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AmeriCorps News & Announcements

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AmeriCorps Dedicates Over $9 Million in Service Hours to Virginia

A new report published by the Virginia Department of Social Services' Office on Volunteerism and Community Service finds that AmeriCorps*State programs resulted in over $9 million dollars worth of service to Virginia last year. The state's 17 programs and their 386 AmeriCorps members recruited over 12,000 volunteers resulting in over 400,000 service and volunteer hours. The members and volunteers served needs throughout the Commonwealth including tutoring and mentoring children, training speakers of other languages in English, constructing houses, and assisting with college applications. Read the full report (PDF - 4MB). 


- Published on Tuesday, March 9, 2010

2010 AmeriCorps Request for Proposals (RFP)

The Virginia Department of Social Services' Office on Volunteerism and Community Service is pleased to announce the release of the 2010 Request for Proposals (RFP) for AmeriCorps program funding.

AmeriCorps is a national service network that provides part-time and full-time service opportunities for participants, called members, to serve their communities and build the capacity of nonprofit organizations to meet local needs in the areas of education, healthy futures, clean energy/environment, veterans and economic opportunity. Within these priority areas, programs may submit proposals that address the specific needs of local communities. Proposals will be received until March 11, 2010, at 5:00pm.

Learn more about AmeriCorps State funding in Virginia, and download the Request for Proposals (RFP).


- Published on Monday, January 11, 2010

AmeriCorps Members Kick Off a New Program Year

View photos from this year's launch events.

An energized group of AmeriCorps*State members gathered to pledge their commitment to a year of service at launch events at Southwest 4-H Educational Center in Abingdon, Oct. 9, and Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, Oct. 16. The ceremonies are held each fall to introduce new AmeriCorps members embarking on a year of service to the Commonwealth. The winner of the third annual Robert E. Wone Award for Exemplary Service was announced at both ceremonies. Established in memory of Robert Wone, a member of the Governor's Commission on Community and National Service from 2002-2006, the award recognizes an AmeriCorps member who has exhibited exemplary civic engagement and community service.


- Published on Wednesday, October 7, 2009

AmeriCorps State and National Training Surveys

The annual Virginia AmeriCorps State and National Training Assessment Surveys for the 2009-2010 program year are available. The surveys enable the Office on Volunteerism and Community Service to tailor training and technical assistance to your needs. The deadline for submission is by 6:00p.m. on Friday July, 24. There are separate surveys for new and returning Virginia grantees. Find the survey that applies to your program below.

New AmeriCorps State Programs
The survey is to be completed by new AmeriCorps State and National grantees for the 2009-2010 program year. As our newest programs, we offer an intro assessment with brief questions about you and your organization background. Completed surveys will give us a better understanding of your organization's goals prior to training meetings.
Take this survey.

Returning AmeriCorps State Programs
The survey is to be completed by returning AmeriCorps State and National grantees for the 2009-2010 program year. We intend to capture program staff training needs and assess how you prepare and analyze AmeriCorps member development each year.
Take this survey.

We would also like for returning grantees to complete our "AmeriCorps Program Satisfaction" survey. This is your opportunity to tell us how we're doing. Please complete by 3:00p.m. on Monday, July, 27.
Take this survey.


- Published on Wednesday, July 15, 2009

Local Organizations Recognize AmeriCorps Week with Service Projects

AmeriCorps programs throughout Virginia will participate in AmeriCorps Week, May 9-16. AmeriCorps members, alumni, project staff members, commission members, friends, and supporters will actively promote the national service program in an effort to bring more Americans into service, salute current and past members, and thank Americorps' many partners.

Virginia AmeriCorps Week Events

  • SynerGeo, Inc. will host a volunteer/member recognition dinner, a partner/program participants art show, and a community event.
  • The Virginia Commonwealth University AmeriCorps program will deliver meals to needy senior citizens in the Richmond area through Meals on Wheels.
  • Mountain Empire Community College's (MECC) AmeriCorps will participate in a walk-a-thon to benefit an area emergency fuel assistance program that helps senior citizens.
  • Habitat for Humanity AmeriCorps in Virginia will participate in a Build-a-Thon in Iowa, building homes for 2008 flood victims in conjunction with 500 other Habitat AmeriCorps members from across the country. This event is slated for June 13 - 20.
  • Congressman Tom Perriello will host an AmeriCorps member open house in Charlottesville on May 11.
  • The William Monroe High School chapter of the Community Service Club is hosting a golf tournament on May 11. The tournament will raise money for the Adam Fargo Memorial Field House, which is dedicated to remembering hometown hero Adam Fargo, a William Monroe graduate killed while serving his country in Iraq. AmeriCorps member Dreama Johnson, the College Guide serving William Monroe High, is the faculty sponsor of the Community Service Club. AmeriCorps members will be providing volunteer support alongside Club members.
  • Boaz and Ruth will host an awareness and fund raising dinner/auction event to connect formerly incarcerated men and women (who are AmeriCorps members) with folks from throughout the Richmond community.

Read the Governor's proclamation in low resolution [PDF - 169kb] or high resolution [PDF - 12mb].

See a complete list of AmeriCorps Week events across Virginia.


- Published on Monday, May 11, 2009

Governor Kaine Announces 2009 Volunteerism Award Recipients

Governor Timothy M. Kaine has announced the recipients of the 2009 Governor's Volunteerism and Community Service Awards. These awards highlight the efforts of outstanding citizens of the Commonwealth who seek to enhance the lives of others in their communities. The awards are presented to groups, individuals and families whose efforts exemplify extraordinary volunteer service. "I offer sincere congratulations to the volunteers who made a difference in the lives of others this year," said Governor Kaine. "When we serve our community as volunteers, our unique skills, perspectives and experience make us a stronger Commonwealth."

Governor Kaine has also proclaimed April 19-25 as Volunteer Week in Virginia. As a prelude to the recognition week, individuals and organizations were presented their awards at a special ceremony, April 15. The awards are presented on behalf of the Governor, Governor's Advisory Board on National and Community Service, Virginia Corps and the Virginia Department of Social Services' Office on Volunteerism and Community Service. Read profiles of this year's award recipients.


- Published on Thursday, April 16, 2009

GIVE Act Passes House

The U.S. House of Representatives has passed H.R. 1388, the Generations Invigorating Volunteerism and Education (GIVE) Act. This legislation is the most significant overhaul and expansion of national service programs in 16 years. The bill is a reaction to President Obama's call to increase service opportunities for Americans of all ages to address the econmic crisis and usher in a new era of service and responsibility for our nation. The GIVE Act would update and strengthen national service programs administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency created in 1993. The Corporation engages more than four million Americans in result-driven service each year, including 75,000 AmeriCorps members, 492,000 Senior Corps volunteers, 1.1 million Learn and Serve America students, and 2.2 million additional community volunteers mobilized and managed through the agency's programs.

Some of the GIVE Act's Provisions

  • Puts AmeriCorps on a growth path from its current level of 75,000 to 250,000 members per year, with focus on priority needs including energy efficiency and conservation, advancing student achievement and graduation, improving health care access, and enhancing service opportunities for veterans.
  • Increases amount of the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award that AmeriCorps members receive after their completing their term of service and linking the future amount of the award to Pell Grants.
  • Provides incentives for middle and high school students to engage in service through a Summer of Service program and authorizes up to 25 institutions of higher education to be designated as "Campuses of Service" eligible for grants to encourage students to engage in service during school and in their future careers.
  • Strengthens the nation's civic infrastructure through creation of a Social Innovation Fund to provide seed money and scale up innovative and evidence-based efforts in the nonprofit sector.
  • Expands service opportunities for older Americans by expanding eligibility for the Senior Companion and Foster Grandparent programs, introducing competition into the Retired Senior Volunteer Program to better position the program for expansion, and creating other opportunities for Baby Boomers and other older Americans to transition into post-career service opportunities.
  • Encourages coordination and service partnerships with other federal agencies.

Find out more about the GIVE Act and the Corporation for National and Community Service.


- Published on Friday, March 20, 2009

$200 Million for AmeriCorps in Stimulus

President Obama recently signed the national economic stimulus bill which includes $200 million for AmeriCorps programs. The bill allocates $89 million for existing AmeriCorps*State/National programs, $65 million for AmeriCorps VISTA, $10 million for AmeriCorps NCCC, and $1 million for state commissions. Read the legislation.


- Published on Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Senate Approves Part of Stimulus Affecting Service Programs

The Senate Appropriations Committee approved part of the proposed economic-stimulus package, including spending that would help nonprofit groups weather the recession and meet rising demand for social services. Read the bill.

Endorsement Highlights

  • $200 million to AmeriCorps to create positions to help nonprofit groups hit by increased need and shrinking donations
  • $150 million for food banks
  • $2.1 billion for Head Start and Early Head Start
  • $2 billion for Child Care and Development Block Grants
  • $400 million for Social Services Block Grants, to help states provide services to unemployed and low-income people

- Published on Friday, January 30, 2009

2009 MLK Day of Service is Largest Ever

More than 13,000 service projects took place across the country in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Jan. 19. The number of service projects increased more than 160 percent over last year. Americans made it "a day on, not a day off" by delivering meals, refurbishing schools, reading to children, signing up mentors, and much more. The Points of Light Institute and its HandsOn Network reported 100,000 volunteers in projects across the country. National broadcast and cable coverage included multiple stories on all major networks, news networks, BET, and MTV. USA Today and the Washington Post ran lead King Day editorials and covered the day of service several times. There were more than 5,000 regional and local print, television and radio stories. MLK Day radio PSAs aired more than 24,000 times reaching 75 million listeners in the month leading up to the day of service. Read a complete report of service activities around the country.

2009 MLK Day in Virginia Highlights

  • Gov. Timothy M. Kaine and more than 20 students from the College of William and Mary helped build Habitat for Humanity homes in Petersburg. Members of Pathways AmeriCorps participated with the William and Mary students at the Habitat house. The project was sponsored through the Phoenix Project. Others Pathways AmeriCorps members prepared a soup luncheon for more than 60 participants. Students researched and created a video on the civil rights movement which was presented at the luncheon.  
  • In Wise County, Mountain Empire Community College (MECC) spent the day working on AARP's Operation Energy Save project. Partnering with Mountain Empire Older Citizens, Inc. and MECC's Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, 34 members of MECC AmeriCorps and 79 volunteers assisted elderly people on MEOC's fuel assistance list who asked for help with the their checklist and completing minor weatherization repairs.   
  • Boaz & Ruth honored Dr. King's life with their 7th annual Celebration of Martin Luther King, Jr.  Nearly 100 representatives from Boaz and Ruth, community members, and individuals gathered at 5th Street Baptist Church for a memorial service and then proceeded on a candlelight walk to the Boaz & Ruth Harvest Store for dinner and fellowship.
  • In honor of MLK DAY, representatives from Ms. Wheelchair Virginia went to the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration, Jan. 18, in Charlottesville. The event featured speakers, uplifting praise music, and an award presented to Reverend William S. Johnson for his work towards ending discrimination.    

 See photos from MLK Day service projects throughout Virginia.


- Published on Monday, January 26, 2009

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