The 2020 Friends of National Service Awards, Washington, D.C.

The first honoree of the evening at the National Friends of Service Awards was Sen. Chris Coons (D-Delaware) who received the John S. McCain Service to Country Award. Senator McCain's widow, Cindy, delivered a special video message/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Rep. Deb Haaland (D-NM) received an Outstanding New Member Award at the annual Friends of National Service event, Feb. 11, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C./Photo by Patricia Leslie

Rep. Donna Shalala (D-FL) received an Outstanding New Member Award from the National Friends of Service at its annual dinner, Feb. 11, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C. Sen. Richard Scott (R-FL) was another new member recipient/Photo by Patricia Leslie

Senator Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin) and Rep. John Moolenaar (R-Michigan) received Distinguished Service Awards from the National Friends of Service at its annual dinner, Feb. 11, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C./Photo by Patricia Leslie

Senator Jeff Merkley (D-Oregon) received the FDR Service and Conservation Corps Leadership Award at the annual Friends of National Service event, Feb. 11, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C./Photo by Patricia Leslie

Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) was added to the National Service Hall of Fame with Sen. Roy Blunt (R-MO) at the annual Friends of National Service event, Feb. 11, 2020 at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C./Photo by Patricia Leslie

On Tuesday evening at the 17th Annual Friends of National Service Awards, 13 members of Congress were among 22 honorees recognized for their outstanding achievements in support and investment of national service initiatives.

Hosting the event at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill

was Voices for National Service which works to strengthen opportunities and collaborate through its coalition of local and national groups to educate national leaders on the impact and importance of service and federal funding for programs.

Among groups Voices represents are AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, the Volunteer Generation Fund, State Service Commissions, and Teach for America.

Besides those named above, other award recipients were Rep. John Lewis (D-GA) who received the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award, Sen. Michael Bennet (D-CO), Rep. Matt Wilhelm (D-NH), Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), Rep. Aaron Lieberman (D-AZ), Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WVA), Rep. Glenn Thompson (R-PA), Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Indiana), Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH), Fareed Zakaria of CNN, Lt. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, and Mayor Ras Baraka (Newark, NJ).

patricialesli@gmail.com