Press Releases

$14.4 Million in AmeriCorps Funding Announced

New York State has been awarded $14.4 million in AmeriCorps funding for 14 organizations that promote children’s health and education, disaster preparedness and other key initiatives. The funding, provided by the Corporation for National and Community Service, will support the recruitment of new AmeriCorps Members. $8.1 million in competitive grant funds have already been awarded, with an additional $6.3 million in New York State AmeriCorps grants to be announced later this year.

“New Yorkers help New Yorkers when they need it the most – a tradition that is exemplified by the great AmeriCorps volunteers in every corner of this state,” the Governor said. “This funding will support the vital work of these organizations to improve lives and help build a stronger New York for all.”

Each receiving organization has crafted a program to address specific needs in its community. Awarded through a national competitive Request for Proposal process, the funding will enable 14 nonprofit organizations to recruit new AmeriCorps members. New York State received its best results in the last five years, with 90 percent of grant submissions funded. The New York State Commission on National and Community Service - New Yorkers Volunteer will administer the funding.

Linda Cohen, Executive Director of the New York State Commission on National and Community Service, said, “AmeriCorps members are making a real difference in our state, and we are gratified that the Corporation for National and Community Service has shown such strong support for New York’s excellent national service programs. Whether it’s cleaning up after a devastating storm or helping children succeed in school, this funding will further the growth of the communities they serve.”

Programs Receiving New AmeriCorps Grants

Organization Name	Program Summary	Population Served	Approved Funding
Blue Engine	Preparing public high school students from low-income communities for success in college	New York City	$950,400
Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc.	Helping pre-school children in low-income neighborhoods build emergent language and literacy skills	New York City	$709,415
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.	Nonprofit law firm providing free legal aid to people with civil legal problems in western New York	Rochester	$261,734
New York City Office of the Mayor	Enhancing community resiliency and responding to challenges through the NYC Civic Corps.	New York City	$1,200,000
New York State Unified Court System	Providing conflict resolution services in schools throughout New York State, focusing on attendance, discipline, and inter-personal disputes.	New York City	$337,500
Reading Partners	Recruit and manage volunteers to provide literacy tutoring to struggling readers in grades K – 5	New York City	$337,500
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc.	Designing and implementing programs to help children in impoverished neighborhoods succeed in school.	Buffalo and Western New York	$1,141,538
Student Conservation Association, Inc.	Building the next generation of conservation leaders, inspiring lifelong stewardship of the environment, engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.	New York City	$645,000
Sunset Park Health Council, dba NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers	Providing high quality, affordable outpatient primary health care and support services close to home, as one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) networks in the nation	New York City	$197,788

Current Programs Receiving a Second or Third Year of Funding

Organization Name	Program Summary	Population Served	Approved Funding
Blue Engine	Preparing public high school students from low-income communities for success in college	New York City	$950,400
Jumpstart for Young Children, Inc.	Helping pre-school children in low-income neighborhoods build emergent language and literacy skills	New York City	$709,415
Legal Assistance of Western New York, Inc.	Nonprofit law firm providing free legal aid to people with civil legal problems in western New York	Rochester	$261,734
New York City Office of the Mayor	Enhancing community resiliency and responding to challenges through the NYC Civic Corps.	New York City	$1,200,000
New York State Unified Court System	Providing conflict resolution services in schools throughout New York State, focusing on attendance, discipline, and inter-personal disputes.	New York City	$337,500
Reading Partners	Recruit and manage volunteers to provide literacy tutoring to struggling readers in grades K – 5	New York City	$337,500
The Service Collaborative of WNY, Inc.	Designing and implementing programs to help children in impoverished neighborhoods succeed in school.	Buffalo and Western New York	$1,141,538
Student Conservation Association, Inc.	Building the next generation of conservation leaders, inspiring lifelong stewardship of the environment, engaging young people in hands-on service to the land.	New York City	$645,000
Sunset Park Health Council, dba NYU Lutheran Family Health Centers	Providing high quality, affordable outpatient primary health care and support services close to home, as one of the largest Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) networks in the nation	New York City	$197,788

Congressman Charles B. Rangel said, "I applaud the Governor for his commitment to help enhance AmeriCorps, a critical and cost-effective program that engages young adults across the country. This generous funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service will serve as a substantial investment to involve New Yorkers in the important work of improving our communities by providing essential services in education and infrastructure.”

Congressman Eliot Engel said, “As Americans and New Yorkers, we know what an incredible difference organizations like AmeriCorps can have on our communities. There is no greater calling in life than to give voluntarily of one’s self to serve others. The $14.4 million in AmeriCorps funding will empower many great organizations throughout the state to continue to make a positive difference in our communities.”

Congressman José E. Serrano said, “This important federal funding will allow some our state’s most important non-profits to strengthen and expand their activities by recruiting new AmeriCorps members. The work of these non-profits is crucial in communities like the Bronx and thanks to this funding they will be able to offer more programming and services in a number of key areas including children’s health, education, and disaster preparedness."

Congressman Brian Higgins said, “Service organizations turn ideals into action to enact sustainable change. AmeriCorps and the Service Collaborative of WNY will use these resources to create support systems for school children, filling in critical gaps to build a strong foundation, and giving them tools to succeed.”

The New York State Commission on National & Community Service - New Yorkers Volunteer

The New York State Commission on National & Community Service - New Yorkers Volunteer seeks to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering in New York State. It was established in 1994 by an Executive Order of the Governor, and administers programs funded by the National Community Service Trust Act of 1993, including AmeriCorps State and AmeriCorps Education Awards programs.

AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. Since 1994, more than 72,000 AmeriCorps members in New York State have completed more than 110 million hours of service. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.