The mission of Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida, Inc. is to:
- Promote Peace Corps values through cultural exchange and continuing service in our communities at home and internationally.
- Provide support and networking for Returned Peace Corps volunteers living in the South Florida area.
- Support Peace Corps through recruiting, advocacy, and support for Partnership Projects.
RPCVSF accomplishes the mission through volunteer events, social functions, education, advocacy and networking. Activities are funded through member dues, donations, silent auctions, and sale of Wisconsin RPCV calendars.
RPCVSF is happy to support causes championed by its members such as South Florida environmental, migrant, service learning and mentoring programs, education in Niger or women’s health in the Americas. If a member has a cause that would benefit from support of the RPCVSF community, they are encouraged to submit a proposal to any board member.
Returned Peace Corps Volunteers of South Florida, Inc. was incorporated July 14, 1986 as a not-for-profit corporation. RPCVSF has charitable status through IRS Code Section 501 c 3 with Tax ID 59-2870906. RPCVSF welcomes as associate members all friends of Peace Corps, even though they did not serve in the Peace Corps.
We are members of the National Peace Corps Association, 1900 L Street, NW Suite 610, Washington, DC 20036. Tel. number: (202) 293-7728. Link up with the RPCV community at www.peacecorpsconnect.org.
Awards
1989 NPCA Loret Miller Ruppe award for the Book Project
1990 Lillian Carter Award to RPCVSF member, Jeanne Kretschmer, who served in Fiji in the 90′s. Jeanne was an inspiration and a joy to all who knew her. She died of cancer in September of 1999.
2003 NPCA Loret Miller Ruppe Award for The Colombia Project
2005 Award from the Colombian ex-pat community for Outstanding Service Projects.
2007 Rotary Club of Miami award for “Exceptional International Community Service Projects”
Highlights
- Sent thousands of books to libraries throughout the developing world, usually in support of a Peace Corps Volunteer’s project. This project won the National Peace Corps Association’s Loret Miller Ruppe Award in 1986.
- Provided over $170,000 for micro-loans to help families impacted by the violence in Colombia to reestablish financial independence. This is accomplished through The Colombia Project which received the Loret Miller Ruppe Award in 2003.
- Helped raise over $12,000 for Haitian Education and Leadership Program (HELP) which makes a college degree accessible to marginalized students who graduate at the top of their high school class.
- Coordinated with various children’s groups and schools to paint world maps and implement conflict resolution programs in Miami-Dade.
- Taken responsibility for clean-up along the John F. Kennedy Causeway
- Helped elect two of its board members to serve on the Board of Directors of the National Peace Corps Association
- Provided pre and post-service support and mentoring for hundreds of Peace Corps Volunteers
- Volunteered for National Public Radio fundraisers in Miami
- Helped Project Medishare raise over $5000 for pre-op care for hydrocephalic children receiving corrective surgery in Haiti
- Raised $2500 for WINGS, a women’s health initiative run by RPCV Sue Patterson who received the Shriver Award in 2003.
- Raised over $1500 for an RPCV-run tsunami relief program in Thailand, $4000 for Voices of Africa
- Promoted Peace Corps at the Miami International Book Fair by staffing a booth for over ten years and presenting a book panel of RPCV writers.
- Promoted Peace Corps by participating in the Miami staging events for Peace Corps Volunteers, by inviting nominees, recruits and their families to annual outings and by participating in recruiting events throughout South Florida.
- Established two book clubs whose reading lists reflect Peace Corps values.
