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

December 23, 2024

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.

My relationship with the Peace Corps began in 1962 when two volunteers were assigned to my school in the village of Tansen in Nepal. They taught me English–so well even that I started beating them at Scrabble–and propelled me on my way to a long career with the United Nations in service of the world’s poor and disadvantaged people.


I know from my own personal experience the transformational impact that Peace Corps volunteers can make, and I sincerely believe that the Peace Corps is and can be the greatest organization dedicated to promoting global solidarity at the people-to-people level. 


Supporting Peace Corps Park is a way to ensure that the values of peace and partnership that led John F. Kennedy to create this great organization will survive and thrive in troubled times, and help build a more enlightened America, and world. 


Let us remember that solidarity, unlike charity, is a two-way street: The Peace Corps experience is just as important for the education and enlightenment of the Peace Corps volunteers as it is for the benefit of the host communities they work with. Our increasingly interconnected world demands global solidarity—not charity—to solve global problems that transcend national borders.


Please consider making a gift to Peace Corps Park, and to the many visitors whose curiosity will be inspired by this lasting symbol of the values of solidarity and peace. With its digital app, the Park will open a bigger world to all who visit it–especially the younger generation–thereby magnifying the impact of your generosity.

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)

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A black-and-white photo of former Ohio Governor Bob Taft during his Peace Corps service in Tanzania.
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Bob Taft Governor of Ohio, 1999-2007 Returned Peace Corps Volunteer, Tanzania, 1963-65
A rendering of Peace Corps Park's design shows how the Park will look once built, with renderings of visitors to the Park.
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May Newsletter: Inspiring the next generation
May 15, 2025
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 30, 2025
April Newsletter: A robust, nonpartisan coalition for global peace and partnership
March 27, 2025
March Newsletter: Updated timeline: The path to Peace Corps Park takes shape
February 28, 2025
February Newsletter: Now is the time to show our strength in unity
January 28, 2025
January Newsletter: Our values need champions, and your voice matters
December 30, 2024
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.
December 17, 2024
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,