Volunteer Florida CEO Chester Spellman today announced that 24 Florida AmeriCorps programs have been funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) for 2013-2014. These programs, funded by $5.8 million in federal CNCS grants and $5.08 million in local matching funds, will engage 1,109 AmeriCorps members in direct service to schools, nonprofits, faith-based and other community organizations.
In addition to this funding, $5.3 million in college scholarships will be awarded to participating AmeriCorps members upon their successful graduation, resulting in a total federal investment of $11.2 million.
“AmeriCorps members have proven to be an indispensible resource for our partners across Florida,” said CEO Spellman. “Volunteer Florida is committed to administering high-quality AmeriCorps programs and we look forward to working with our subgrantees as they meet measurable, effective outcomes.
AmeriCorps members dedicate a year of their life to meeting critical needs through service. 88 percent of Volunteer Florida’s AmeriCorps members are focused on education, serving as tutors and mentors in schools and nonprofits across the state. Last year, Volunteer Florida’s AmeriCorps programs were in over 400 Florida schools, helping more than 48,000 students.
Other AmeriCorps programs administered by Volunteer Florida focus on improving the environment, disaster services, healthy futures and economic opportunity. These programs do more than move communities forward; they serve their participating AmeriCorps members by creating jobs and providing pathways to opportunity for young people entering the workforce.
With this CNCS funding, the following organizations will host AmeriCorps programs for 2013-2014:
American Red Cross of Lee County
Big Brothers Big Sisters of St. Lucie
Centro Campesino
Communities In Schools of Jacksonville
Communities In Schools of Miami-Dade
City Year Miami
Clearwater Police Department
FL Dept. of Children and Families
FL Dept. of Environmental Protection
Goodwill Industries of the Big Bend
Hillsborough Education Foundation
Literacy Coalition of Palm Beach County
Peacemakers, Inc.
School Board of Gadsden County
Senior Friendship Centers, Inc.
Teach for America – Jacksonville
Teach for America – Miami
ARC of Jacksonville, Inc.
FSU/Florida Campus Compact
Northwest Florida State College
Polk Education Foundation
Branches (formerly South Florida Urban Ministries)
Switchboard of Miami
Leon County School Board
AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 15,000 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 820,000 Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service to their communities and country through AmeriCorps.
# # #
Volunteer Florida, the Governor’s Commission on Community Service, was established in 1994 by the Florida Legislature to administer grants under the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993. The Commission grants funds to Florida AmeriCorps and National Service programs; coordinates volunteers and donations in a disaster; and inspires all Floridians to serve their communities. For more information, visit:www.volunteerflorida.org.