The Congressional Award

We were honored to host Representative Rudy Yakym III (IN-02) for a #PowerLunch this week! These discussions give our Board members the opportunity to connect with Members of Congress on important issues, introduce them to The Congressional Award and its values, and explore ways to expand the program’s reach. Together, we can inspire more young Americans to embrace leadership, service, and personal development. We appreciate Representative Yakym’s insights on meaningful youth engagement and look forward to continuing these conversations with leaders from across the aisle. #PowerLunch #Congress #Leadership #YouthDevelopment #Service

We are delighted to announce two new additions to the ???????????????????? ???????????of The Congressional Award, each bringing a wealth of business and policy expertise that will help us empower the next generation. As the only charity of the United States Congress, we rely on the dedication of?the corporate?partners on our Foundation Board?to drive strategic partnerships, amplify our programs, and ensure that America’s youth have every opportunity to succeed: ??Tom Gannon, EVP & Chief Advocacy Officer at LPL Financial – A seasoned advocate who collaborates with policymakers at all levels, leveraging his public policy expertise and strategic leadership to advance personalized financial solutions. ??Bill Anaya, Vice President of Global Government Affairs at Coupang?– A recognized leader in international government relations with deep experience in technology, innovation, and public policy, adept at fostering strategic partnerships and shaping high-impact initiatives. We welcome these accomplished professionals to The Congressional Award?Board?and look forward to their support in advancing our mission of service, personal development, and leadership for young Americans. #Congress #Leadership #YouthDevelopment #Nonprofit #Service #NonprofitLeadership #FoundationBoard #FutureLeaders

We are thrilled to welcome five remarkable leaders to The Congressional Award's ???????????????? ??????????, each bringing a wealth of expertise to support the next generation. As the only charity of the United States Congress, our mission is to foster service, personal development, and leadership among America’s youth—an endeavor that will be further strengthened by these new appointments: ? Israel "Izzy" Klein, Co-Founder & Principal of Klein/Johnson Group – A repeat Top Lobbyist recognized for his government relations, communications strategy, and coalition-building acumen. ? Adia Lancaster, Founder of One Fam Project – A steadfast advocate for children and families, renowned for her leadership in human trafficking prevention and community education. ? Jacqueline Ruiz ??, CEO of JJR Marketing – A visionary social entrepreneur and “dream catcher,” dedicated to empowering women and youth across the globe. ? Allison Quintanilla Plattsmier, Ed.D, DBA, CFRE, CAP, ACNP, CEO of Edgehill Neighborhood Partnership (ENP) – An alum of The Congressional Award program who earned her Gold Medal in 2018, and a nonprofit executive who has secured over $5 million in funding, driving impactful programs for thousands of families. ? Eric Zulkosky of Fierce Government Relations LLC – A Capitol Hill veteran with more than a decade of legislative and policy experience in both the House and Senate. We welcome these accomplished new members to The Congressional Award and look forward to their contributions in advancing our mission—empowering young Americans to serve their communities and become tomorrow’s leaders. #Congress #Leadership #YouthDevelopment #Nonprofit #Service #NonprofitLeadership #CommunityEmpowerment #FutureLeaders

February is American Heart Month. ?? Did you know that the smallest lifestyle changes can make a big difference over time? By understanding what changes can make a difference, you can be equipped with the tools to manage and improve your heart health. The Congressional Award partnered with the Entertainment Software Association and the?American Heart Association?to discuss the importance of maintaining a healthy balance between fitness and virtual play. In sitting down with key leaders Rep. Stephanie Bice (OK-05), Rep. Don Beyer (VA-08)?and?Rep. Jay Obernolte (CA-08) we covered the importance of maintaining healthy habits while gaming, to include nutrition, sleep, and physical fitness through video games. Thanks to Melissa (Missy) Cortese Foxman and Stanley Pierre-Louis for supporting our next generation and highlighting the unique opportunities for youth in the video game industry. Webinar & Toolkit Available - https://lnkd.in/ezVizepz #hearthealth #gaming #Esports #AHA #ESA #STEMEducation #ValentinesDay #youthdevelopment

Happy Valentine's Day from The Congressional Award & Wish of a Lifetime from AARP! ?? “This campaign is about more than just Valentine’s Day—it’s about?fostering meaningful intergenerational connections?and ensuring that no senior feels forgotten,” said Erica Heyse, National Director of The Congressional Award. “We are incredibly proud of the thousands of Congressional Award youth participants who have embraced this mission, demonstrating the power of small gestures to create a big impact.” Read the full story here: https://lnkd.in/gB5qgMgQ

A special thanks to Chairman Buddy Carter (GA-01) for spending time with us as a part of The Congressional Award Power Lunch Series. These opportunities help the Board design effective strategies to drive our mission forward as a public-private partnership. Paxton Baker, Mike Parrish, Riley Swinehart, John Mason, Jonathan Heafitz, Steve Hartell, Diana Léon Brown, MS MBA, Melissa (Missy) Cortese Foxman, Tom Geier, Jason Van Pelt, Michael Skahill, Mayealie Adams, JD/MBA, Susan Hirschmann - with special thanks to Eric Fernandez, Chris Crawford and Harley Adsit. #Congress #Board #Leadership #CAF #youth

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and that means it’s time to spread love and kindness! Join The Congressional Award and Wish of a Lifetime from AARP in the Cupid Crew movement to brighten the day for older adults in your community. Whether delivering a heartfelt card or roses, your efforts can make a big impact. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/eTqGVEGH #TheCongressionalAward #WishofaLifetime #ValentinesDay #Service #CupidCrew #EarnedIt

Thanks to the University of Louisville for recognizing the incredible work it takes to earn The Congressional Award Gold Medal. Congratulations to Jackson Robbins on over 1400 hours of dedication and hard work, and a special thank you to Advisors Claudette Patton and Jim Patton for their support of the #Kentucky program. #GoForGold #CongressionalAward #UofL Morgan McGarvey

We had the opportunity this past week to present The Congressional Award program to students at Park City High School. We love sharing our passion for the program and seeing young people and other educators get excited too! Thanks to Roger Arbabi, Jamie Sheetz and @Jordan Ulrich for the invitation. Great things are happening at PCHS!

We are delighted to welcome three new appointments to The Congressional Award Board of Directors. Speaker Mike Johnson has appointed Senior Vice President of Global Government Affairs of Boston Scientific Brenda Becker, Chairman and CEO of Williams & Jensen PLLC Susan Hirschmann, and Co-Founder and Board Chair of The Policy Circle Sylvie Légère to support the next generation of leaders. We welcome them to the organization to support this great mission. #Congress #Leadership #youthdevelopment #SpeakerJohnson #Serve #GoForGold