across our community about this project. It was gratifying to hear your ideas and share your excitement as you rallied around our vision.

With the final design nearing completion, we anticipate presenting it to the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts for review by midyear. Construction documents will define the work to be done by the contractors involved in bringing the Park to reality. Meanwhile, our team continues to conceptualize the visitor experience, including plans for interfacing our digital companion with the National Park Service’s virtual assistant and wayfinding strategy for the National Mall.

This month, we welcome Ambassador Julia Chang Bloch (Malaysia 1964-66) to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Advisory Board. In accepting her nomination, Ambassador Bloch shared her excitement: “I can’t think of a better time for me to rejoin the Peace Corps family. The world needs peace today more than ever. I see Peace Corps Park in the heart of our nation’s capital as a living memorial to inspire the search for world peace through service. Thank you for giving me the privilege of being a part of this great endeavor.”

I am thankful for the visionary leadership of our board of directors and advisory board members, the generous contributions of our supporters, and the extraordinary response of the whole community to this flagship initiative.

Please help us keep the momentum going by becoming a monthly supporter - even a commitment of $10 a month makes a difference.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

In partnership with the National Park Service

With a commitment to maintaining Peace Corps Park in perpetuity, the National Park Service is a key strategic stakeholder in bringing our vision to our nation's capital. They have been with us throughout the approvals process and have been a valuable thought partner on how to ensure the site lives up to our ambitions to establish a permanent place to inspire generations of Americans around the values of service, partnership and peace.

Central to this effort are the National Park Service’s iPhone and Android apps, which help visitors find their way with interactive maps, park tours and more. We are excited to work with the talented NPS team to ensure that Peace Corps Park is included and highlighted to app users who visit the National Mall, as well as to connect them with the dedicated digital experience that we are working on to bring the Park to life digitally.

We thank Robin Nixon and her whole team at NPS for being such valuable partners and look forward to collaborating even more closely as the park takes shape.

PCCF Welcomes New Advisory Board Member

¡Adelante Colombia!

For decades, there has been an ongoing debate about which cohort of Peace Corps Volunteers – Colombia I, Ghana I, or Tanganyika (Tanzania) I – was the first to serve when the Peace Corps was established in 1961. But there is no doubt about which group is leading the way in support of Peace Corps Park. Sparked by their excitement about this legacy initiative, the Colombia I returned volunteer cohort – “Los Uneros” – has launched a spirited mini-campaign to raise funds from within their group, aiming for 100 percent participation. Having collectively raised more than $10,000, they are now challenging the Colombia II cohort and the 80 that followed to match or exceed that level. Colombia II currently stands at $7,000 and Colombia VIII is closing in, with $6,250 raised so far.

We’re excited to see how many other volunteer cohorts will rise to the challenge and take inspiration from Colombia’s leadership!

Fundraising Update

We continue to make good progress toward our campaign goal of $10 million, surpassing a milestone with $2.5 million, or 25 percent, of our goal committed so far. The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions and/or pledges since November 21, 2023:

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$25,000 - $49,999
Thomas and Patsy Lightbown*

$10,000 - $24,999
Robert Crooks*
Matthew Essieh*
Franklin Innes*
Diana MacArthur*
Josephine “Jody” Olsen*
JM Zell Partners, Ltd*

$5,000 - $9,999
Donna Anderson*
Johnny Bennett
J.C. Dumestre
Steven and Nancy Fischman
Priscilla Goldfarb*
Sherwood Guernsey
Donald R. and Haideh Lightfoot*
Mike and Natalie Hall
Scott and Muriel Nichols*

$2,500 - $4,999
Anonymous
Deborah Harding
Pete Johnson
Sandra Jaffee
Maddie Kadas
Joseph Kennedy, III*
Raymond and Judith McGuire*
Christopher and Jeannie Siegler
Sarah “Sally” Wells*

$1,000 - $2,499
Frank and Antoinette Almaguer*
Anthony Carroll
Charles and Martha Clifford
Nicholas Craw
Katherine Crosson
Peter Dalum
Karen DeGrange
Martia Glass*
Allan Hall
Lyle Harding
Kathleen Harnig*
Susan Hayes*
Carrie Hessler-Radelet*
Stephan Honore
Barbara Kelly
The Charles R. Larson Fund
Albert “Buster” Lewis
Dennis Lucey
Gwyn and Wilson Mason*
Earl McGinty
Colin Meghoo
Margaret Melun
Nancy Morrin
Marty Mueller
Mary Pendleton*
Murty Polavarapu*
Nancy Polich
Frank Price*
Bruce Richardson
George Scharffenberger
Allen Webb
Aaron Williams*
Jack and Angene Wilson*
Kermit Leslie Young

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Connect with us in person

Like I did last year, throughout 2024 I’ll be hosting small gatherings and meeting with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park. I’d love to connect with you or your group in the coming weeks to let you know about the project and our vision for how it will bring our community together once it’s built. Reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meeting!

Feb 3 Washington, D.C.: Friends of Tanzania annual potluck
Feb 10 Northern Virginia annual meeting and potluck
Feb 22-26 South Florida
Apr 14-20 Antigua, Guatemala: Guatemala VII, VIII, and IX reunion
June 9-12 San Francisco Bay Area

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Glenn Blumhorst: This Is About So Much More Than Building a Park

Sun, 31 Dec 2023 00:38:28 GMT

Glenn Blumhorst: This Is About So Much More Than Building a Park

Dear Supporters,

Growing up as a farm kid in Missouri, there was no way I could even imagine the places my life would take me. But from the very beginning, my parents taught me the values that continue to fuel me today. My dad used to tell me that, for every dollar I earn, I should save some, spend some, and give some away.

My father was also a Marine. He believed in the importance of serving your country and that same commitment to service was always expected of me. When I took my first trip to Washington, D.C. in high school, I was impressed and inspired by the American story and the monuments to the heroism and sacrifice of those who died serving the cause of freedom.

But I knew that military service was not the best fit for me. While I later discovered the Peace Corps in college, I know that if I had seen anything during that formative trip to D.C. that promoted the ideals of peace and partnership it would have resonated with me deeply as a different route from the military.

This is the unique opportunity of the Peace Corps Park project – to tell a different side of our story as a nation than anything else you’ll encounter in our nation's capital – and I hope you will help bring it to life with a generous contribution .

Peace Corps service dramatically changed my worldview. My wife and I served together in Guatemala – our son was later born there – and when we got back to the U.S. I knew that my life would not be the same. I was bilingual, bicultural, and driven to continue applying everything I knew in service of others.

I had a meaningful and rewarding 19-year career with ACDI/VOCA, which included 10 years in Bolivia, before I was asked to lead the National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) as its president and CEO. It was at NPCA that I first learned of the initiative to build Peace Corps Park, and while I helped mobilize the advocacy effort to secure congressional authorization, it wasn’t until I recognized the educational potential of the project that I became so deeply committed to helping it become a reality.

It was a privilege to lead NPCA for those 10 years, and I am even more honored to now have a major leadership role in bringing Peace Corps Park to fruition. But it is the lasting educational impact that the project will have that has inspired me to put so much enthusiasm and energy into this flagship Peace Corps community initiative.

Building the park is the first step. Building the educational components of the digital visitor experience will truly have a snowball effect by forever inspiring generations of people who come to the site. There they will understand the enduring values and ideals of the Peace Corps and the importance of service and community partnership both at home and around the world.

We seek broad community participation. Your generosity in supporting the project with a contribution in your year-end giving plans will allow us to get started sooner on the timeless storytelling that will mobilize and motivate all those who experience Peace Corps Park either online or during an in-person visit to Washington, D.C.

Thank you for your support and partnership; we literally cannot do this without you.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Aida Downing: These values unite us all

Thu, 28 Dec 2023 15:23:56 GMT

Aida Downing: These values unite us all

Dear Supporters,

Four years ago, when I started volunteering my time to support the effort to build Peace Corps Park in Washington, D.C., it was as a favor to my business partner (and PCCF Board Member) Jeff Zell, who asked that I help produce a brochure. I thought that would be that.

What I discovered, as I got to know the people working on this project, was a passion for service that united them – a dedication to a life of positive change that resonated with my life and made it impossible for me to look away.

Though I never served in the Peace Corps, I’ve spent significant parts of my life outside the U.S. and learned that when you experience a world so different from the one you’ve known, you develop a deeper, more compassionate perspective on what matters, and how individuals can make a tremendous difference in people’s lives. The world needs more of this perspective, and I hope you will help us inspire generations to come by supporting this project in your year-end giving plans .

As a child, I grew up with a well-educated immigrant father, who after 25 years in the U.S. as a research scientist, decided it was time to give back to the people of his native Nicaragua, where he felt his talents could make a real difference. He moved our family there and through the remaining 50 years of his life as a university professor, a business leader, and de facto community center, he demonstrated the same values that the Peace Corps has represented for a generation of global citizens.

Upon returning to the U.S. and setting about building the next phase of my life in Washington, I was fortunate to find a career with Jeff, who broke the traditional mold of the commercial real estate business and demonstrated how it can strengthen communities and empower those who serve others. Through its work with many nonprofit organizations, JM Zell’s overarching goal was to ensure that an organization’s real estate assets supported its mission-critical operations and helped it thrive. His own generosity set the tone for how each of us on his team thought about the work we did – both professionally and personally.

This experience led to my more-than-20-year relationship with La Clinica del Pueblo in Washington, D.C., which provides community-based access to healthcare and health equity in the local Latino community. To honor my father, I have also sponsored nearly a dozen children in my father’s birthplace of Granada, Nicaragua, through Empowerment International, which provides truly remarkable educational programs for some of the most at-risk, impoverished children on the planet. Through these organizations, I have witnessed the impactful work they do to address the immediate, critical needs of these communities and to break the cycle of generational poverty.

The Peace Corps is a powerful model of service and outreach, with the reputation and leadership to amplify these shared values. And Peace Corps Park is uniquely positioned to serve as a focal point for inspiring generations of visitors to something greater than themselves. I know it can serve as a catalyst to help people think differently about the world and about their communities – and their own roles in creating a better, more peaceful, more just world. And that is why I am committed to helping bring this project to fruition.

There’s still a lot of work to be done for us to accomplish this ambition, and I hope you will join me in helping bring Peace Corps Park to the world by making a contribution . Together we can build something entirely new in our nation’s capital that tells the rest of America’s story and inspires everyone who visits to connect with their community, serve others and form the partnerships that help make the world a better place.

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Matt Essieh: Giving back to a cause that has given me so much

Tue, 19 Dec 2023 01:01:39 GMT

Matt Essieh: Giving back to a cause that has given me so much

As a child, I always enjoyed school, and was one of the best students in my class. But my family didn’t have the means to send me to high school, so I moved across the border to the Ivory Coast to earn money to pay for my education, and that’s where I first encountered the Peace Corps.

When I met these three American volunteers, I was struck by their passion and generosity. They were teaching English, and I would see the interest they took in their students, even outside of school. Even though I wasn’t one of their students, they showed me the same generosity and we became close friends.

Later, when I graduated from high school back in Ghana, Sue’s family helped me apply to university, and they invited me to stay at their farm in Oregon before classes started. I arrived in the middle of winter and experienced snow for the first time in my life. It was cold, but it was like living a dream.

Thanks to their kindness, I was able to earn my degree in business and computer science, and gained experience that would help me start my own business. A few years later, after the business had become successful, I created the Matthew & Emmanuella Essieh Foundation as a way to give back to my community, and to pay forward the values of service and generosity that I learned from the volunteers I had known when I was younger. In a world wracked by wars and conflict, these values are so important, and live on long after we as individuals are gone.

This is why I'm happy to support the Peace Corps Park project. On a personal level, I am a beneficiary of the values the Park represents, and wouldn’t it be nice if future generations could be inspired to embody those values too? Please join me in helping make this park a reality by making a donation , so that when it's completed, I can come to visit with my friends and family, and share the power and impact of service.

Thank you for your support of this important project.

Matt Essieh

President & CEO, EAI Information Systems
Founder, Matthew & Emmanuella Essieh Foundation

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Maureen Orth: Why I chose to support Peace Corps Park

Thu, 07 Dec 2023 15:45:44 GMT

Maureen Orth: Why I chose to support Peace Corps Park

Dear Supporters,

It’s been almost six decades since I first set foot in Medellín, Colombia, taking a giant leap into the unknown as a Peace Corps Volunteer. At the time, I didn’t know if I would succeed or fail – but by God, I was going to try to make a difference.

The skills that I developed during my service – the importance of listening, flexibility and perseverance – have animated my life ever since, and have reinforced time and again the impact a person can have when they commit to giving something back.

That is the reason I donated to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation, and I hope you will consider making a generous gift as well .

In Colombia, I learned an indelible lesson: God does not play favorites with brains or talent – it’s only opportunity that restricts a person from achieving their potential. One of my most significant projects as a volunteer was to help build a school on a high mountaintop outside my barrio, to provide a place for the young people I lived among to pursue their dreams.

Almost 20 years ago, I created the Marina Orth Foundation to build on this mission of providing educational opportunities that give students and teachers the tools to compete in the 21st century, and we now have programs focused on tech, robotics, teacher training and English in more than 20 schools in Colombia.

In just the past few months, my students have won a bronze medal at the International Youth Robot Competition (beating out some of the best private school teams from around the world) and swept the gold, silver and bronze medals at RoboRave. I could not be more proud of what they have achieved.

This is why the effort to build Peace Corps Park in Washington, D.C. is so important to me. We are surrounded here by monuments to wars and battles, but it is imperative that we celebrate how enriched this nation is by global service, idealism and the understanding and wisdom we get by learning how others see the world that we all share.

Please join me and all those who have supported the project so far with a gift to this commemorative that symbolizes the friendships and ideals that generations of volunteers have learned abroad and brought back home to share with our communities. Help us tell the rest of America’s story and inspire everyone who visits to pursue a lifetime of service .

The foundation thanks you for your support, no matter how much you’re able to contribute.

Yours in service,

Maureen Orth

RPCV Colombia (1964-66)

Founder, Marina Orth Foundation / Fundación Marina Orth

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

Giving Tuesday: Your chance to make Peace Corps Park a reality

Tue, 28 Nov 2023 15:58:06 GMT

Giving Tuesday: Your chance to make Peace Corps Park a reality

Dear Supporters,

There are many reasons people choose to give, but one thing we all have in common is that we want to use our resources to make a positive impact. We have chosen to support the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation because we want to inspire generations of Americans to live our shared values of compassion, generosity and perseverance, and we hope you will join us .

Our project is unique: Peace Corps Park will tell a part of America’s story missing from Washington D.C.’s landscape of historic monuments and memorials, which honor political and military leaders, and those patriots who have given their lives for this country.

The countless Americans and visitors from all over the world who are inspired visiting these sacred spaces need to learn about the other side of the American ideal, a belief that all people are created equal and that, by working side-by-side in partnerships that cross the usual boundaries of society, we can make this world a better place.

As you surely know, the success of this project depends entirely on the support of people who believe in the values of service and selflessness embodied by the Peace Corps and the many other programs that mobilize and motivate people to give back to their communities. A gift to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation is an investment in the “better angels of our nature,” and a vision of our society that is needed now more than ever.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

In partnership with the National Park Service

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

November Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 16:37:05 GMT

November Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Dear Supporters,

As the season of gratitude draws near, I’m mindful of the many people who have been stalwart protagonists in this mission to establish Peace Corps Park in Washington, D.C. And I’m grateful for the honor and privilege to be leading the campaign to bring this legacy initiative to fruition.

The vision for Peace Corps Commemorative Park took its first momentous advance when it gained Congressional authorization in 2014, thanks to thousands of citizen advocates whose grassroots efforts resulted in the passage of the Peace Corps Commemorative Work Act championed by Congressman Sam Farr. In late 2020, a critical mass of constituents once again rallied behind legislation sponsored by Congressman Joe Kennedy III to pass the Peace Corps Commemorative Work Extension Act.

It was with much gratitude that we later welcomed Congressmen Farr and Kennedy to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s board of directors . We owe our appreciation to this group of distinguished community leaders that has guided Peace Corps Commemorative Park through a rigorous 24-step commemorative implementation process that included securing an ideal site near the National Mall and developing a design concept that was ultimately approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and the National Park Service.

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation board of directors has also demonstrated exemplary financial leadership, having collectively raised or contributed $1.5 million by 2022, while I also gratefully acknowledge the community advocacy and support that has sustained this project from the outset. Thanks to the generous philanthropy of hundreds of individuals, groups, and foundations we have already achieved 25 percent – or $2.5 million – toward our campaign goal of $10 million.

To put shovels in the ground in 2024, we seek the remaining $7.5 million needed for project completion. Just as the efforts of thousands of members of the Peace Corps community have kindled the flame of the Peace Corps over the decades, we hope you will make a tax-deductible gift to bring Peace Corps Park to fruition. There are many ways to support our mission , including gifts of stock, donor-advised funds, qualified charitable distributions from your IRA, charitable remainder trusts, charitable gift annuities, and bequests. Learn more about how to support the project here .

It will take all of us – returned volunteers, serving volunteers, future volunteers, family and friends, and the broader national service community – to make Peace Corps Park a reality. With a grateful heart, I wish you and yours a wonderful Thanksgiving and a blessed holiday season.

Thank you for all you do for the Peace Corps community.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Remembering Sargent Shriver

November 9 was the birthday of Sargent Shriver, the founding director of the Peace Corps and a driving force behind our nation’s many programs for volunteer and community service. While his legacy will remain intertwined with that of the Peace Corps, Shriver was also the architect and founding director of the Office of Economic Opportunity, which created domestic service programs like VISTA, Job Corps and Head Start, programs that continue to impact millions of Americans today. His experience working across cultures both domestically, in the school desegregation movement, and internationally, as a U.S. ambassador, underscored his commitment to the shared values of all people that remains as timely, relevant and inspirational today as it was when he was alive.

Remembering John F. Kennedy

Tomorrow, November 22, marks the 60th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy’s assassination, less than three years into his presidency when he was just 46 years old. One of his signature achievements was creating the Peace Corps, though his legacy expanded much farther, inspiring many more than the 250,000 individuals who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961 to pursue opportunities for national service.

We are the living legacy of Kennedy’s bold vision of political action and public service based on personal courage, sacrifice, and our belief in the common interests of all peoples to make the world a better and more inclusive place. We honor the continued impact of his words and wisdom, as relevant today as they were when he lived.

PCCF Honors Major Donors at D.C. Event

On November 9, the birthday of the Peace Corps founding director, Sargent Shriver, the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation board of directors and advisory board thanked our major donors and key supporters at an honorific event with a dramatic backdrop near the future site of Peace Corps Park and in full view of the U.S. Capitol.

Honoring the generous contributions from supporters like Gordon Radley, Jeff Zell, Maureen Orth, and Matt Essieh – whose donation was motivated by his childhood experience with PCCF board director and Cote d’Ivoire volunteer Bonnie Gottlieb – our team shared updates on the progress of the project and reinforced our shared commitment to the importance of a physical space in our nation’s capital devoted to the values of peace and service.

We hope the whole Peace Corps Park community is as motivated as we are to keep spreading the word about our work and our progress, and to encourage people in our networks to include the project in their year-end giving plans.

PCCF Welcomes New Advisory Board Members

This month, we welcome Former Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle and Former USAID Administrator Peter McPherson, to the PCCF Advisory Board. See the full list of Advisory Board members .

In Memoriam: Jay Hellman

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation mourns the passing of our friend and major benefactor, Jay Hellman.

Fundraising Update

We continue to make good progress toward our campaign goal of $10 million, reaching a milestone with 25 percent of our goal committed so far. The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions and/or pledges since October 26 :

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$10,000 - $24,999
Nancy Kelly*

$5,000 - $9,999
William Romenius
Cecelia M. Stratford*
Sue Ward*

$1,000 - $4,999
Philip and Vicki Bolton Fund*
Benny and Carol Cespedes
Antonio F. Clementino
Patrick Fine
Lynn Foden
Marilynn Foree
James G. McGeorge
David Millard*
Thomas Miller*
Curtis Rahman and Cindra Jurgensen
John and Jody Sperry
Dwight and Margaret Steen*
Michael Ward*

Other gifts to $999
Thomas Appel
David Baur
Richard Botzler
Archie and Wanita Blumhorst
Jack Conrad
Dennis Desantis
Elizabeth Downes
Helene Dudley
Patricia Edmisten
Howard Graham
Deborah Manget
Susan and John Proctor
William Stacy and Patricia Rhodes*
Lisa Rotondo
Doris Rubenstein
Robert Schultz
Mike Smith
Robert Smythe
Steve Somerson
Robert Sos
Mal Warwick*
Steven Wolf
Arthur and Ann Young

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Let's Connect

As usual, I’ll be hosting small gatherings and meeting with key stakeholders around the country to build awareness of Peace Corps Park in the coming weeks, and I’d love to connect if you or your group are interested in learning more about the project. Let me know if you’d like to arrange a meeting on any of my upcoming stops:

Dec 1-2     San Diego
Dec 3-5    Santa Fe
Dec 26-31  Minnesota
Jan 20-21   Sacramento

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

October Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Fri, 27 Oct 2023 23:19:52 GMT

October Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Dear Supporters,

October has displayed a gorgeous fall color show at my home in Silver Spring, Maryland, as well as during my recent travels that have taken me from the Hudson River Valley of New York to the Missouri River Valley to the Rio Grande Valley of New Mexico, and beyond.

I write today from Santa Fe, where my wife, Cathy (Guatemala 1988-91), and I have once again joined the Tanganyika I & II RPCV cohorts for their annual reunion and a symposium with Global Santa Fe, following an El Salvador VI reunion in Albuquerque, and a Colombia XIII reunion in Kansas City.

As we continue to spread the word about Peace Corps Park, I welcome any opportunity to join your group events to share updates on the project, either in person or virtually. Please reply to this email and let me know what you have in mind!

My quick stop in Madison, Wisconsin to meet up with the Peace Corps Park design team and sculptors provided concrete — er… granite, evidence of the progress we are making, as we are now advancing this flagship initiative through the process of materials selection and final design. See below for details and stay tuned for further updates.

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s outreach is led by board directors and advisory board members who commit to roll up their sleeves, open doors, and connect us with their networks. This month, we welcome three new advisory board members – former Ambassador and Representative Tony Hall, former Representative Mike Petri, and former Representative Mike Ward – as well as RPCV group outreach volunteer Nancy Kelly (South Korea 1979-81) and strategic communications consultant Greg Emerson (Morocco 2003, Peru 2003-2005).

I’m grateful for the tremendous outpouring of support and leadership for Peace Corps Park from our Peace Corps community as well from those who did not serve in the Peace Corps. Thank you for your dedication and commitment.

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Peace Corps Park Rocks it in Madison!

My excitement about Peace Corps Park increased immensely with a recent visit to Madison, Wisconsin. Following a warm welcome dinner from the RPCVs of Wisconsin-Madison, I joined the Peace Corps Park design team and others at Quarra Stone Company to check out samples of the various types of granite being considered for the sculpted benches of the Park and the pavers for the site’s central plaza.

American Silver Cloud granite, sourced from Broad River Quarries near Atlanta, Georgia, has emerged as our frontrunner for the stone from which the Park benches will be carved and transformed into embracing arms and open hands. We’ve all but confirmed that each of the three 32-foot, 11-ton pieces can be quarried in Atlanta, shipped to Madison, and sculpted from one single block in Quarra’s expanded facilities, planned to be operational in early 2024.

While at Quarra, I also had the opportunity to observe the robotic sculpting machines – which operate 24/7 – at work on the granite benches for the Emanuel Nine Memorial in Charleston, South Carolina. We’re still evaluating the sample granite stones and finishes for the pavers of Peace Corps Park’s Plaza, but seeing the pieces literally starting to come together really reinforced how our progress with Peace Corps Park is moving full speed ahead.

GWCF Gathers Support for Peace Corps Park

Earlier this month, Greater Washington Community Foundation President & CEO Tonia Wellons convened a small gathering of friends and supporters to discuss plans for Peace Corps Park. We are grateful for GWCF's strong support and active outreach. Read the full article here .

PCCF Welcomes New Advisory Board Members

This month, we welcome Former U.S. Representative Tony Hall, Former U.S. Representative Tom Petri, and Former U.S. Representative Mike Ward to the PCCF Advisory Board. See the full list of Advisory Board members .

Ambassador Tony Hall

Rep. Tom Petri

Mike Ward

Fundraising Update

We are making steady progress toward our campaign goal of $10 million. The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions and/or pledges since September 28 :

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$5,000 - $9,999
Stephen Fischman
Conrad Hilton Foundation

$1,000 - $4,999
Mary Martia Glass
Judith Dwan Hallet
James Hershey

Other gifts to $999
Anyway Fund
Jason Chance
Elizabeth Downs
John Feighery
Lee Hougen

Gerald Isaacson
John Kelly
Gordon MacLean
David Millard
George E. Muncrief
Daniel Muse
Michael Radman
Mark and Susan Schneider
Mary Segall
Anne Zahorik Shapiro
Dane and Judy Smith
Tanganyika I and II RPCVs
David Venzon

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Let's Connect

Dec 1-2     San Diego
Dec 3-5    Santa Fe
Dec 26-31  Minnesota
Jan 20-21   Sacramento

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

September Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Thu, 28 Sep 2023 01:01:43 GMT

September Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Dear Supporters,

From my recent travels attending the Friends of Afghanistan conference in Denver, dinner with Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of Wisconsin-Madison, a potluck gathering with the Inland Northwest Peace Corps Association in Spokane, and the Colombia VIII training group reunion in Albuquerque, I continue to be inspired by the excitement and support for Peace Corps Park from all corners of the Peace Corps community and beyond.

In that same vein, I’m thrilled to announce our Memorandum of Understanding with the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience, an initiative whose team shares our goal of establishing a physical presence in our nation’s capital dedicated to telling the story of the Peace Corps and the values that unite our community. There are many exciting ways that this relationship can improve the experience of physical and virtual visitors to both Peace Corps Park and the Museum, and we look forward to collaborating more closely on joint initiatives.

I’m also happy to share with you the inscriptions for the three, street-facing granite bench backs at the park, with a quote from Sargent Shriver facing Louisiana Avenue, the principal park entrance. Statements capturing the timeless values that the Peace Corps represents will face the other two streets surrounding the triangular site. Culminating years of research, writing and editing, the inscriptions have been reviewed and approved by the National Park Service and the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts.

Of course, none of our work would be possible without our board of directors and advisory board. This month we welcome two new board directors, Mark Rosenberg and Richard Swarttz, and feature a new member of our Advisory Board, Marieme Foote. They bring new perspectives and expertise that will fuel our leadership and enhance our overall mission going forward.

As usual, thank you to all of our new and sustaining donors, and to everyone in the community who is supporting the project by spreading the word to their networks. You can forward this newsletter, send people to our website, or connect with me when I’m traveling near you!

Yours in service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Park and Museum Formalize Collaborative Relationship

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation and the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience are pleased to announce an agreement that formalizes our strategic relationship and shared goal of establishing a physical presence in our nation’s capital dedicated to telling the story of the Peace Corps and the values that unite our community.

The collaboration will focus primarily on shaping, enriching, and sustaining the content and quality of the Peace Corps Park and Museum visitor experiences to ensure that our collective audience learns about and is inspired by the role of the Peace Corps as a vital part of American and world history.

Fun Fact: The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation was originally founded in 2002 as the Peace Corps Museum and Memorial. Our name was changed to Peace Corps Foundation in 2008, and “doing business as” Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation since 2013. The Foundation’s and Museum’s Memorandum of Understanding reunites the common vision of our respective missions – a more peaceful world through friendship and understanding.

Read the full announcement on our website

Inscriptions Drafted for Granite Benches

The design of the primary feature of Peace Corps Park, a trio of stone benches that will serve as a place for visitors to relax and contemplate the values of service and cross-cultural partnership, has taken a step forward with the drafting of three inscriptions that will greet visitors approaching from all sides. The statements proposed to be engraved on the backs of the benches are:

To meet with other men and women on the common ground of service to human welfare and dignity

-- Sargent Shriver
First Director of the Peace Corps, 1961

To affirm our shared humanity in the cause of peace
transcending differences in culture, faith, and ethnicity

To live and work with others, to teach and learn
improving lives through mutual understanding, trust, and respect

These statements aim to convey the universal values embodied by — but not exclusive to — the Peace Corps and the many volunteers who have served in the program since its founding. How do they resonate with you?

PCCF Board of Directors Expands

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Board of Directors has recently elected two new members, with the intention of enhancing the organization’s legal, financial, and fundraising capacity for the future. New Board Director Richard Swarttz was also elected to serve as the new Board Treasurer while new Board Director Mark Rosenberg will serve as in-house General Counsel. Board President Roger K. Lewis expressed his deep appreciation and heartfelt gratitude to outgoing treasurer, Bonnie Gottlieb, “for her many years of stalwart, diligent, and dedicated work, which included serving as bookkeeper as well as vice president, secretary, and legal counsel.”

Meet the entire Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Board of Directors

Mark L. Rosenberg

Richard Swarttz

New Advisory Board Member

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Advisory Board serves as a critical community champion of Peace Corps Park. Members of the Advisory Board share their gifts in service to the PCCF mission by providing their professional expertise, diverse knowledge of constituent perspectives, connections to local, national, or international resources, colleagues or peers, philanthropic support, and other forms of needed assistance.

Meet the entire Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Advisory Board

Marieme Foote

Fundraising Update

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$25,000 - $49,999
Robert and Joanne Crooks

Eleanor and Roger Lewis*

$5,000 - $9,999
Stephen Groff

$1,000 - $4,999
Edward Chalker
Deborah Crippen
Steven C. Lowe

Other gifts to $999
Ralph Bennett
Ralph Cherry
John Feighery
Pamela George
Terence and Norma Hannigan
Marya Nowakowski
Therese Salus
Jerry Withrow

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Let's Connect

Oct 5-6 New York City

Oct 12-19 Missouri

Oct 20-24 Santa Fe

Oct 25-29 Los Angeles area

Nov 3-5 Minnesota

Dec 3-5 Santa Fe

Dec 26-31 Minnesota

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

August Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Fri, 25 Aug 2023 00:35:34 GMT

August Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Dear Supporters,

It’s been a busy summer on the road with the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation, as I raise awareness of – and funds for – Peace Corps Park. We’re making steady progress toward reaching our total project goal of $10 million, of which more than $2 million already has been raised. Our efforts were further bolstered in August, when former Ohio Governor Bob Taft, former U.S. Representative Jim Walsh, and Kansas City businessman John Hoffman joined our leadership ranks as new members of the Foundation’s advisory board.

Our expanding Advisory Board serves the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation as a champion for Peace Corps Park. Members of the Advisory Board share their gifts in service to the Foundation's mission by providing their professional expertise; diverse knowledge of constituent perspectives; connections to local, national, or international resources, colleagues or peers; philanthropic support; or other forms of needed assistance.

Strategic collaboration and communication are essential elements to achieving our mission. So, while it may seem to be a relation of strange bedfellows, I’ve also found Mr. Jan Scruggs, founder of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, to be a strategic ally and advocate for Peace Corps Park.

Meanwhile, Peace Corps Park moves through the final design process. Last week we took a look at several options for the granite that will be sourced to sculpt the Park’s three 30-foot-long embracing arms and hands. Two stones have emerged as top contenders: “silver cloud” and “verde marina.” Different granites will likely be chosen for the Park’s center plaza and world map. We and our design team will more closely evaluate them in the coming weeks.

It’s ever more exciting to imagine Peace Corps Park as a reality! Thank you for your support toward that end.

In service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PS In July we introduced the Peace Corps Park design team. Read more here about Larry Kirkland and associates.

War and Peace

The Vietnam Veterans Memorial stands as a symbol of America’s honor and recognition of the men and women who served and sacrificed their lives in the Vietnam War. The Memorial is dedicated to honor the courage, sacrifice and devotion to duty and country of all who answered the call to serve during one of the most divisive wars in U.S. history.

A Living Legend: Winnie Evans

The Peace Corps community includes thousands of individuals who have served our country in the military as well as the Peace Corps. One of them, Major Winifred Evans, was recently honored with a “Living Legend” proclamation from the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, Virginia. Upon retiring from the U.S. Air Force after six years of service, Winnie went on to serve in Togo as a Peace Corps Volunteer (1962-64), setting up immunization centers and vaccinating thousands of children. And she’s still serving her local community at 105 years young! Read this article in FFXNow about the amazing Winnie Evans.

PCCF Welcomes New Members to the Advisory Board

This month, we welcome Former Ohio Governor Bob Taft, Former U.S. Representative Jim Walsh, and John Hoffman to the PCCF Advisory Board.

Gov. Bob Taft

Rep. James T. Walsh

John Hoffman

Campaign Approaches 25% Toward Goal

Total funds raised in support of Peace Corps Park are approaching 25 percent toward our campaign goal of $10 million.

Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions and/or pledges since July 25 :

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$1,000 - $4,999
Arlene Goldberg

Bonnie Gottlieb*

Jerri Rush

Hon. Mike Ward

Daniel and Carolyn Waterman

Other gifts to $999
Peter Boynton
Julie Evans Mera
Howard Fenton
John Hatch
David Lipinski
Ronald Morgan
Sarah Prosser
Jessica Romm
The Sloan-Gong Family
Gregory Strick
Steve Swick
Marion Taylor
Kelley Willett

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Connect with us on social media

@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X

Let's Connect

Oct 5-6 New York City

Oct 12-19 Missouri

Oct 20-24 Santa Fe

Oct 25-29 Los Angeles area

Nov 3-5 Minnesota

Dec 3-5 Santa Fe

Dec 26-31 Minnesota

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

July Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Fri, 28 Jul 2023 01:02:35 GMT

July Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Dear Supporters,

Greetings from Santa Rosa, California, where I’m gathering with dozens of Peace Corps community members at the Amigos de Honduras annual conference. I’m in the final stretch of a seven-week journey that began with a 10-day family trip to Bolivia, South America (including a bout with Covid), and continued across the United States, with stopovers in North Carolina, Tennessee, Minnesota, Oregon, Colorado, and California to promote the Peace Corps community’s flagship initiative – Peace Corps Park. I’ll swing through Missouri this weekend to join the Kansas City RPCVs for their annual potluck dinner as I return to Washington, D.C.

Excitement is building, as we make steady progress toward establishment of Peace Corps Park on a designated National Park Service site near the U.S. Capitol and the National Mall in Washington, D.C.

My visits out west were especially meaningful and inspiring, where I met with one of the Foundation’s leadership donors, Matthew Essieh, whose Peace Corps impact story that took him from rural Ghana to Portland will be featured in one of our upcoming newsletters. I also dropped in at the studios of Peace Corps Park design artist Larry Kirkland and project manager John Grant to learn more about the project's design and construction processes.

Larry’s team is now working on the final design for Peace Corps Park and the Foundation team will soon start work on the prototype of a “digital companion” for Peace Corps Park to optimize the interactive visitor experience. You’ll have the opportunity to hear more about both of these exciting developments in a virtual meet and greet session we are planning for early September.

Meanwhile, we’re now approaching $2.25 million in funds raised toward our campaign goal of $10 million. Your generous financial leadership has enabled the Peace Corps Park project to stay on track for an anticipated 2024 groundbreaking.

If you’d like to know more about plans for Peace Corps Park, meet up when I’m in your area, or hear about the amazing new “Teleferico” aerial cable car system in La Paz, Bolivia, send me an email or give me a call at 443-240-4080.

In service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Meet the Design Team

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation has entrusted the design team of Peace Corps Park to the acclaimed artist Larry Kirkland. His large-scale, multi-dimensional public artworks have been featured in various settings, such as institutional and municipal buildings, transit hubs, research facilities, libraries, universities, cruise ships and urban parks and plazas in major cities across the globe. Some of his notable commissions include artworks at Pennsylvania Station in New York; the American Red Cross Headquarters and National Academies of Science in Washington, D.C.; Putra World Trade Center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia; and Kansai International Airport in Osaka, Japan.

An integral member of the team is the nationally recognized firm Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, who are developing the all-important park landscaping.

My extended lunch with Larry in Portland, a quick trip across the Columbia River to see his recent Vancouver Waterfront project, followed by a coffee chat in Denver with project manager John Grant and digital illustrator Michael Mowry, gave me a much better understanding of the process for creating Peace Corps Park and a greater appreciation for the phenomenal team working with the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on this project.

We’ll be hosting a meet and greet with the design team in the future and share with you more about Larry’s team and design progress soon.

PCCF Welcomes New Members to the Advisory Board

This month, we welcome former U.S. Representatives Steve Driehaus and Chris Shays, and Diana MacArthur.

Rep. Steve Driehaus

Rep. Diana MacArthur

Rep. Christopher Shays

New Contributions

Total funds raised in support of Peace Corps Park are approaching $2.25 million – just over 22 percent toward our campaign goal of $10 million.

Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions and/or pledges since June 1 :

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$50,000 - $99,999

Ron Boring

$25,000 - $49,999

Creative Associates*
Elena Russell*

$1,000 - $4,999
Margaret Bangham
Chad and Cecilia Bardone
Geri Critchley
Bud Ovram
Stephen Thayer
Jeff Zell/JM Zell Partners, Ltd*

Other gifts to $999
Barry Adamson
Stephen Adolphus
Stephen Betzner
Don Boileau
John Douglas

Jesse and Gloria Dubin
Gordon Ferris
Christine Gavitt
Ashley Givan
Anna and Matt Grady
James Heaton
Jane Hellman
Janice Hudanish
Alan Johnston
Jakob Lain
Jeane Lind
Nathan Muzos
Michael Naugle
Peter Nerone
Hedda Patzke
Thomas Potter
William Ricker
Robert and Susan Star

* New gift in addition to prior gift

On the Road Again!

I look forward to connecting with you around the country, as we host small gatherings and meet with key stakeholders to build awareness of Peace Corps Park. My upcoming travel and events schedule:

Jul 29-Aug 4 Kansas City area

Aug 11-13 Eastern Shore, Maryland

Aug 25-28 Chautauqua Institution/Buffalo area

Sep 18-20 Albuquerque/Santa Fe

Sep 20-22 Denver area

Sep 23-24 Spokane

Sep 25-26 Seattle area

Sep 27-29 Oregon

Sep 30-Oct 1 Seattle area

Oct 12-15 Kansas City area

Oct 26-30 Los Angeles area

Hope to see you soon!

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

June Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Thu, 01 Jun 2023 01:28:01 GMT

June Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Dear Supporters,

It’s so exciting to see Peace Corps Park on its way to becoming a reality, as the Peace Corps community rallies around this monumental initiative. I’m so gratified to be leading the campaign, working alongside stalwart board directors and volunteers that give generously of their time, talent, and resources to advance our cause.

Thanks to your robust response to our outreach, we have already surpassed the milestone of $2 million in funds raised toward our goal of $10 million. With fresh funds to support our ongoing work, we are moving ahead on the final design for Peace Corps Park, based on the design concept approved in November 2021 by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts and by the National Capital Planning Commission on September 1, 2022.

Our Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation Advisory Board continues to expand, with an impressive coalition of former Peace Corps Directors, former members of Congress, and other distinguished Peace Corps community leaders now championing our mission with powerful voices.

In service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Commemorative Featured in May WorldView

"A Walk in the Park," co-authored by Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation President Roger K. Lewis and Chief Advancement Officer Glenn A. Blumhorst, was just published in the Spring 2023 issue of WorldView magazine. It traces the history of Peace Corps Park – an initiative over 20 years in the making – from its Congressional charter, through the design concept proposals and approvals, to its envisioned impact. In upcoming editions of WorldView, we plan to share ideas we’ve received for the Peace Corps Park visitor experience, Peace Corps community stories related to the Park, and inspirational insights from the design artists.

PCCF Welcomes New Members to the Advisory Board

Carol Bellamy

Mark Gearan

Maureen Orth

Peace Corps Park Enters Final Design Phase

We are signing agreements with our design team, Larry Kirkland Studio and Michael Vergason Landscape Architects , so we can begin in June the final phase of Commemorative design and engineering for the artwork and site work for Peace Corps Park. The goal of this phase is to meet in November 2023 with the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts for final design approval, on track with our aim of breaking ground in 2024.

While design work proceeds, we will continue to pursue the remaining $8 million needed for the project, all of which is needed before breaking ground to cover the direct and indirect costs of construction as well as the federally required National Park Service maintenance endowment.

PCCF on Social Media and LinkedIn!

We appreciate the collaboration and partnership with Jocelyn Cordell, a member of the Peace Corps community, in helping the organization take our next steps and transition onto social media for the first time.

We are now live! Please check out and like/follow/share our social media pages with friends, family, and members of the community on Facebook , Instagram Twitter , and LinkedIn .

May Contributions

Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions or made pledges during May:

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$5,000 - $9,999

Friends of Korea

$1,000 - $4,999
E. Jack Allison and Susan E. Wilson*
J. Henry Ambrose
Jane E. and Charles A. Beach
Virginia McArthur
Anna Whitcomb

Other gifts to $999
William Amos
Matthew Bach
Mary Alice Ball
Kathleen Barco
Carol Cissel
Michael Guralnick
Sarah McMeans
LuMarie Polivka-West

* New gift in addition to prior gift

On the Road Again!

I hope to see you this summer and fall as I make another swing westward as we continue to host small gatherings and meet with stakeholders. Send me a note at GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org if you are interested in getting together.

Next stops:

July 2-4 Minneapolis/St. Paul area

July 19-23 Denver area

July 26-30 San Francisco area
Sept 18-22 Albuquerque/Santa Fe area

Sept 28-30 Oregon
Oct 1-2 Seattle area

Oct 12-15 Kansas City area

Oct 26-30 Los Angeles area

Hope to see you soon!

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

May Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Thu, 04 May 2023 01:47:27 GMT

May Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Dear Supporters,

I've just returned from a two-week trip to the West Coast, invigorated by the conversations with community members who share my excitement about Peace Corps Commemorative Park. It was great to see many of the stakeholders like you who have been vital to our mission.

Raising awareness of the Peace Corps Commemorative is a foremost objective. At the same time, we are listening to your thoughts and reflections about the Commemorative, such as how we can optimize its impact on world peace and friendship beyond the inaugural ribbon cutting.

On another note, you've helped imagine how the physical infrastructure can be brought to life by the creative design of an interactive visitor experience through technology and strategic partnerships. And there will be an opportunity for continuous programming to ensure the greatest impact of Peace Corps Park in perpetuity.

Please keep the ideas coming. And help spread the word about Peace Corps Park by forwarding this newsletter, referring others to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation website , and/or inviting us to present at your workplace, gathering, or event.

Thank you for your generous and steadfast leadership of this legacy initiative.

In service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

Remembering Pat Wand (Colombia 1963-65)

The Peace Corps community was shocked and saddened to learn of the sudden loss of our dear friend and Peace Corps champion, Patricia Wand. Pat passed away in Spain last Wednesday, where she had just arrived to continue the next leg of her trek on the Camino de Santiago. However, to call Pat a pilgrim on life’s path is misnomer—she was more a guide at the front of the line, holding a torch high to illuminate the way.

Pat was a National Peace Corps Association board director and member of the search committee that recruited and hired me as President and CEO in 2013. We forged a close professional relationship and deep friendship over the years, and we would chat by phone nearly every day, often for hours. She was one of my most trusted advisors and mentors. Just days prior to Pat’s trip to Spain, my wife, Cathy, and I shared a moment of deep introspection and a sentimental farewell hug with Pat in our home that I will cherish in my memory of her.

Pat embodied the Peace Corps' Third Goal and was a visionary leader who brought unmatched energy and enthusiasm to the movement to establish a Museum of the Peace Corps Experience. Over the last few weeks, we had explored and ideated potential opportunities to help bring the Peace Corps Commemorative Park to life through synergies with the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience.

I am committed to doing my part to help advance Pat’s vision for the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience, as I believe it will ultimately enhance the impact of the Commemorative by helping tell the Peace Corps story. Pat has passed the torch on to us to complete her earthly mission. We can honor her legacy by pressing onward and upward in her memory. I extend my most sincere condolences to all of Pat’s many friends and family.

Remembering Pat Wand - Museum of the Peace Corps Experience

PCCF Welcomes New Members to the Advisory Board

Donna Shalala

Nick Craw

Mark Schneider

PepsiCo Foundation Grant Awarded

We are pleased to announce that the PepsiCo Foundation has recently awarded the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation a $250,000 grant . This is the largest single contribution to date received in support of the Commemorative project. PepsiCo Foundation’s generous financial leadership gives our campaign an early surge of momentum as we advance toward our goal of $10 million.

The Peace Corps dedication to promoting world peace and friendship through acts of service across the globe aligns with the PepsiCo Foundation’s global to local approach to be a force of local, lasting and leading change. The PepsiCo Foundation holds volunteerism as one of its core values encouraging employees to give back to the communities where we live and work. This alignment led the Foundation to sponsor and contribute to the Peace Corps Commemorative fund that honors volunteerism, service, and support to local communities. Together we can create a more equitable society for all.

- The PepsiCo Foundation

Recent Individual Contributions

Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions or made pledges during April:

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$100,000 - $249,999

Jay Hellman
Maureen Orth

$5,000 - $9,999

Michael and Pegi Touff

$1,000 - $4,999
Tony Barclay
Robert Graulich
Deborah Harding
Gerard Krzic
Susan Malick

Other gifts to $999
James and Yongbok Mayer
John Ratigan
Ruth Stepien
Joan Velasquez

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Let's Connect

I look forward to connecting with you around the country, as we continue to host small gatherings and meet with key stakeholders to build awareness of the Peace Corps Commemorative.

Next stops:

 May 19-22 Asheville and Durham/Raleigh

May 25-26 Chicago area

May 27-31 Kansas City area

July 19-23 Denver area

July 24-26 Seattle area

July 27-30 San Francisco area

Hope to see you soon!

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

March Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Thu, 23 Mar 2023 02:04:35 GMT

MARCH 2023 UPDATE

Dear Supporters,

Greetings from sunny Miami! It’s always great to be out in the Peace Corps community, visiting with those of you who provide the generous financial leadership to advance the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s mission. I’ll be making my way up the eastern coast after a few days in south Florida. Next month, I'll be in California, then the northeast U.S. in May, and later that month in Chicago. We’ll be hosting small group gatherings and individual meetings with key stakeholders to update on the Commemorative’s progress and invite participation. I hope to see you at one of our events in Washington, D.C or around the country!

In service,

Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

New Board Members

The visionary leadership of a strong and dedicated board of directors is advancing the Peace Corps Commemorative project. This month, we officially welcome two new members to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation’s Board of Directors.

Advisory Board Established

Design Update

Thanks to the recent influx of generous donations, PCCF is now in a position to soon release the design teams, artist Larry Kirkland and Michael Vergason Landscape Architects, to undertake the essential design development phase, during which Commemorative site and artwork designs are developed in detail for approval by the Commission of Fine Arts. Those approvals will allow us to finalize construction drawings and specifications.

Over the coming months, we are hopeful that the PCCF will achieve our $8.5 million capital campaign goal. This not only will fund these final pre-construction phases, it also will enable ground-breaking and construction in 2024.

My recent visit to the Commemorative site shows just how close it is to the US Capitol and the National Mall. What a remarkable spot for visitors to gather, contemplate and be inspired by this meaningful representation of those American ideals embodied in Peace Corps service.

A portion of the conceptual design approved by the Commission of Fine Arts in November 2022.

Recent Contributions

Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation gratefully acknowledges the following individuals who have made generous contributions and/or pledges in the last month:

See the full list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation on our website.

$100,000 - $249,999

Jay Hellman*

$10,000 - $24,999

Rich and Susan Eyre

$5,000 - $9,999

Glenn and Cathy Blumhorst*

$1,000 - $4,999
Charles Hobbie*
Paul Sack

Other gifts to $999
Stephen Adolphus
Robert Bent
Steve Buckner
Paul Converse
Angela Harris
Alexis Rieffel
Clay Westcott

* New gift in addition to prior gift

Let's Connect

I look forward to connecting with you around the country, as we host small gatherings and meet with key stakeholders to build awareness of the Peace Corps Commemorative. My upcoming travel and events schedule:

March 23-27: Miami/Ft. Lauderdale
March 28-30: Palm Beach/Delray
March 30-31: Tampa/Ft. Myers/Naples
April 20-24: Los Angeles area
April 25-31: San Francisco area
May 12-13: Vermont, New Hampshire
May 24-25: Chicago area

In service,

Glenn Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

February Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Fri, 24 Feb 2023 20:47:24 GMT

FEBRUARY 2023 UPDATE

Dear Supporters,

Settling into my new leadership role at the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation, I am truly grateful to be part of this unique initiative being created in the heart of the nation’s capital. It will permanently honor and symbolize the historic significance of the Peace Corps and its embodiment of timeless American ideals and values: compassion, generosity, perseverance.

I am honored to serve the Peace Corps community, as well as all Americans and peoples of the world, and to work with the Foundation’s distinguished board of directors in bringing the Commemorative to fruition.

This spring the Commemorative design team will undertake pre-construction phases of detailed design and engineering. This work will enable the Foundation to receive federal agency final approvals, negotiate construction contracts and obtain construction permits prior to ground-breaking.

With your help, we will break ground in late spring of 2024 and cut the ribbon later in the year.

That’s just around the corner!

Picture this...

A bus pulls up to the corner of Louisiana Avenue and 1st Street, NW steps from the US Capitol Building in Washington, DC. As passengers – tourists, activists, or even immigrants arriving from the border – disembark, they are greeted by returned Peace Corps Volunteers.

Whether meeting up with cohorts, hosting story slams, or volunteering for worthy causes, the Peace Corps community has a gathering place at Peace Corps Commemorative Park.

How will the Peace Corps Commemorative come to life after the ribbon is cut?

What will the outreaching granite arms and the borderless map mean to those of us who have served, as well as to those yet to share in the life-transforming experience?

And if the Peace Corps itself one day no longer exists, how will Peace Corps Commemorative convey our ideals and values for future generations?

How will it inspire others to embrace volunteer service whether at home or abroad in the interest of creating a better world?

That is the conversation to which we now invite you, as we jointly move forward with the design concept.

Institutional and Corporate Support Continues to Grow

The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation has attracted valuable financial leadership from the international development community, where thousands of returning Volunteers find employment opportunities after their Peace Corps service. Institutional investment in the Commemorative has enabled early strides in our work and helped create momentum.

We gratefully acknowledge the generous support of the following organizations that have collectively contributed more than $500,000 to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation to date: Chemonics, Creative Associates International, DAI Global, FHI360, Global Communities, RTI International, University Research Corporation, World Education Services

And interest in the Peace Corps Commemorative extends well beyond the Peace Corps community. One of the Commemorative’s staunchest allies is Jeff Zell, whose real estate firm, JM Zell Partners , has contributed over $100,000 to the Commemorative. Jeff was so inspired by the Peace Corps Commemorative vision that he joined the Commemorative Foundation board of directors, while his former senior partner, Aida Downing, has donated countless hours of her time and talent since 2019.

Other organizations contributing include Alder Branch Realty, the Greater Washington Community Foundation, and National Peace Corps Association .

Recognizing Our Supporters

Reiterating our President Roger Lewis’ gratitude in January’s inaugural newsletter, I want to also acknowledge the financial leadership of our Peace Corps community stakeholders who have generously contributed to advancing this important mission.

My conversations with many of you have guided and informed our thoughts about appropriate donor recognition. Our website now displays the cumulative donation of every supporter who has contributed at least $1,000 toward making the Commemorative project a reality. Take a moment to go to our supporters list at Peace Corps Commemorative Supporters .

Let's Connect!

I’ll be on the road building awareness of the Peace Corps Commemorative over the next several weeks - Florida in late March, California in late April, and New York in May. I hope we can connect and visit as I’d welcome your thoughts and insights about the Commemorative.

In service,

Glenn Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)

GBlumhorst@PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

January Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation

Thu, 26 Jan 2023 21:01:29 GMT

JANUARY 2023 UPDATE

Dear Supporters,

On behalf of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation (PCCF) board of directors, I am pleased to announce our monthly newsletter for friends and supporters of the Peace Corps Commemorative.

Our goal is to raise awareness of the Commemorative, keep you informed, and invite your active engagement in PCCF’s mission. In future newsletters, we’ll keep you apprised of ongoing project and fundraising progress as well as more on the Commemorative’s history, design and news.

2023 Will Be a Big Year for Advancing Design

First and foremost, I gratefully acknowledge the financial leadership that you have demonstrated in advancing the Commemorative through the early stages of design and approvals.

Since the commemorative congressional legislation was first signed into law in 2014, with your support, the PCCF Board of Directors has already raised or contributed $1.5 million toward our overall project budget of $10 million. This has allowed us to fund the intense upfront design and approval process.

With the design approvals in hand, we are moving into full-fledged fundraising mode, with the goal of raising the funds needed now to advance to the next stage of design development and the full $8.5 million in time to break ground in what we anticipate will be late spring 2024.

PCCF Welcomes Glenn Blumhorst as Chief Advancement Officer

I would especially like to thank those of you whose gifts have allowed us to enhance our fundraising efforts. We are very pleased to say we have brought on Glenn Blumhorst (RPCV Guatemala 1988-91) as our chief advancement officer to lead the capital campaign.

We are fortunate to have the transformative leadership, dedication to service, and fundraising talent that he demonstrated in his role as National Peace Corps Association (NPCA) president and chief executive officer from 2013 to 2022.

This will allow us to expand our outreach and gain momentum toward achieving the remaining $8.5 million needed to cover all pre-construction design and engineering costs; direct construction cost; two-year fundraising costs; modest operational expenses; and a donation to National Park Service for its permanent maintenance endowment. The budget allows for inflation and contingencies.

Join Us in Expanding Our Outreach Efforts

PCCF is taking a "big tent" approach, seeking to engage Peace Corps community stakeholders in anticipation of the Commemorative’s fruition. Over the coming months, Board members plan to visit with donors and look forward to getting your thoughts on what the Commemorative means to you and how you would envision an interactive experience by visitors to the site.

We look to you to help us gain momentum by spreading the word among your own family, friends, and colleagues. In the coming months we will launch a series of activities and regional small gatherings to expand our reach – and welcome offers to host a gathering in your area.

Expressing Our Appreciation

We are at this pivotal moment today thanks to generous financial contributions, fundraising efforts and countless hours of time and talent donated over the last several years by the board of directors.

We are also grateful to and wish to acknowledge all our donors in a meaningful way. Of course, if you prefer to remain anonymous, we will respect that. Board members and Glenn Blumhorst will be reaching out over the next few weeks seeking your input on this and other areas.

Again, we welcome your active participation in the plans to bring the Peace Corps Commemorative to fruition. Let us hear from you!

With much appreciation,

Roger K. Lewis
President, PCCF Board of Directors
RPCV Tunisia (1964-66)

PeaceCorpsCommemorative.org

PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
Compassion Generosity Perseverance

Please note our new preferred mailing address:
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

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