Washington, DC (May 6, 2026) – Voices for National Service announced today that it will honor 14 distinguished congressional and citizen leaders at the 23rd Annual Friends of National Service Awards on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, in Washington, D.C.
The Friends of National Service Awards recognizes leaders who have elevated AmeriCorps and service as a solution to some of the nation’s most pressing problems. Every year, this widely attended bipartisan event is a testament to the breadth of support for AmeriCorps across public, nonprofit, and private sectors.
“Our 2026 honorees include exceptional leaders in Congress, along with distinguished citizen champions, who share a deep understanding of the vital role AmeriCorps plays as a powerful strategy for addressing local challenges, preparing young adults for the workforce, and strengthening communities nationwide,” said AnnMaura Connolly, President of Voices for National Service. “Each award recipient has contributed to sustaining strong support for AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors, elevating public awareness of national service, and advancing it as a national priority. We are deeply grateful for their continued commitment to ensuring AmeriCorps remains a vital resource for the country for years to come.”
The 2026 Awards and Honorees
- Voices for National Service Hall of Fame, for extraordinary commitment to AmeriCorps: Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) and Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA)
- John S. McCain Service to Country Award, for life-long devotion to country through citizen and public service and for exceptional leadership in advancing AmeriCorps to solve community problems: Representative Jen Kiggans (R-VA) and Representative Pat Ryan (D-NY)
- John Lewis Bridge to Service Award, for unwavering commitment to expanding opportunities for Americans to serve and volunteer in their community: Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Representative Chrissy Houlahan (D-PA)
- Franklin D. Roosevelt Service & Conservation Corps Leadership Award, for championing the important role of AmeriCorps and conservation corps in modern day America: Senator Susan Collins (R-ME)
- National Service Champion Award, for steadfast leadership in promoting the expansion of opportunities for citizens to serve, and unwavering support for building a stronger future for AmeriCorps: Representative Glenn “G.T.” Thompson (R-PA)
- Distinguished Service Award, for prioritizing AmeriCorps funding and legislation to expand high-quality opportunities for citizens to serve their communities and our country: Senator Andy Kim (D-NJ)
- Congressional Service Award, for remarkable commitment to AmeriCorps as a strategy to solve local and national challenges: Representative Kevin Kiley (I-CA)
- AmeriCorps Alumni Legacy Award, for AmeriCorps alumni who advance AmeriCorps through public service at the national, state, or local level: Governor Matt Meyer (D-DE)
- Citizen Service Award, for investing in the civic health of our nation through support of AmeriCorps: David Einhorn, President of Greenlight Capital, Inc., and Founder & Trustee of Einhorn Collaborative
- Stoneman Brown National Service Advocate of the Year Award, for exemplary determination, creativity, and results in building support for AmeriCorps among our nation’s leaders: April Elkins-Badtke, Executive Director, Conservation Legacy, WV
- Legacy of Service Award, for lasting contributions and advocacy that elevate the power of AmeriCorps and inspire future generations to serve: author Brad Meltzer
Event Details
WHAT: 23rd Annual Friends of National Service Awards
WHEN: Wednesday, May 13 from 6:30 – 8:30 PM
WHERE: Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, 400 New Jersey Avenue, NW, Washington, DC
RSVP: Media interested in attending must RSVP to ranit@schmelzerstrategies.com
Videos highlighting the awardees’ support for AmeriCorps programming across the country will be available here by May 13. Media is welcome to embed these videos in any coverage.
For more than three decades, AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors have responded to our country’s most immediate and critical needs. They are the “people power” that local nonprofit, faith-based and community organizations rely on to deliver services and make a difference in local communities. While helping others, AmeriCorps members develop in-demand job skills, preparing a cohort of Americans to succeed in the workforce, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers experience a decrease in isolation and loneliness. From natural disaster response to providing services for veterans, AmeriCorps grants and service members power organizations like the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs, and Habitat for Humanity.
AmeriCorps has demonstrated exceptional efficiency, strong private-sector collaboration, and high-impact results. With strong bipartisan support in Congress and a governance model rooted in state and local decision making, balance and accountability, AmeriCorps delivers measurable results while providing critical services to veterans, disaster victims and communities across the nation.
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Voices for National Service empowers citizens to solve pressing community problems with unique local solutions by elevating AmeriCorps. Founded in 2003, Voices for National Service has built strong bipartisan support for national service programs, which generate $17 in benefits to the United States for every tax dollar invested. AmeriCorps annually enables 200,000 Americans to serve their country and community in public-private partnerships with local nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations.