WACC Evening Speaker Series:
Supporting U.S. National Security with Civilian Action
Date: April 29, 2026
Time: 5:15 Reception, Speaker Program 6:00-7:00 pm
Place: Capers Hall at the Citadel, 1 Lee Ave., Charleston, SC
Cost: Free for WACC Members (no registration required). Non-members register and pay online.
America’s values and leadership have fostered security, freedom, and prosperity unmatched in human history. Yet these ideals are under threat from authoritarian regimes and terrorist groups seeking to destabilize free societies and challenge America’s global leadership.
Join the World Affairs Council of Charleston on April 29 for an engaging conversation with Jim Hake, Founder and CEO of Spirit of America. For over 20 years, Spirit of America has partnered with U.S. troops and diplomats in the world’s toughest environments – defending freedom, strengthening democracy, and creating opportunities for a safer, more prosperous future.
Hake will share firsthand insights from Spirit of America’s work on the front lines of today’s geopolitical hotspots, including Ukraine, the Middle East, and the Indo-Pacific. He will explore how Americans and private philanthropy can make a unique and meaningful impact on national security, stepping in to address challenges that government alone cannot solve.
About Jim Hake
Jim Hake founded Spirit of America in response to the attacks of 9/11. SOA is a privately funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit. SOA has pioneered a new model of philanthropic private assistance that supports America’s national security and unites the American people with U.S. troops and diplomats in a common cause—saving and improving lives, defending freedom, and strengthening the frontlines of democracy. Spirit of America promotes patriotism without politics—i.e., it is nonpartisan and apolitical. Its unprecedented partnership with the U.S. military is based on an agreement with the U.S. Department of Defense that allows the military to collaborate, identify needs, receive and distribute SOA assistance, and provide logistical support.
For more information or to register for this event, click here.
–Tidelines Editors
(Image credit: World Affairs Council of Charleston)