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

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

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

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