2010 MLK Day Recap

More than 10,000 service projects took place across the country in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service, Jan. 18. Americans made it "a day on, not a day off" by delivering meals, refurbishing schools, reading to children, and much more. 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, and mentoring. Virginia AmeriCorps programs partnered with many of these local, community organizations to honor the day. View a list of Virginia AmeriCorps MLK Day of Service projects.

• See photos of AmeriCorps MLK Day events held in Virginia.
• Locate a service project held in your community using our Virginia Service Map.
• Review events on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and YouTube.

Start Planning for These Upcoming Volunteerism Events

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.

AmeriCorps' Economic Impact to Virginia is $9 Million

AmeriCorps members and the volunteers they recruited contributed more than $9 million to the Virginia economy (September 2008- August 2009). The 386 members in 17 programs across the Commonwealth recruited 12,278 volunteers to address issues in education, housing, the environment, and emergency preparedness. The economic impact is based on the value of volunteer time for 2008 of $20.53 per hour as determined by the Virginia Employment Commission. Full report details available soon.

New Program Combines Technology & Community Service

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.

 

Virginia's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in Annual National Awards Program

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.

National Service Conference

Registration opens this month for the 2010 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, June 28-30, in New York. Nationally convened by the Points of Light Institute and CNCS, the conference comes at a time of unprecedented need and momentum for service. As the economic downturn puts more Americans at risk, service is needed more than ever to meet our national challenges. Learn more.

Notes from the Field: Virginia AmeriCorps in Action

• When asked about serving and tutoring young students at Campbell Elementary school, Greenbrier Learning Center AmeriCorps member Kara Koteman remarked, "Being there for their classes definitely gives me an edge when helping them with their homework and helps me get to know them better. Having shared experiences outside of Greenbrier helps them learn to trust me more; it adds depth to the relationships we form."
• Put your pin in the AmeriCorps VISTA Map to connect with VISTAs across the country
• AmeriCorps Week grant application for AmeriCorps Alums Chapters just released

Nonprofit Resources

• Register and attend the Community Collaboration in Preventing Family Violence Conference
• New resource from Youth Service America helps educators plan for "Semester of Service"
• Enter the DoGooder Nonprofit Video Awards by March 12 at YouTube and your nonprofit could win $2500
• Census Toolkit for nonprofits
• New resource site from the National Resource Directory on how to help wounded troops, vets, & their families
• Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) for working Virginians. Low-to-middle income earners may be eligible, but don't know it.
• Incight Scholarship helps students with ANY disability attending any post-secondary school
• The new issue of On-The-Go eTA is out with tips on networking
• Check out Disability.gov for a list of accessible transportation funding sources
• Nominate a young volunteer for the Kohl's Kids Who Care scholarship program
• Volunteer Alexandria accepting nominations to recognize nonprofit professionals and businesses
• First Book is a nonprofit organization that provides books to schools and programs serving children from low-income families

In the News

• States Move to Revoke Charities' Tax Exemptions - NY Times
• Six Simple Ways You can Change the World including volunteering online - HuffingtonPost.com
• Interesting graphic look at volunteers in America - GOOD.is
• Big Build, a Virginia Tech student service and learning organization, kicks off construction of an affordable green home for Pulaski family - Virginia Tech News
• Emory & Henry College has received the President's Higher-Ed Community Service Honor Roll - Serve.gov
• AARP wants their 40 million members to 'Create the Good' - USA Today
• What's a "food desert"? And what can be done about them? The First Lady explains in a quick video - Whitehouse.gov
• A major milestone in the "Give A Day. Get A Disney Day." program - DisneyParks
• New CNCS CEO Patrick Corvington reflects on his first week on the job and outlines his priorities for change - Serve.gov