Posts: The American Spirit
Philanthropy Magazine Spring 2020: Taking America’s Side
America’s 250th: Service, working together, and the world’s best idea
All of us at Spirit of America hope you enjoy a joyous celebration of America’s 250th. I wanted to share a few reflections. I was born in Philadelphia. We took special pride in being from our nation’s birthplace. I remember celebrating America’s 200th at my parents’...
Is America exceptional?
A few weeks ago, Ross Perot Jr. joined me and the Spirit of America team during our annual Team Week. It is the week each year when the entire Spirit of America team, coming from around the world, gets together. Ross offered great insight, encouragement, and advice....
The Foreign Service at 100: My time on the front lines of diplomacy
In 2007, I joined a roomful of Americans from all walks of life — teachers, veterans, first-generation immigrants, journalists, academics, photographers — who took the oath of office to serve and protect the United States as diplomats. Before we met, many of us had...
A story of service and sacrifice
This Memorial Day we honor the brave men and women who sacrificed their lives in service to America and to protect the promise of a free and better life. I am honored to share the story of one such hero, US Army Staff Sergeant Michael Ollis. Ollis went to Ranger...
A message from CEO Jim Hake
In August I visited a Ukrainian school in a village not far from the Russian border. The village had been occupied by Russian soldiers. I want to tell you about Bohdana, a 15-year-old Ukrainian girl I met there.Bohdana had participated in a program created by Spirit...
A letter from General Richard D. Clarke
Every day shows how complex and dangerous our world has become. From Ukraine to Taiwan, threats to freedom and democracy are growing. Terrorism is on the rise in the Middle East. Innocent people are suffering. Spirit of America unites citizens like you with our troops...
A letter from Ambassador William B. Taylor
In my 50-year career serving our nation, I was US Ambassador to Ukraine and served as an infantry platoon leader and combat company commander in the US Army in Vietnam and Germany. Today, brave Ukrainian soldiers are fighting the greatest battle for freedom since...
