ICYMI: Obama Foundation Announces Naming of Garden Pavilion at Presidential Center for Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi

Chicago, Ill. - The Obama Foundation today announced the Nancy Pelosi Garden Pavilion at the Obama Presidential Center, celebrating Pelosi alongside other icons and everyday heroes who will be honored in named spaces at the Obama Presidential Center, thanks to generous gifts from benefactors. The Nancy Pelosi Garden Pavilion is made possible through a generous donation by philanthropist and business leader Ron Conway.

This naming of the pavilion for Nancy Pelosi, the first woman who served as Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, reflects the Foundation's continued commitment to building a campus that honors the significant contributions of the visionary and courageous individuals "on whose shoulders we stand." Grounded in the belief that change takes all of us, the Obama Presidential Center brings together culture, community and civic engagement for visitors and neighbors to come together and be inspired to change their world through action.

Read coverage of the announcement from MS NOW: How the Obama presidential library plans to honor Nancy Pelosi(link is external) [By Mychael Schnell, 5/12/26]

"President Barack Obama's mission throughout his entire life in public service has been training leaders for the future - and now he continues that focus at the Obama Presidential Center in an unsurpassed way," Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi said. "Having a Garden Pavilion with my name on it at the Obama Center is deeply celebratory for me because of the esteem I have always had for President Obama, having seen firsthand his exceptional leadership when I served as Speaker of the House and Democratic Leader during the Obama presidency."

"Many thanks to Ron and Gayle Conway and their family for their generosity in naming this Garden Pavilion. Their naming a garden makes perfect sense because a garden is a place of growth and renewal, stemming from their values-based roots," Pelosi continued. "The Conway family are angels and cultivators who have enabled innovators to grow and blossom through their brilliance in sharing ideas and recognition. It is my hope that this Garden Pavilion will inspire future leaders to honor and carry forth those values."

"For almost four decades, Nancy Pelosi served the American people and worked to make our country better," said President Obama. "No one was more skilled at bringing people together and getting legislation passed - and I will always be grateful for her support of the Affordable Care Act. That's why I'm proud to name the Garden Pavilion at the Obama Presidential Center after Nancy. It's a way to honor her trailblazing leadership, and inspire visitors to follow in her footsteps."

"In our nation's entire history, no President and Speaker of the House got more done for our country working together than President Barack Obama and Speaker Nancy Pelosi," added Conway. "Gayle and I are deeply honored to support naming the gardens at the Obama Center after Speaker Pelosi. It's a fitting tribute to her legacy in Congress and to her historic partnership with President Obama."

"Nancy Pelosi is one of the foremost leaders of our time, blazing a trail for all women in politics, showing people of any party or background the power of increased involvement of women in our democracy," said Valerie Jarrett, CEO of the Obama Foundation. "As we honor those who make change and inspire others to take action, I can think of no one who has modeled this more than Speaker Emerita Pelosi."

The Garden Pavilion will anchor the eastern border of the Fruit & Vegetable Garden on the Center's campus. The structure will include a Garden Classroom, a garden workroom, and public restrooms.

The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on June 19, 2026. Named spaces will serve as lasting tributes to the "giants" of history, reminding every visitor that they, too, have the power to leave a lasting mark on the world.