The second annual AmeriCorps Week was a major success! Thanks to the tens of thousands of AmeriCorps members, alums, staff, partners, and friends who joined in us in shining the spotlight on the extraordinary service and accomplishments of AmeriCorps and in helping recruit more Americans into service.

From building homes and helping communities recover from disasters to restoring parks and signing up volunteers, tens of thousands of AmeriCorps members and alums made the second annual AmeriCorps Week a major success. Members and alums celebrated AmeriCorps Week by doing what they do best – service. They also took time to thank their community partners and to recruit more Americans into service. Millions of Americans learned about AmeriCorps through school presentations, recruitment fairs, service projects, and media coverage during the week. AmeriCorps Week was also a time to say “Thank You” to AmeriCorps members and alums. The President, Congress, Governors, Mayors, and people who’ve benefited from the helping hands of an AmeriCorps member all took time to salute the men and women of AmeriCorps for their dedication and accomplishments.

Fast Facts

• More than 250 events across the country, from Alabama to Alaska, and Savannah to Saipan
• AmeriCorps Week resolution passed by U.S. House of Representatives
• Proclamations from 25 Governors
• Widespread media coverage including Good Morning America, Fox News, and 80+ print and broadcast stories
• 35 new videos created by AmeriCorps members and alums for the 2008 AmeriCorps Video Contest
• Release of AmeriCorps longitudinal study showing that 60% of AmeriCorps alum work in nonprofits or government
• AmeriCorps’ 540,000 members have provided more than 705 million hours of service
• AmeriCorps members last year mobilized 1.7 million community volunteers for the organizations they serve

What People Are Saying

• “The strength of America is built on the compassion and love of our citizens. Through countless acts of kindness, AmeriCorps members are making our Nation a stronger, more hopeful place.” -- President George W. Bush
• “The AmeriCorps national service program, since its inception in 1994, has proven to be a highly effective way to engage Americans in meeting a wide range of local needs, national response directives, and promote the ethic of service and volunteering,” – U.S. House of Representatives
• “The AmeriCorps program is vital to the growth and prosperity of our Nation. AmeriCorps members can be found in our small towns and in our big cities. They're motivated young men and women from every background imaginable. Equally valuable, these men and women are experts in mobilizing local volunteers, allowing millions more to serve their communities in an organized and effectual way.” Rep. Doris Matsui (D-CA)
• “We are grateful for the AmeriCorps members who are getting things done in our state. AmeriCorps members have made a significant impact on our ability to address unmet needs, and AmeriCorps Week is a perfect opportunity to recognize their contributions.” Washington Governor Chris Gregoire

Event Highlights

This is a partial listing of more than 250 AmeriCorps Week projects or presentations that took place across the nation.

• More than 700 AmeriCorps members from across Florida In partnership with the City of Miami and EcoZone, planted 1,000 trees and thousands of sea oats simultaneously, helping restoring historic Virginia Key Beach Park and leaving a legacy that will impact Miami, our state and our nation for years to come!
• Hundreds of AmeriCorps members from CO, NM, KS, and WY rehabilitated trails at the historic Red Rocks Park and Amphitheater outside Denver and participated in the AmeriCorps Week kickoff ceremony with Lt. Governor Barbara O’Brien, USA Freedom Corps Director Lozano, Corporation COO Liz Seale, and comedian Josh Blue.
• More than 700 Habitat for Humanity and NCCC AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Director Kristin McSwain joined thousands of volunteers from around the world to build dozens of homes for the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas.
• The Brookings Institution held a policy forum on the Impact and Future of AmeriCorps where the Corporation released a rigorous longitudinal study that found AmeriCorps is building a powerful pipeline for public servants, civic leaders, and social entrepreneurs.
• Governor’s proclamations were issued in Alabama, Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, Arkansas, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Nevada, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, & Wyoming.
• New York led the nation in the AmeriCorps Week projects, with 35 service projects organized by 29 organizations across the state including a community festival in Brooklyn, participating in the City of Rochester’s Clean Sweep Event, community disaster preparation outreach in Brooklyn and Queens; building a Habitat for Humanity house in Albany, and helping renovate the International Institute of Buffalo.
• The Corps Network and dozens of conservation corps and other AmeriCorps programs marked AmeriCorps Week through projects to honor the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps, including a statue dedication and ceremony at Camp Roosevelt in Edinburg, VA with AmeriCorps NCCC Director Merlene Mazyck, CCC Legacy Foundation Director Joan Sharpe, and Corps Network President Sally Prouty.
• Nevada First Lady Dawn Gibbons and Nevada Volunteers Commissioner presented awards to outstanding AmeriCorps members and other volunteers at a ceremony at the Governor’s mansion, and the First Lady was sworn in as an Honorary AmeriCorps member.
• On May 12, the Corporation announced the winners of its 2008 competition, adding 68 new grants to help communities raise graduation rates, mentor youth, recover from disasters, and tackle other national challenges. The $23.7million in grants will add 10,000 members who are eligible to earn $23.6 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards. The total AmeriCorps portfolio for FY 2008 will reach 75,000 members.
• Drawing together 250 AmeriCorps members from Washington and Oregon, the 13th annual National Service Symposium in Portland showcased members sharing their AmeriCorps experience through the literary, visual, and performing arts. Also, Washington First Gentleman Mike Gregoire served as an AmeriCorps Member for a Day, reading to third-graders and sorting food collected by U.S. postal workers.
• In Pennsylvania, hundreds of AmeriCorps members attended simultaneous rallies in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, followed by large community service projects.
• Montana First Lady Nancy Schweitzer served as an AmeriCorps Member for a Day, joining other members and community leaders in planting trees at the Spring Meadow Lake State Park in Helena.
• Arizona celebrated AmeriCorps Week with a proclamation from Governor Napolitano, regional forums on service and volunteering, and AmeriCorps Night at the Arizona Diamondbacks baseball team and the Phoenix Symphony.
• Hundreds of Washington D.C. area AmeriCorps members came together on May 17, 2008 for service and professional training at the Sixth Annual DC All Corps Service Day.
• In American Samoa, AmeriCorps members worked on historic preservation of the Tiaseulupe (Fatu O Aiga) and conducted cleanup at the Rainmaker Hotel.
• Illinois marked AmeriCorps Week with a statewide food and clothing drive to address hunger and homelessness.
• In Kentucky, AmeriCorps members recruited and trained older elementary students to become reading coaches for younger students, conducted neighborhood block sweeps in Louisville, and built Habitat for Humanity homes.
• Bridgeport, CT Mayor Bill Finch joined AmeriCorps members in installing smoke detectors as part of the city’s Safe Asleep program, which has already put 4,300 smoke detectors into Bridgeport homes.

To learn more about AmeriCorps Week, visit http://www.americorpsweek.gov.

###