June 2026

Dear Friends of SOSA,

When we first began this program, the inspiration was simple — and deeply personal. Traveling with Jim throughout his years of diplomatic service, I had the rare privilege of seeing firsthand the extraordinary things that American diplomats and their families were quietly doing in communities around the world. The dedication, creativity, and genuine love they poured into their host countries was remarkable. And yet, so little of it was recognized.

One conversation has stayed with me. A colleague came to me and said: "Susan, my husband and I just came back from overseas, and the spouses do so many wonderful things — and they aren't recognized. We have to do something about that." That sentiment gave voice to something I had been feeling for a long time. So we did something about it. That is how the Secretary of State's Award for Outstanding Volunteerism Abroad — SOSA — was born.

What we believed then, we believe more firmly now: volunteerism by members of our Foreign Service community is not just a kindness. It is an essential and underappreciated dimension of American foreign policy. When a diplomat's spouse organizes a village, when a Foreign Service family champions orphaned children or rebuilds a community, when they simply show up — again and again — with their time and their heart, they give the people of that country something no official statement can provide: first-hand knowledge of Americans practicing generously. They put a human face on the United States of America.

We have never left SOSA, and we never will. Every year, we look forward to seeing the nominations come in — and every year, we are blown away. The range of service, the depth of commitment, the ingenuity these volunteers bring to their communities around the world — it never ceases to amaze us. We always think: this is the best year. And then the next year arrives and proves us wrong, in the most wonderful possible way.

This Legacy Report represents something we are deeply proud of: a lasting record of service that endures. The women and men honored here — across four years, seven bureaus, and dozens of countries — exemplify the finest ideals of the American character. Their work will outlast their postings. Their impact will ripple far beyond what they may ever fully know.

To the 2022–2025 awardees: thank you. You have reminded the world — and all of us — of what it truly means to be American abroad. You have given far more than your time; you have given yourselves. And in doing so, you have made us all profoundly proud.

With deepest gratitude and admiration,