WASHINGTON, D.C. - On Thursday, June 23, 11 former Peace Corps volunteers of color from across the nation will be recognized with the Franklin H. Williams Award at the Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters in Washington, D.C.

Established in 1999, the Franklin H. Williams Award pays tribute to returned Peace Corps volunteers of color who continue the Peace Corps mission through their commitment to community service, and who support the agency's third goal of promoting a better understanding of other peoples on the part of Americans. The award assumes the name of former Peace Corps Regional Director for Africa and U.S. Ambassador to Ghana, Franklin H. Williams. Ambassador Williams was instrumental in assisting the first Peace Corps Director, Sargent Shriver, in advancing the agency's mission across the globe.

The awards will be presented by Peace Corps Director Gaddi H. Vasquez, who will also present a Director's Award to one individual. The keynote speaker will be Wilbert Bryant, who currently serves as the Counselor to the Secretary for the White House Initiative on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.

Today, the Peace Corps has over 7,733 volunteers serving in 72 nations. Approximately 15 percent of Peace Corps volunteers are of color. To find out more about Americans of color serving in the Peace Corps, please visit Who Volunteers?.

For more information about this event, please contact the Peace Corps Press Office via e-mail at pressoffice@peacecorps.gov or by phone at 202.692.2230.

Interested media should contact the Peace Corps Press Office to obtain credentials.

WHAT:
National ceremony honoring returned Peace Corps volunteers from across the U.S. and of various ethnic backgrounds with the Franklin H. Williams Award for outstanding community service.

WHEN:
Thursday, June 23, 2005
7:00 p.m. (Please arrive by 6:45)

WHERE:
Paul D. Coverdell Peace Corps Headquarters
1111 20th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20526

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