FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Friday, October 24, 2003
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Corporation for National and Community Service
Contact: Sandy Scott
202-606-5000 ext. 255
sscott@cns.gov |
National Service Agency Announces Grants to Support 300 AmeriCorps Members Meeting Needs of Children and Youth |
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Washington D.C. — The Corporation for National and Community Service today
announced the renewal of 29 grants totaling $3.7 million to support AmeriCorps
members who are helping to meet the needs of children and youth across the
nation.
The grants will support the work of 311 full-time AmeriCorps members, called
AmeriCorps Promise Fellows. These members work with national and local
organizations to build the character and competence of our nation's youth by
providing them with access to five fundamental resources: ongoing relationships
with caring adults, safe places with structured activities, a healthy start,
marketable skills, and opportunities to give back.
The Corporation was a co-sponsor of the 1997 Presidents' Summit for America's
Future, which challenged the nation to provide the five fundamental resources,
called promises, to children and youth. The Summit led to the formation of
America's Promise, a national campaign to mobilize corporations, non-profit
organizations, higher education and faith-based groups, government agencies and
communities to start or expand efforts to meet the needs of children and youth.
While serving youth and engaging young people in service has always been a major
focus of national service, the Corporation stepped up its efforts after the
Summit in a variety of ways, including launching the AmeriCorps Promise Fellows
program in 1998. Through this program, thousands of AmeriCorps members have made
a difference in young people's lives by recruiting mentors, creating
after-school programs, helping parents get health care for their children,
teaching children to read, and encouraging young people to serve.
"Our young people are our future, and helping young people succeed in school
and in life is a priority for all of us at the Corporation," said James F.
Manning, Acting CEO of the Corporation. "AmeriCorps Promise Fellows have helped
tens of thousands of children get the resources they need to lead healthy,
successful, and productive lives, and we're proud of their contribution."
The grants announced today will allow organizations to continue and expand
their work in state and local communities. Past accomplishments from these
grantees include the following:
- In Idaho, Promise Fellows worked with 67 youth coalitions to carry out 115
community service projects involving 6,000 youth and adult mentors.
- HOPE Worldwide Promise Fellows recruited more than 13,500 volunteers who
served more than 65,000 hours mentoring at-risk youth, providing HIV
prevention education, and conducting health fairs.
- AmeriCorps Promise Fellows in Minnesota matched 900 youth with adult
mentors, connected 600 children with safe out-of-school activities, and
mobilized more than 1,000 volunteers.
- Interval House Crisis Shelter Promise Fellows provides services to
children who have been victims of domestic violence. Last year, Fellows linked
660 youth with caring mentors, provided after-school activities to 590
children, and provided referrals and health care to 116 families.
"By answering the call to service, AmeriCorps Promise Fellows show America at
its best," said Rosie K. Mauk, Director of AmeriCorps. "And by giving a year of
their lives in service, they are helping young people on the path to success."
The 29 grants total $3,769,800 and support 311 full-time AmeriCorps members.
They are broken into the following categories:
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States: Twenty-one grants totaling $2,722,200 to support 224 full-time
AmeriCorps members. These grants go to governor-appointed state commissions on
national service, which in turn place members at local nonprofit and community
organizations in their states. In addition, one grant of $13,800 supports an
AmeriCorps member serving at the Sioux Falls Volunteer and Information Center
in South Dakota, which doesn't have a commission.
View grants.
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National Directs: Six grants totaling $964,800 to support 81 full-time
members serving with national nonprofits which operate in multiple states.
View grants.
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Tribes: One grant for $69,000 to support 5 AmeriCorps members serving
with Fort Mojave Indian Tribe in Needles, CA.
View grant.
AmeriCorps members serve full or part time with thousands of national and
local organizations. Full-time members who complete their service earn an
education award of $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school, or to pay back
student loans. Members who serve part-time receive a partial education award.
AmeriCorps is a national service program administered by the Corporation for
National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and
Serve America. Together, the programs of the Corporation engage Americans of all
ages and backgrounds in meeting critical needs in education, the environment,
public safety, homeland security, and other areas. The Corporation and its
programs are part of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative to foster a
culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility, and help all Americans
answer the President's Call to Service. For more information, visit
www.nationalservice.org.
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