Chris Evans, renowned actor and Marvel star, will receive the Spirit of Service Award alongside his A Starting Point partners Mark Kassen and Joe Kiani. Previous recipients include former Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, philanthropist Laurene Powell Jobs, and former NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
The award, given by Partnership for Public Service, will be presented at the Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals ceremony on September 11 at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. While the event honors federal employees, the Spirit of Service Award recognizes individuals outside government whose work is vital to improving governance and democracy.
Evans, Kassen, a filmmaker, and Kiani, a technology entrepreneur, launched A Starting Point in 2020 as a video-based civic engagement platform. Its mission is to foster bipartisan communication between Americans and their elected officials, aiming to create a more informed electorate. Recently, A Starting Point’s Instagram shared updates on FEMA’s response to extreme heat, debates on Washington D.C. statehood, and Supreme Court rulings.
Max Stier, president and CEO of the Partnership for Public Service, praised A Starting Point for connecting with young people to build a more civically engaged society. He highlighted that only 7 percent of the federal workforce is under 30, and trust in government among youth is low. By engaging with this demographic, A Starting Point supports a more effective government and a stronger democracy.
In a joint statement, Evans, Kassen, and Kiani expressed their gratitude to Partnership for Public Service and pride in their team. They emphasized their mission to make civic engagement accessible for everyone and felt humbled to receive recognition alongside dedicated federal employees.
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In an interview with People, Evans discussed his motivation for founding A Starting Point, noting his desire to help people become more involved in democracy. He acknowledged the influence of his role as Captain America and his commitment to political involvement and public welfare.
The Samuel J. Heyman Service to America Medals, known as the “Sammies,” are considered the “Oscars of public service.” This year, 25 finalists were selected from over 500 nominations across five categories. Sponsors for the 2024 Service to America Medals include Tom and Andi Bernstein, David and Jennifer Millstone, SAIC, Standard Industries, Karan Bhatia, Google, Lockheed Martin, and Microsoft.