The Commemorative will stand on a well-located triangular site in the heart of Washington, DC, within sight of the U.S. Capitol and near the National Mall, inviting visitors to stop and contemplate America’s commitment to helping others in the cause of making a better world and promoting peace.
January Newsletter: Important Updates from Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation
January 26, 2023
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.
Visitors will share and experience this meaningful commemorative work that more fully tells America’s story within the National Capital landscape, inspiring them to carry on the American tradition of volunteer service.
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)
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
Bob Taft Governor of Ohio, 1999-2007 Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Tanzania, 1963-65
May Newsletter: Inspiring the next generation
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,
April Newsletter: A robust, nonpartisan coalition for global peace and partnership
March Newsletter: Updated timeline: The path to Peace Corps Park takes shape
February Newsletter: Now is the time to show our strength in unity
January Newsletter: Our values need champions, and your voice matters
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.
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.