Virginia Service: News & Media http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/index Service news and events from across the Commonwealth brought to you by the Virginia Office for Volunteerism and Community Service. en gail.doyle@vaservice.org Copyright 2010 Tue, 09 Mar 2010 15:17:09 +0000 AmeriCorps Dedicates Over $9 Million in Service Hours to Virginia http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/americorps_dedicates_nearly_7.4_million_in_service_hours_to_virginia/ AmeriCorps, Corporation for National and Community Service, Office on Volunteerism and Community Service, Volunteering & Service 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). 

]]> 2010-03-09T15:17:09+00:00 Virginia’s Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in Annual National Awards Program http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/virginias_top_two_youth_volunteers_selected_in_annual_national_awards_progr/ Awards & Recognition, Volunteering & Service Samantha Halle, 18, of Richmond and Nyasha Sprow, 12, of Dale City have been named Virginia's top two youth volunteers for 2010 by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, a nationwide program honoring young people for outstanding acts of volunteerism. The awards program is conducted by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP). Samantha was nominated by Maggie L. Walker Governor's School in Richmond, and Nyasha was nominated by the Prince William Chapter of the American Red Cross in Manassas. As State Honorees, each will receive $1,000, an engraved silver medallion, and an all-expense-paid trip in early May to Washington, D.C., where they will join the top two honorees from each state and the District of Columbia for several days of national recognition events. Honors were also bestowed on youth volunteers from Fredericksburg, Colonial Beach, Glen Allen, Purcellville, McLean, and Richmond. Read more.

]]> 2010-03-02T18:05:00+00:00 New Program Combines Technology & Community Service http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/new_program_combines_technology_amp_community_service/ Corporation for National and Community Service, Learn and Serve, Of Interest Microsoft Corp. and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) announced six schools -- from California, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia -- have been selected to participate in the Service & Technology Academic Resource Team (START). The initiative recognizes the leadership shown by students and teachers in schools across America who are working together in meaningful ways to revitalize learning, schools and communities through the use of technology. From Woodbridge, Va., Forest Park High School's VA Star program was selected because of its integrated service-learning model including a rich IT curriculum, hands-on training to refurbish and recycle used computers, and community service opportunities to meet the IT needs of the school's community. Read more.

]]> 2010-03-02T18:03:44+00:00 Start Planning for These Upcoming Volunteerism Events http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/start_planning_for_these_upcoming_volunteerism_events/ Events & Conferences, Seasons of Service, Volunteering & Service National Volunteer Week is April 18-24. A service of the Points of Light and Hands On Network, the event offers opportunities to thank some of America's most valuable assets -- volunteers. Be sure to recognize your volunteers during this special week. Go online to get a Volunteer Week Toolkit. 

Global Youth Service Day events are planned for April 23-25. The event, sponsored by Youth Service America, is the largest service event in the world and is designed to foster a life-long path of service and civic engagement. Youth Service Day is also an opportunity to educate the public, the media, and elected officials about the role of youth as community leaders. Get more information and download planning materials.

]]> 2010-03-02T17:59:54+00:00 Nonprofits, Elections, and the Supreme Court’s Recent Decision http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/nonprofits_elections_and_the_supreme_courts_recent_decision/ Of Interest The U.S. Supreme Court recently issued a decision in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission that has confused some who are not fully aware of the legal distinctions between different types of "nonprofits", the differences between federal election laws that the Court changed, and tax laws that the Court did not change.

To make sure nonprofits in Virginia are aware of their full legal rights and limitations when it comes to participating in elections, the Virginia Network of Nonprofit Organizations (VANNO) and the National Council of Nonprofits offer a brief analysis to help 501(c)(3) nonprofits avoid taking actions that could jeopardize their tax-exempt status.

The brief analysis answers the following questions:

  • How Does the Recent Supreme Court Case Impact Nonprofits?
  • What Can 501(c)(3) Charitable Nonprofits Do in Connection with Political Campaigns?
  • What Else Can Charitab/citizens-united-decisionle Nonprofits Do?

To learn more, review the brief analysis.

]]> 2010-02-12T18:43:07+00:00 Flyers Available to Promote EITC http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/flyers_available_to_promote_eitc/ Of Interest It's tax season and time to learn more about the federal Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC).  EITC is the largest poverty reduction program for working households in the United States.  Informational flyers are available on Virginia's Department of Social Sservices public web site at http://www.dss.virginia.gov/community/eitc.cgi.  Click on "Details About EITC (PDF)" to print the flyer. Help spread the word by distributing the poster to low income neighbors or clients who may be eligible for the tax credit. People who are eligible for EITC are also eligible to have their taxes done for free at a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) site.  Call 1-800-906-9887 to locate a VITA site near you.

]]> 2010-02-12T18:10:43+00:00 2010 MLK Day of Service in Virginia http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/2010_mlk_day_of_service_in_virginia/ Corporation for National and Community Service, Events & Conferences, Seasons of Service, Volunteering & Service MLK Day logoFaith-based and community organizations held service projects and events honoring Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Jan. 18, across the Commonwealth. MLK Day has been mandated by the federal government as not just a day off from work set aside to honor Dr. King, but a national day of volunteer service. In Virginia, service projects and special events were held in every part of the state and include efforts concerning education, the environment, children's issues, mentoring, and more. Visit Serve.gov for more information. View a list of Virginia AmeriCorps MLK Day of Service projects.

Resources

"Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve."
- Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

]]> 2009-12-29T16:38:48+00:00 United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/united_we_serve_feed_a_neighbor/ Corporation for National and Community Service, Seasons of Service, Volunteering & Service In an effort to help combat hunger this winter, the Corporation for National and Community Service, U.S. Department on Agriculture, and the White House have launched the United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor initiative. The call to action raises awareness about hunger issues in America and offers resources to citizens to help make a difference. Feed a Neighbor is part of President Obama's larger call to service, United We Serve, and includes an anti-hunger volunteer toolkit developed by the USDA and access to service opportunities in local communities at www.serve.gov.

This initiative, scheduled to run from Thanksgiving Day through the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service on January 18, 2010, is part of the CNCS and USDA's year-round commitment to support anti-hunger programs in communities across the country. Learn more.

]]> 2009-12-02T14:33:01+00:00 Parent Engagement Toolkit http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/parent_engagement_toolkit/ Of Interest, Training & Resources Parents and caregivers are arguably the most important stakeholders in a child's educational success. With nearly 1.3 million students dropping out of high school each year, the Annie E. Casey Foundation and America's Promise Alliance developed a toolkit to engage parents in dropout prevention and development strategies to ensure the success of all children. The toolkit is a resource for Dropout Summit conveners and community leaders bringing the parent voice into the planning process and the development of local and state action plans addressing the dropout crisis.

]]> 2009-11-24T20:35:42+00:00 Pro Bono Clearinghouse Provides Free Legal Advice to Nonprofits http://www.vaservice.org/go/news/pro_bono_clearinghouse/ Training & Resources The Pro Bono Clearinghouse program provides a panel of experienced volunteer attorneys to assist nonprofit organizations in the greater Richmond area with free legal representation. In today's economic climate it is more important than ever to use your donors' funds wisely. Using the Pro Bono Clearinghouse for your legal needs allows you to use more of your funds for charitable purposes. Volunteers handle issues ranging from assisting organizations with drafting articles of incorporation to giving advice on intellectual property. Learn more and get professional advice from an attorney for your organization.

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