Tonia Wellons with Carrie Hessler-Radelet, former Director of the Peace Corps (2014-2017) and Glenn Blumhorst, Chief Advancement Officer of the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation
Earlier this month, our President & CEO Tonia Wellons convened a small gathering of friends and supporters to discuss plans for Peace Corps Park – a National Monument dedicated to the Peace Corps and its legacy of international service. The project will also include a digital platform and community outreach project to engage past, present, and future Peace Corps Volunteers.
Established in 1961, the Peace Corps has been instrumental at promoting world peace and friendship for more than 60 years by providing international service opportunities for US Citizens in more than 60 countries.
“The Peace Corps has provided so many invaluable global experiences for members of our community,” Tonia Wellons shared. Prior to joining The Community Foundation, Wellons served as the Head of Global Partnerships for the Peace Corps during the Obama Administration. Many of our colleagues serving local philanthropy and fundholders are either returned peace corps volunteers or have backgrounds in international development service. “We’re especially excited for what this project will mean for our local community – and our international community. With so many memorials dedicated to war, it will be a breath of fresh air to have one dedicated to peace.”
“We want to create a space that not only honors the Peace Corps, but also builds the community,” Glenn Blumhorst, Chief Advancement Officer with the Peace Corps Commemorative Foundation shared. “There are so many inspiring stories of service within the Peace Corps, and the Greater Washington Region is a large part of that.”
Part of creating that space involves creating a digital platform where past and current Peace Corps Volunteers can experience Peace Corps Park in virtual reality, as well as share their stories.
The design and location of Peace Corps Park were approved by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts in November 2021. The Community Foundation is proud to support this project through our Fund for Greater Washington.
For more information, visit https://www.peacecorpscommemorative.org/