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)
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.
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.
Elizabeth Cobbs: Your history has a future
Historian Lisa Cobbs, who wrote the canonical history of the creation of the Peace Corps, was never a volunteer – she was just someone who saw the immense impact of JFK’s courage and the almost-quarter-million Americans who have answered his bold call to service.
“Cooperation in the name of peace is the oldest story in American history. Don’t underestimate the power of a physical symbol like this to inspire.”
Leslie Hawke: Finding purpose in service
Leslie Hawke, a publishing professional and dedicated NGO founder and philanthropist (also known for her famous last name – her son is “that” Hawke), joined the Peace Corps later in life and found the values that drive the desire to serve as relevant as ever.
“Having volunteered with numerous non-profits over the years, I harbored no fantasies about “accomplishing” anything major in a couple of years of Peace Corps service… But for the first time in my life, I knew that my work really mattered.”
Ari Richard: A jug is filled drop by drop
Ari Richard, our youngest advocate, has lent her time and energy to various Peace Corps ventures in the years since she returned from Eswatini, including supporting the fundraising effort at the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation. She reminded us that every single person who contributes to this project is making an impact.
“My donation of $1,000 this year is the biggest single gift I’ve ever made to any cause… It’s easy to see this contribution as just a drop in the bucket, but I recall that comforting phrase, ‘a jug is filled drop by drop,’ and I know we can all make a difference.
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.
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
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:
Jan. 10-20 South Florida
March 18-24 Southern California
Whether or not you’ve been able to support the project with a donation, an easy way to amplify your impact is to give us a boost on social media. Follow us and re-share our posts to help raise awareness in your network!
@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram | @PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook | @PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
PEACE CORPS COMMEMORATIVE FOUNDATION
5636 Connecticut Avenue, NW Ste 42143
Washington, DC 20015
The Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation is the trade name of the Peace Corps Foundation,
a District of Columbia 501(c)(3) charitable organization.
EIN: 01-0554700
Honoring the founding of the Peace Corps in 1961 and those American ideals and values symbolized by Peace Corps service.
5636 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 42143
Washington, DC 20015
443.240.4080
Peace Corps Foundation is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization founded in 2001 and currently doing business as Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation. EIN: 01-0554700
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