[October 10, 2013]SPRINGFIELD -- Gov. Pat Quinn and
his Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service announced on
Tuesday that the Corporation for National and Community Service has
awarded $7.5 million to enable 900 volunteers in 29 AmeriCorps programs
to better serve Illinois communities. The announcement comes at the
beginning of a yearlong 20th anniversary celebration for the program.
"Twenty years ago today, President Clinton signed the National and
Community Service Trust Act," said Brandon Bodor, executive director
of Serve Illinois. "Since then more than 30,000 Illinoisans have
taken up the charge to 'get things done' for their communities.
Service is in our fabric as a state, and this AmeriCorps grant will
help grow our commitment to selflessness and service in Illinois."
This federal grant will go toward services in Illinois, including
tutoring and mentoring at-risk youth, preparing communities to
respond effectively to emergencies, and building connections between
immigrants and their non-immigrant neighbors.
The Corporation for National and Community Service, or CNCS, is
the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, and its goal with
the grant is to develop and expand volunteer organizations across
the country. The Serve Illinois Commission, a part of the Illinois
Department of Human Services and the governor's office, administers
the AmeriCorps programs in Illinois.
"Our AmeriCorps volunteers in Illinois are on the front lines of
service, and they have been for the past two decades," Bodor added.
"These members are the bedrock of our volunteer infrastructure in
the state. Illinois AmeriCorps members have served more than 37
million hours, which equates to about $858 million in impact."
AmeriCorps programs receiving funds from CNCS:
Academy for Urban
School Leadership, Chicago
American Red Cross,
Safe Families, Chicago
Asian Human Services,
Chicago
Chicago Bar
Foundation, Illinois Justice Corps, Chicago
Children's Home
Association of Illinois, Fostering Transitions AmeriCorps,
Peoria
City Year, Chicago
Greater Chicago Food
Depository, Chicago
Illinois Public
Health Association, Springfield
Jumpstart Illinois,
Chicago
Lessie Bates Davis
Neighborhood House, AmeriCorps/East St. Louis, East St. Louis
Literacy Volunteers
of Illinois, Project VOCAL, Chicago
Lutheran Social
Services of Illinois, Prisoner & Family Ministries, Marion
Northwestern University Settlement
Association, Project YES!, Chicago
Springfield Urban
League, AmeriCorps/Youth Corps, Springfield
Teach For America,
Chicago
University of
Illinois Board of Trustees, Project MORE, Chicago
West Suburban PADS,
Career Passport and Housing Program, Maywood
Western Illinois
University, Peace Corps Fellows Program, Macomb
Western Illinois
University, Quad Cities, Moline
Youth Organization Umbrella, Evanston
___
The Serve Illinois Commission is a 40-member, bipartisan board
appointed by the governor. Its mission is to improve Illinois
communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of
service throughout the state. The commission accomplishes this
mission by supporting local, community-based efforts to enhance
volunteer opportunities and administering Illinois' AmeriCorps
program. For more information on Serve Illinois, or to find one of
over 100,000 volunteer opportunities in the state, visit
www.Serve.Illinois.gov.
"Twenty years ago today, President Clinton signed the National and
Community Service Trust Act," said Brandon Bodor, executive director
of Serve Illinois. "Since then more than 30,000 Illinoisans have
taken up the charge to 'get things done' for their communities.
Service is in our fabric as a state, and this AmeriCorps grant will
help grow our commitment to selflessness and service in Illinois."
