National Service Agency Announces Additional AmeriCorps Grants

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

National Service Agency Announces Additional AmeriCorps Grants Supporting 1,500 New Members Meeting Community Needs

Washington, DC — The Corporation for National and Community Service today announced $5.9 million in additional 2011 AmeriCorps grants to 17 organizations meeting pressing challenges in communities across the nation.

The grants will support 1,500 new AmeriCorps members who will strengthen education, assist veterans and military families, preserve the environment, expand health services, and foster economic opportunity.

The additional grants will go to national and local nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and community and faith-based groups. AmeriCorps members supported by these grants are projected to earn more than $5.5 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to help pay for college or to pay back student loans.

In our area these grants may impact areas such as:

Healthy Futures:  The Boys & Girls Clubs of Wayne County, Indiana, will engage 118 AmeriCorps members to work with youth across Indiana to combat obesity and increase academic achievement, and the New Hampshire Coalition Against Domestic and Sexual Violence, will engage 27 AmeriCorps members to provide public health, domestic violence prevention, and victim services.

Veterans and Military Families: The Community Anti-Drug Coalitions of America will engage veterans to serve as Prevention Coordinators for veterans and military families, resulting in improved access and availability of social and mental and physical health services in ten states.

In the past 17 years, more than 700,000 men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 860 million hours of service. AmeriCorps members serve with more than 14,000 nonprofit, faith-based, and community groups each year, helping them expand their reach and better meet their mission.