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February 15, 2018

2018 Friends of National Service Awards

Passion, dedication, and a tireless commitment to national service were on full display at the annual National Service Awards held on February 13, 2018 at Union Station in Washington, DC. The event, hosted by Voices for National Service, brings together the national service community to recognize a bipartisan group of leaders who are working to elevate service programs like AmeriCorps, VISTA, and Senior Corps administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service. Such programs are far reaching and provide real solutions to some of our nation’s most pressing challenges.

As an AmeriCorps alum who has seen national service funding at risk of being eliminated more times than I care to think about, it’s refreshing to be in a room full of supporters and advocates. Knowing that if AmeriCorps were to be defunded, it would be impossible for Reading Partners to provide thousands of students each year with the early literacy support they need to succeed. And as a Reading Partners employee, it’s empowering to tell our AmeriCorps members, along with my colleagues, that what we are doing matters enough that bipartisan leaders are willing to fight for it in congress.

As honorees accepted their awards, I thought of my service year and its lasting effects on my life. And I thought about the service years of the 340+ AmeriCorps members at Reading Partners today. I hope that one day my two young sons will have the same opportunity to serve. I’m grateful for the people and businesses fighting to give us this chance, fighting to bring the much needed services to our students, and fighting to make AmeriCorps and all related service programs an opportunity for all. Thank you for fighting for us.

Congratulations to the 2018 Friends of Service Honorees

National Service Awards

Photo posted by @AnnMaura

Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award

For life-long dedication to citizen service and for outstanding leadership in advancing national service as a civic commitment and legislative priority.

Representative Doris Matsui of California*

Citizen Service Award

For investing in the civic health of our nation through support of national service.

Governor Haley Barbour of Mississippi
Michael and Susan Dell

Service to Country Award

For life-long devotion to country through citizen and public service and for exceptional leadership in advancing national service to solve community problems.

Senator John McCain of Arizona

Distinguished Service Award

For prioritizing national service funding and legislation to expand high-quality opportunities for citizens to serve their communities and our country.

Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana
Senator Chris Coons of Delaware

Congressional Service Award

For remarkable commitment to national service as a strategy to solve local and national challenges.

Senator Roy Blunt of Missouri
Senator Patty Murray of Washington*
Representative Susan Brooks of Indiana
Representative Billy Long of Missouri

Outstanding New Member Award

For first-term members of Congress who have worked to elevate national service as a legislative priority.

Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana
Representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington*

State Leadership Award

For leadership and innovation in leveraging national service to meet state needs.

Governor Jay Inslee of Washington*
Lt. Governor William Nungesser of Louisiana

Local Leadership Award

For leadership and innovation in leveraging national service to meet local needs.

Mayor Ethan Berkowitz of Anchorage, Alaska
Mayor Sam Liccardo of San Jose, California*

Service in Media Award

For using journalism to raise awareness of and to encourage Americans’ participation in national service.

The Joplin Globe
Tulsa World*

Franklin D. Roosevelt Service and Conservation Corps Leadership Award

For championing the important role of Service and Conservation Corps in modern day America, reflective of the legendary ideals and work accomplished by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s Depression Era Civilian Conservation Corps.

Senator Lamar Alexander of Tennessee

*Honorees representing states and cities where Reading Partners operates 


To lend your voice to the chorus of support, contact congress today and sign up for email updates from Voices for National Service.

To learn more about AmeriCorps at Reading Partners visit readingpartners.org/americorps

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