May Newsletter: Inspiring the next generation

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

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!

A bestseller from a Park advisor

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.

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

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
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