Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Operation UNITE Receives Americorp funding.
Operation UNITE has received a $126,000 AmeriCorps state grant to add 10 service corps workers at schools in Eastern Kentucky.
UNITE was one of 49 organizations to receive funding in the nationwide competition after being nominated by governor-appointed state service commissions.
Winners of the 2008 grants, totaling $480 million, were announced on March 5 by the Corporation for National and Community Service to kick-off AmeriCorps Week activities. These grants are designed to help communities raise graduation rates, mentor youth and tackle other national challenges such as substance abuse.
UNITE School Liaison Gary Perkins will serve as the program director.
The UNITED ServCorps will focus on the eastern side of Kentucky¹s Fifth Congressional District and provide drug education and math tutoring.
Currently 30 workers through the Eastern Kentucky University ServCorps provide drug education, reading and tutoring in the western portion of UNITE¹s service area and surrounding counties.
These AmeriCorps workers are also instrumental in creating and facilitating UNITE Clubs at the elementary schools in which they work.
Total cost of the new AmeriCorps project is estimated to be $242,819. The grant will cover 52 percent of this cost, with the remaining $116,819 provided by contributions from participating schools and in-kind contributions from Operation UNITE.
The rigorous 2008 competition adds 10,000 members and $47 million dollars to the AmeriCorps portfolio, which in total will reach 75,000 members and $480 million in 2008, including continuations, state formula grants, VISTA and NCCC funding, and education awards.
The 68 national and local organizations that won the 2008 competition will receive $23.7 million to recruit and supervise those 10,000 members over the next year. These members, upon completing their service, are collectively eligible for up to $23.6 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to help pay for college or to pay back student loans.
³Working in some of America¹s most distressed and forgotten communities, AmeriCorps members are on the front lines helping fight poverty, mentor youth, recover from disasters, raise graduation rates, build homes, and tackle our toughest social challenges,² said David Eisner, chief executive officer of the Corporation, which administers AmeriCorps. ³We are investing in organizations that have proved their ability to improve lives, and we are also supporting creative programs with strong models that will use AmeriCorps members to bring lasting change.²
The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year the Corporation engages more than 4 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet local needs through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs.
UNITE was one of 49 organizations to receive funding in the nationwide competition after being nominated by governor-appointed state service commissions.
Winners of the 2008 grants, totaling $480 million, were announced on March 5 by the Corporation for National and Community Service to kick-off AmeriCorps Week activities. These grants are designed to help communities raise graduation rates, mentor youth and tackle other national challenges such as substance abuse.
UNITE School Liaison Gary Perkins will serve as the program director.
The UNITED ServCorps will focus on the eastern side of Kentucky¹s Fifth Congressional District and provide drug education and math tutoring.
Currently 30 workers through the Eastern Kentucky University ServCorps provide drug education, reading and tutoring in the western portion of UNITE¹s service area and surrounding counties.
These AmeriCorps workers are also instrumental in creating and facilitating UNITE Clubs at the elementary schools in which they work.
Total cost of the new AmeriCorps project is estimated to be $242,819. The grant will cover 52 percent of this cost, with the remaining $116,819 provided by contributions from participating schools and in-kind contributions from Operation UNITE.
The rigorous 2008 competition adds 10,000 members and $47 million dollars to the AmeriCorps portfolio, which in total will reach 75,000 members and $480 million in 2008, including continuations, state formula grants, VISTA and NCCC funding, and education awards.
The 68 national and local organizations that won the 2008 competition will receive $23.7 million to recruit and supervise those 10,000 members over the next year. These members, upon completing their service, are collectively eligible for up to $23.6 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to help pay for college or to pay back student loans.
³Working in some of America¹s most distressed and forgotten communities, AmeriCorps members are on the front lines helping fight poverty, mentor youth, recover from disasters, raise graduation rates, build homes, and tackle our toughest social challenges,² said David Eisner, chief executive officer of the Corporation, which administers AmeriCorps. ³We are investing in organizations that have proved their ability to improve lives, and we are also supporting creative programs with strong models that will use AmeriCorps members to bring lasting change.²
The Corporation for National and Community Service improves lives, strengthens communities, and fosters civic engagement through service and volunteering. Each year the Corporation engages more than 4 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet local needs through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America programs.
# posted by Joe Kinzer @ 7:19 PM 
