Dear Friend, I am a Marine and former Secretary of State. I have served in the administrations of three US presidents, beginning with President Eisenhower’s Council of Economic Advisers. I have been a Spirit of America donor and a member of Spirit of America’s Advisory Board since 2010. I’d like to share why I believe so strongly in the organization and its mission. America faces the most complex and volatile security environment since World War II. We are threatened by a growing number of adversaries. The security, freedoms and ideals for which generations of Americans have fought so hard are at risk. One reason I am confident we can meet these challenges is because of citizen-led efforts like Spirit of America and Americans, like you, who support them. Our nation is strongest when we come together in common cause. I joined Spirit of America because it represents so many of the qualities I have learned are critical to our country’s future. I have seen how important it is to back up your words with actions. This is essential to America’s credibility, standing and security. President Reagan embodied this quality. So does Spirit of America. When they say they will do something, they deliver. Moreover, Spirit of America helps our troops and diplomats back up their words with actions. By quickly meeting the needs they identify, Spirit of America allows our troops to deliver on the promise that America represents. This helps our troops build trust. It makes them safer and helps them win against determined, brutal enemies like ISIS. I have also learned that for success in matters of national security, we have to make sure we are equipped to win. However, being equipped to win now is different from when I served in the Pacific in World War II and when I served as Secretary of State during the Cold War. The world today is awash in change. America has never faced such dynamic and competitive adversaries. We must prevail but the fact is our government and military can’t do it all alone. Being equipped to win means we need to bring all of America’s strengths to bear, including the entrepreneurial qualities, resources and can-do spirit of the American people. That’s what Spirit of America does so well, combining what our citizens and our warriors can do. This private + public approach is a fundamentally better way for America to operate in the world. Thank you for supporting Spirit of America. It is critically important to the safety and success of our troops, and to our future as a free society. I hope you will join me and continue to be part of the Spirit of America team. Sincerely,     George P. Shultz Advisor, Spirit of America