Testimonials and Endorsements

Tracy Bartley

Founder, Electric Fork Media

“I walked into the symposium with an economic definition of service: value given, nothing received in return. A transaction with one side missing. I walked out with something different. Service as work and energy dedicated to something greater than oneself. Not a transaction. A posture. That reframe sounds small. It isn’t. It’s a definition that fits the celebration of America’s 250th, a hopeful and best-case view of who we are and who we can be when we orient toward each other. I’m grateful to NMCFS for the invitation, and for building something that gave me that shift.”

Sam Beard

Co-Founder, Multiplying Good and the Jefferson Awards

“Having spent fifty years of my life working to encourage and honor service, I enthusiastically endorse the creation of the National Museum and Center for Service.   We need a nationally recognized place for people to honor and learn about service that lifts us all up through the gift of helping others.”

Neil Bush

Chair, Points of Light Board of Directors

“When my dad, President George H.W. Bush, founded the Daily Point of Light Award from the White House in 1990, it was to honor the spirit of everyday individuals who saw a need in their community and stepped forward to say, “I can help.” It is exciting to think that NMCFS can bring a physical epicenter to the movement of volunteering and honor all the people who have stepped up in times of great need in our country.”

Barbara Jacoby

Higher Education Consultant and former Director of Community Service-Learning, University of Maryland

“Through my work in the field of service-learning and community engagement for more than 30 years, I know that young people today want to make a better world and learn from the stories of individuals who have worked to do so. I believe the National Museum and Center for Service will provide opportunities for young people to explore how they can be social changemakers in their own unique ways.”

Peter Kyle

Director, Rotary International

“Through our global network of more than 36,000 Rotary clubs and 1.3 million members, we know firsthand the difference volunteer service makes on the health and well-being of communities and nations worldwide.”

Bobbie Laur

President, Campus Compact

“It is our hope that the NMCFS brings well-earned recognition to the good that is achieved through campus-community partnerships and inspires others to take action in service to their communities. Campus Compact is proud to support this endeavor and looks forward to being a strategic partner in furthering NMCFSS’ mission across the country.”

James Lee Witt

(former) Director, FEMA

“Opportunities abound for citizens to participate in the rich history of public service. However, no structure exists that allows for people to see this rich history and relate to it. NMCFS provides a platform for organizations and individuals to convene with the purpose of taking on some of the immense challenges we face today. NMCFS will make a major difference on the wellbeing and development of critical skills for young people.”

Joe Sestak

retired Navy Admiral and former U.S. Congressman

“Service — the most selfless of human endeavors —is often admired in spirit, but its practice is less often recognized. The vision of the National Museum and Center for Service would achieve both…fostering an understanding that service embodies the essence of America’s enduring character and achievements.”

Jennifer Sirangelo

President and CEO, Points of Light

“For more than 30 years, Points of Light has been a catalyst for volunteerism, recognizing its profound impact on individual well-being, social connection, and the strength of communities. A dedicated museum like NMCFS is vital not just for celebrating volunteers but for elevating the urgency of civic engagement in addressing the challenges we face today. By sharing stories of those who give their time and talents, and by fostering connections that encourage others to get involved, we can inspire a new era of action that enhances health, community resilience, and collective purpose.”

Stan D. Soderstrom

Executive Director, Kiwanis International

“We believe that servant leaders in every community have the power to lift those in need and create impact that ultimately improves the quality of life for everyone in the community. Sharing this spirit of volunteerism with other nations may be one of the greatest exports the United States has provided with the rest of the world.”

Jim Starr

President and CEO, American Charities

“At America’s Charities, we see the difference individuals and organizations make in their communities through their generosity of their time, talent and resources… Frankly, such an initiative (NMCFS) is long overdue and I am pleased to lend our voice to the effort.”

Max Stier

President and CEO, Partnership for Public Service

“We recognize that those who put country before self too often remain anonymous in the public eye. That’s why we shine a spotlight on the public servants who work behind the scenes to make us stronger, better and safer, in turn reigniting our country’s faith in public service and inspiring the next generation to make a difference. We are delighted that NMCFS will amplify similar stories to nurture a spirit of service that strengthens our democracy.”

Annette Weichlein

“Being a part of the co-creation process for the “Service is Everywhere in DC” exhibit was such a fulfilling and rewarding experience. It was a labor of love and privilege to hear the stories of service and role the YMCA and Rotary Club have had on our local community in DC. Witnessing the connections made during the exhibit’s creation, not only among those involved in the project but with the broader community at large, really reinforced the powerful role service plays in bringing people together. Hosting the exhibits at the DC Public Library was the ideal choice for fostering these connections. The exhibit fit so perfectly in the cafe at the MLK Library and was such a beautiful reminder of the good that a small group of people can do when they come together to make the world around them a bit brighter.”