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Resolution
WHEREAS, for more than 40 years, Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA), now known as AmeriCorps*VISTA, has made an extraordinary contribution to eradicating poverty in America; and
WHEREAS, AmeriCorps*VISTA members have improved the lives of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens by fighting illiteracy, improving health services, reducing unemployment, increasing housing opportunities, reducing crime and recidivism, and expanding access to technology; and;
WHEREAS; AmeriCorps*VISTA members develop programs, recruit community volunteers, raise funds, manage projects, and otherwise build the capacity of nonprofit organizations to become sustainable, thereby strengthening America’s nonprofit sector in low-income communities; and
WHEREAS, VISTA has engaged more than 177,000 Americans of every age and walk of life in service to meet vital needs and has helped create generations of social entrepreneurs committed to a lifetime of active citizenship; and
WHEREAS, last year AmeriCorps*VISTA members served with more than 1,600 local projects, raised more than $157 million in cash and in-kind resources for their projects, and recruited or managed 509,000 community volunteers – an average of 76 volunteers per AmeriCorps*VISTA member; and;
WHEREAS, to recognize VISTA’s proud history the Corporation is holding commemorative events and is releasing a new book of stories of VISTA members through the decades called “VISTA…In Service to America” as a way to highlight VISTA’s extraordinary accomplishments and recruit new AmeriCorps*VISTA members, project sponsors, and private sector support.
BE IT RESOLVED, this 24th day of May, 2006, that the Board of Directors of the Corporation for National and Community Service expresses its profound appreciation for all that AmeriCorps*VISTA has accomplished, salutes the 177,000 men and women who have answered VISTA’s call to service, and encourages other Americans to join AmeriCorps*VISTA and continue its proud legacy of service to America.
Signed - May 24th, 2006
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