FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, May 20, 2004
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Corporation for National and Community Service
CONTACT: Sandy Scott
202-606-5000 x255
sscott@cns.gov |
AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity Mark 10 Years of National Service by Building 22 Dallas Homes in Nine Days |
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Since 1994, AmeriCorps has helped manage 1 million
volunteers
and build 6,000 Habitat homes
Washington D.C. — In recognition of AmeriCorps' decade of service to America,
more than 300 Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps members from around the country
have come to Dallas to work with local volunteers to build 22 homes in a
nine-day "blitz build."
The build marks 10 years of AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity working
together to build affordable homes and eliminate substandard housing. Since
AmeriCorps members began serving with Habitat in 1994, they have helped build
more than 6,000 homes and manage more than one million volunteers.
David Eisner, CEO of AmeriCorps' parent agency the Corporation for National
and Community Service, will join the blitz build on Saturday, May 22nd to help
finish work and dedicate the homes. More than 3,000 Dallas-area volunteers are
building the homes from the ground up in Dallas' Pinebrook neighborhood. The
blitz started on Saturday, May 15 and is the second-largest build fielded by
Dallas Area Habitat for Humanity.
"For ten years AmeriCorps and Habitat for Humanity have helped thousands of
American families achieve their dream of home ownership," said David Eisner.
"Habitat is an exceptional organization, and we're thrilled that AmeriCorps has
helped Habitat boost its productivity, both through hands-on construction and
recruiting and supervising volunteers. This is one of the best examples I know
of national service serving as an engine of volunteer mobilization, a role we
want to increase in our second decade of service to America."
Habitat for Humanity International was one of the first organizations to
apply for AmeriCorps members. In 1994, 122 AmeriCorps members served with five
Habitat for Humanity affiliates to help build 123 homes. This year, more than
450 AmeriCorps members will volunteer 600,000 hours with 55 Habitat affiliates
to help build 1,100 homes and to recruit, train, and lead an additional 150,000
volunteers. Many former AmeriCorps members now work for Habitat, helping
increase the capacity of the organization which results in more homes built for
those in need.
"AmeriCorps members do a great job of serving communities by working with
Habitat for Humanity and other nonprofit organizations," said Allyson Streeter,
of AmeriCorps national direct program for Habitat for Humanity International.
"They support Habitat by serving as construction crew leaders, volunteer
organizers, family support coordinators and other positions that help families
achieve the dream of homeownership."
AmeriCorps engages Americans in innovative, intensive service to meet
community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security
and other areas. Members serve with national non-profit organizations, as well
as with hundreds of smaller community organizations, both secular and
faith-based. AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and
Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America.
Together with USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture
of citizenship, service, and responsibility. For more information, call (202)
606-5000, or visit
www.nationalservice.org.
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