January Newsletter: Our values need champions, and your voice matters
Dear Supporters,
I have long said that Peace Corps Park is an initiative of and by this passionate community of returned volunteers – and all those who believe in the values of international peace and partnership. With our recent end-of-year fundraising campaign, which raised more than $700,000 to help us tell our story in Washington, D.C., we are reminded of the passion of this community and express our sincere gratitude for the support we have received, big and small, from our diverse group of contributors.
Two of the most important ways we evaluate our fundraising are by looking at how many new donors we are attracting, and how many existing donors are being motivated to give again. Of the almost 400 people who made contributions to Peace Corps Park since Giving Tuesday, more than a third were repeat donors, meaning we are both attracting new support and motivating our existing donors to increase their impact. As we enter the second half of the fundraising effort, we are more inspired than ever by the growing number of supporters working together to make Peace Corps Park a reality.
We have heard from so many of you how meaningful it was to hear the messages from our end-of-year campaign advocates about their belief in the importance of Peace Corps Park, and their reasons for supporting the project. We are honored to have such distinguished voices advocating for the Park, including champions for the Peace Corps in Congress, an influential director of the Peace Corps, and an international diplomat who was inspired as a child by the Peace Corps Volunteers who were assigned to his hometown.
At a time when many of us share concerns about America’s commitment to longstanding global partnerships, it’s critical that we use our voices to help more people understand the positive impact that programs like the Peace Corps have on building allies and partners in every region of the world.
An inspiring quote from a recent op-ed in the Washington Post resonates especially loudly in describing the importance of the symbols that stand on the National Mall, a backdrop of presidential inaugurations and speeches that have defined our country for generations.
“Things change over time. Stories, even national myths, get updates as new champions emerge from different groups. Often unwelcomed, their contributions long underappreciated, these people became sources of national greatness nonetheless, earning their places in America’s story and their spots in its pantheon.”
Thank you for your support, in whatever way you are able to provide it, in making the values of the Peace Corps part of America’s story.
Yours in service,
Glenn A. Blumhorst
Chief Advancement Officer
Peace Corps Foundation
President and CEO, National Peace Corps Association (2013-22)
RPCV Guatemala (1988-91)
Peace Corps Park advocates lend their voices
Peace Corps Park’s end-of-year campaign included testimonials from four key supporters who lent their voices, names and support to our effort to build this lasting symbol of our shared values in Washington, D.C. Their motivations speak to the importance of this project, and inspire all of us with their dedication and leadership. In case you missed them, read their appeals (and all of our archives) in the news section of our website.
Hon. Sam Farr
Sam Farr, a champion of the Peace Corps for all of his 44 years in Congress, told us about the importance of commemorating this bold vision in our nation’s capital.
“The Peace Corps is a powerful idea. It remains as bold as it was almost 65 years ago, and that boldness deserves a place among the monuments and memorials that decorate the landscape in Washington, D.C.”
Carrie Hessler-Radelet
Former Director of the Peace Corps Carrie Hessler-Radelet inspired us with her reminder that our shared values of service and partnership can still build bridges of peace today and in the future.
“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.”
Kul Chandra Gautam
Nepali diplomat Kul Chandra Gautam highlighted the unique role that this community plays in fostering international peace and solidarity.
“I know from my own personal experience and observation the transformational impact that Peace Corps volunteers can make on the lives of many ordinary people and future leaders of the world, and I sincerely believe that the Peace Corps can be the greatest organization dedicated to promoting global solidarity at the people-to-people level.”
Joe Kennedy III
Joe Kennedy III recalled his own Peace Corps service and talked about why it is the proudest line on his resume.
“Let’s be the country that gave the world the Peace Corps. A country that refuses to set anything less than a high-water mark for human rights. A country that sees dignity in diversity, one that keeps its promises. A country that is not just great but truly good.”
Steve Fischman makes a generous donation
Like many supporters of Peace Corps Park, Steve Fischman was thinking about the future when he chose to make a generous donation of $250,000 to build this symbol of our shared values in Washington, D.C.
“The Park is motivation for the future; I want people to understand what this experience does for you, what it can do for your life,” he said, remembering the impact that his service had on his world view.
“You meet a whole part of the world that you haven’t had any contact with and you learn about what’s great about their lives. The fact that they are poor doesn’t define them. You learn that there’s just a limitation on opportunity that some of us don’t experience here.”
The fight against poverty has long been a focus of Steve’s philanthropic activity, donating funds, time and leadership to groups like Bend the Arc, where he served as national chairman and was an early supporter of Barack Obama’s community organizing efforts.
Based in Boston, his real estate projects have spanned the country, leaving an impact in bricks and mortar. He is particularly motivated to see Peace Corps Park become a reality in such an important location in sight of the U.S. Capitol.
“To be there standing among the other memorials shows how important the Peace Corps is,” he said. “It hopefully will get the world to notice and to think about what a great opportunity this is, was, and could still be.”
Please join me in thanking Steve for his support.
Fundraising Update: $700,000 closer
We have been so inspired by the generosity from this community, with 397 contributors giving more than $700,000 to the Park’s year-end fundraising campaign. We gratefully acknowledge the following donors, who have made generous new contributions and/or pledges since November 26, 2024:
* New gift in addition to prior gift
$250,000 - $499,999
Steve Fischman*
$100,000 - $249,999
Kevin F.F. Quigley and Susan L.Q. Flaherty
$50,000 - $99,999
Robert Y. Olsen
$20,000 - $49,999
Robert Crooks*
John Hoffman*
Ken and Lucy Lehman
Chris and Kathleen Matthews
JM Zell Partners Ltd*
$10,000 - $19,999
Albert H. "Tony" Barclay*
George and Carol Chaffey
Jacqueline Denning
Franklin R. Innes*
Eric Melby and Pamela Tripp-Melby
Josephine K. "Jody" Olsen*
$5,000 - $9,999
Donna M. Anderson*
Glenn and Cathy Blumhorst*
Judy Greenspon*
Susan Corcoran Hayes*
Margaret Riley*
Christopher J. Siegler*
Cecilia M. Stratford*
Robert Terry and Judith Whitney-Terry*
Mal Warwick*
$2,500 - $4,999
India VII RPCVs
Priscilla Goldfarb*
Marjorie Maritzen
William Morrow
Carrie Hessler-Radelet*
Sarah Wells*
Aaron Williams*
$1,000 - $2,499
James and Juliana Bancroft
Charles and Martha Clifford*
Gail Coburn
Merrie Henshaw Corbett
Geri Critchley*
Jay Davidson*
Rosalyn P. Doggett*
Elliott Fiedler
Bonnie S. Gottlieb*
Lyle Harding*
Ray C. Haselby
Charles Hobbie
Sarah Connolly Jordan
Barbara A. Kelly*
Christopher and Claudine Klose
Sam Lawson and Laurel Mayer*
Nancy Maier
Anthony Michael Marzolla*
Michael and Hannah Mazer
Raymond and Judith McGuire*
Carolyn A. Mulford
Matthew Niskanen*
Jonathan Eric Pearson
Mary Pendleton*
Patty Reed
Alexis Rieffel*
Richard M. Roderick*
Anne Lawrence and Paul Roose
Jerri Rush*
Michael Sears
Douglas & Margaret Sheldon
Maricarmen Smith-Martinez
Genevieve Wangsness
Arnee Blauer Winshall
Steven Wolf*
Other gifts to $999
Annette Acosta
Joe Adair*
Mary Ahrens
Alice Alexander*
Martha Allshouse Hull
America's Charities
Donald Anderson
Jean Ansell
Thomas Appel*
Mary Jo Arnoldi*
William David Austin
David Ayres
Robert Bach
Baitz Family
Leigh Baker
Mary Alice Ball*
James Barborak*
Katherine Barotti
Frederick Barton
Bette Bass*
Carrie Bassett
Sondra and William Bechhoefer*
Leo Bellantoni
Nancy Bennett
R. Scott Berg
Jon Berg
Blackbaud Giving Fund*
David Blackstun
Amy Blackwell
Wade Blackwood
Lonna Bloom
William Booth
Anna and Parker Borg
Andrew Bosco
Nathaniel Bowditch
Fran Bowman
Kathleen Brandes
Nick Bubnovich
Ann Buessing Johnston
Martin G. Burns
Jim Caffrey*
Daniel Cahill
Benny and Carol Cespedes*
Charities Aid Foundation*
Lori Christenson
Mary Christopherson*
Donna D. Clarke
Paul Clifford
Paul Cloyd
William Combs*
Jaime Comella
Paul Converse*
Jennifer Cook
Nancy Corn
Patrick Corrigan
Michael Coulson
Brent Cromley
Stephen Culp
Dawn Daniels and Mark Miller
Leita Davis
James De Deo
Robert Denniston*
Mary DeWitt-Dia
Margaret Dickenson
Kerry Dinneen*
Cathleen Disney
Jerry Doll
Hallie Mitchell Dow
Mary Dowling
Richard Drobnick
Jan Droegkamp
Helene Dudley*
Bruce Edwards*
Frederick Eisenbud
Mari Ennis-Applegate
Thea Evensen*
Jim Feaster*
Thomas Fisher
Anne Fitzgerald
Allen Fleming
Kenneth E. Flies*
Roger Follas
James Freeman
Melissa Frisk
John E. Frost*
Elizabeth Fuhrman
Bill Gallagher*
Dorothy and George Gamble
Cathleen Garman
Christine Gavitt*
John and Ellen Geiger
Sharen Gendebien*
Matthew Gerhardt*
Bret Gifford
Lorraine Gill
Ted Goble
Donald Gogniat
Deanna G. Goldstein
Gloria J. Haars
Andrew Haering
Don Haffner
Christine Hagerbaumer
John Hale
R. Diane Hall*
Bryce Hamilton*
Hammig/Shipley Fund
Thomas Marvin Hancock
Connie Hankins
Peter Hansen
James Hanson
Christopher Haragan*
Charmaine Harkins
Kathleen Harnig*
Erika Harris*
Michael Hayes
Zeida Heavener
Harvey Helfand
Matt Henderson and Barb Bessette-Henderson
David Hennekes
Thomas Hesketh
Donald Hesse
Michael Heyn
Donald Hodgen*
Rebecca Z Hoff
Ruth Hoffman
Anne Holic
Priscilla Hoobler
John Hooper
Arthur Horowitz
Paul Ingle
Dee and Kay Jacobs
John Jacobs
Janice Jedkins
Allen Jokinen
Kathleen Jones
Gregory Junge
Carolyn Kari*
Paula Keady
Terry Keir
Madeline Kellner
John Kelly*
Sonya Kibler
Sarah Kinder
Kris Klein Pfaff
Kent Kluth
Lawrence Knowles
William A. Kolbe
Helen Kott
Marcia Krasnow
Teresa Kuklinski
Karen Larson*
Leonardo Lazaro Alonso
Gail LeBow*
Timothy E. Leifer
Marvin LeRoy*
Ronald Levesque
Sarah Levin
Mark Levine
Victoria Littlejohn
Henry Loeser
Carroll Long
Glenn Love
Peter Lowenthal
Brendan Lupetin
John Macchi
Mary Dana Marks
Elizabeth Mathewson
Diane McCormack
Stephen McCutchan*
Elaine A. McDermott*
Janis McGlone*
Therese M. McWhinney
Barbara Meyer*
Nancy and L. John Meyers
David Miller
MaryAnn Minutillo
Gary Mitchell
Harvr Mogul
Julie Montgomery and Todd Sheffield
Katherine Montgomery*
Ann Moore*
Nancy Morrissey
Dick Morten
Wesley Mukoyama*
Joel Mullen
Ronald Munia
Frances Mys
Suzanne Nilsen*
Nancy J. Nusz
Roberta Nutt
Timothy O'Brien
Ann O'Malley
Noreen O'Meara
Bud and Sue Oliveira*
Edward Oshiro
PayPal Giving Fund*
Jon Perry
Becky Peters
Richard Pfau
Ann Pfingsten*
Margaret Pollack
Robert Postle
Thomas Potter*
Laura Potts-Wirht
Primerica
David Purcell
Richard "Dick" Pyle
Andrew Quinn
Michael Rainey
Russell and Mary Ramirez
Stephen and Sandra Randels
William Reese
Nancy Rich*
Arianna Richard*
Theresa Ring
Allen Roberts
Bob Roberts
Alan Robinson
Richard M. Roderick*
Bill Roelofs*
Peter and Matina Ross
Vicky Rosser
Steve Rothe
Ross Royster
Beth Russell
Kelly Russell
Barbara Ruys
Antonio and Michele Sacconaghi*
William Sachs
Theres Salus*
Joseph Schoder*
Eleanor Schofield
Karen Schwarzwalder and Dave Ferguson
Shelly Segall*
Alexander Shakow*
Maureen Shanley
Frances Shapiro-Skrobe
Richard Shaver
Kathryn Shaw-Gardner*
Richard Sidy
Paul Sigala
Tom Sinclair*
Duane and Janet Smith
Judith A. Smith*
Mike Smith*
Philip Smith*
Robert Smythe*
Harvey Somers
Dennis Sommer
Dorothy Soper*
Sallie Sperling
Daniel Sprague
Sheldon Starman
Maurice Sterns
Ben F. Stetson
Sheri Stonier-Montoya*
Barbara Stout
Erik Streed
Gregory Strick*
Peter Stubben*
Donna Sumption
Allan and Bonnie Sweet*
Charles and Nancy Sweetman
Christopher Szecsey*
Nancy Talbott
Joby Taylor*
D. Theiler
Michael Thomas
Shirley Thompson
Kay Thompson
Paul Thompson
Pat Toalson
Marie and Nathalie Torrens
Michele Tsuchiya
Gabriel F. Tucker
Victoria Tunba*
Richard and Julette Uebner
Jeraldine van den Top
Mattie Vega
Tom Vernon
Thea Vierling
Julie Walstra
Robert Waltermire*
Theodore Walters
Helen Wand*
Charles and Betsy Warner
Mary Lou Weathers
Rita Weil
David Weiss*
Dana Wekerle
John Wenderoth
Mary Ann Wertenberger-Hart
Conrad Wesselhoeft
Carol and Ralph Wetterhahn
Leslie Wexler*
Anna Whitcomb*
Martha Whitman and Larry Frankel
Jerry Withers
Susan Wolfson
Jennifer Woltz
Christopher Wolz*
Diane Wood
Joe Yanci
Elaine Yastishock
Gail Yates*
Alan Yount
Fortune Zuckerman
PEACE CORPS PARK AMBASSADORS
(Donors making recurring monthly contributions of any size)
Sue Aiken
Linda Barnett
Matthew Baysden
Rick and Karline Bird
Anthony Carroll
Greg Emerson
Ellen Davis-Zapata
Elizabeth Downes
John Feighery
G. David Hicks
Peter Hofman
Ann Hopkins
Laura Kettel Khan
Roni Lerner Love
Phil Lopes
Deborah Manget
Cynda H. McMahon
Marty Mueller
Bill Piatt
Jessica Rogers
Robert Smythe
John Sommerhauser
Penny Taylor
Kathleen Williams-Ging
Darrel Young
See our growing list of cumulative gifts to the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation!
Connect with us in person
If you are in the Dayton, Ohio area, I’d love to see you at the opening of the new exhibit from our friends at the Museum of the Peace Corps Experience, Ubuntu in Action, on January 31 at the International Peace Museum.
Of course, I am always happy to share our vision for Peace Corps Park in person with your group, so please reply to this email and let me know if you’d like to arrange a meetup and I’ll do my best to work it into my schedule! Coming up next:
Jan 30-31: Ohio
Feb 27-28: South Florida
Mar 8-11: Northern California
Mar 11-15: Southern 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 your social media platform of choice!
Follow us on any of the following networks, and re-share our posts to help raise awareness among your own community.
@PeaceCorpsPark on Instagram
@PeaceCorpsPark on Facebook
@PeaceCorpsPark on LinkedIn
@PeaceCorpsPark on Twitter / X
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
