Partners of the Americas is an international network that promotes social and economic development in the Americas through leadership, voluntary service, and development programs.  Our mission is to connect individuals, volunteers, institutions, businesses, and communities to serve and to change lives through lasting partnerships.  Founded in 1964, Partners is a private, non-profit, non-partisan organization with international offices in Washington, DC. 

At the heart of Partners is the “people-to-people” philosophy that grew out of a 1962 call by President John F. Kennedy for citizens of the Western Hemisphere to work together. Inspired by the challenge, Jim Boren, one of our founders, envisioned a two-way network of volunteer partnerships that would enable everyday people to contribute to the Americas.

Today, Partners has evolved into 100 volunteer chapters linked in partnerships. Chapters in U.S. states form partnerships with chapters in countries or states in Latin America and the Caribbean. Each volunteer chapter is organized as a private, nonprofit institution with by-laws and regularly-elected officers. Partnerships build cultural awareness, respect and camaraderie. They create and implement projects that improve the quality of life of others. Each chapter reaches out to its respective community, state, or country to leverage in-kind and financial contributions to support this work, multiplying each dollar invested by as much as $10 in donated goods and services. 

Men and women from all walks of life – doctors, artists, high school students, foresters, city administrators, professors – are part of the Partners family.  Besides the time and technical abilities donated by volunteers, a number of major corporations, foundations and government agencies support our work.

Partners of the Americas welcomes all individuals and organizations willing to share their skills and work toward greater international cooperation among the people of the Western Hemisphere.  Join us today!