Oregon Will Receive Nearly $6 Million for AmeriCorps

Thursday, June 11, 2015

GoLocalPDX News Team

Merkley

Senator Jeff Merkley

Wyden

Senator Ron Wyden

Oregon Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley announced on Wednesday, June 10 that Oregon has received nearly $6 million for AmeriCorps, which places its members with nonprofit, faith-based and community service organizations statewide.

The $5.9 million from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) provides much-needed resources for nonprofits, communities and the people they serve throughout Oregon, Wyden and Merkley said.

“Oregon’s long and proud legacy of citizen service fits perfectly with AmeriCorps members’ work to bring people together behind a common goal,” Wyden said. “And what makes this program such a shining example is the fact that AmeriCorps provides valuable job skills and educational assistance to its members who are helping our communities solve their challenges.”

“I’ve seen first-hand from my work with Habitat for Humanity the power of community service to impact people’s lives and extend opportunity to all corners of our society,” said Merkley. “With these grants, Oregon will be able to invest more in community service projects and to extend the ability of AmeriCorps volunteers to improve the lives of Oregonians.”

The current year’s AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive, due to the strong demand by organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. The 2015 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services and continued a new initiative for governors and mayors.

CNCS will provide more than $1.4 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the 282 AmeriCorps members in Portland, Eugene and Bend who are funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of $5,645 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans. Heart of Oregon in Bend, Jesuit Volunteer Corps Northwest and the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter in Portland, as well as the University of Oregon will also receive funding through the grants.

“AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation,” said CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer. “Building on Oregon’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will improve lives and strengthen communities across Oregon. While they serve others, AmeriCorps members will also expand opportunity for themselves - gaining skills and experience to jumpstart their careers. I salute AmeriCorps members for their dedication, and thank our outstanding partners who make their service possible.”

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 25,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

Since 1994, more than 900,000 Americans have provided more than 1.2 billion hours of service addressing critical challenges from poverty and hunger to disasters and the dropout crisis.