In 1979, with the assistance of a grant from DOE, Peggy Pilcher was hired to develop the volunteer program for the Escambia School District. Before that time, she had served at the local, county, and state level of the Florida PTA. Pilcher served on the Florida Volunteer Advisory Council which later became the Commissioner's Community Involvement Council. Her service to the statewide volunteer movement is recognized both statewide and nationally. She served as President of the Florida Association of Partners in Education of which she was a charter member, was elected Vice President of NAPE (National Association of Partners in Education), and served on many committees established by the Florida Department of Education.Pilcher is highly regarded for her leadership in sustaining a statewide presence. She champions the importance and funding of Florida's School Volunteer Program. Her regard among governors, legislators and Commissioners of Education is well known as they, in their new terms of office, appointed her to their transition teams and continued to appoint her to advisory councils. She represented the volunteer movement in this state for 26 years, politically and personally, giving her time, leadership and political acumen to create the statewide program as we know it today. She was an advisor not only to political leaders, but to new district coordinators who still hold her in high esteem for helping them create their own award winning programs.Pilcher's history with FAPE and its conferences goes back to the 3rd Annual Volunteer Conference that was held in Tampa in 1980. She has attended every conference since that time. She served as Conference Chairman twice, as well as serving on the Conference Committee for many years. One of the most memorable conferences was the one that she hosted in Pensacola.One of her greatest achievements is the fact that in 1983 she initiated the first Navy volunteer program in the country. This program has grown worldwide and has made a positive impact on the lives of thousands of children. In 1985, the Escambia School District and NTTC Corry Station initiated the first Saturday Scholars Program, and today this is the longest running Saturday Scholars Program in the country.Peggy has been involved in the Escambia County Council of PTAs since 1970 and in 2000 this council presented the first "Peggy Picher Award" in recognition of outstanding community service in the Pensacola community.