April 19th, 2019 by WCBC Radio

U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen (both D-Md.) today announced more than $17 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps.

 

“The AmeriCorps program brings together federal, state, and local partners to strengthen our communities and address our greatest challenges,” said Senator Cardin. “I’m pleased to congratulate the staff and volunteers on their 25^th anniversary and look forward to many more years of good work.”

 

“For 25 years, AmeriCorps members have been doing vital work throughout Maryland and the country. They are committed to serving the greater good — from cleaning up the Bay, to helping those suffering from addiction, to volunteering at our schools, to putting a roof over families’ heads. We can always count on them to help serve the public, and I’m proud to help lead the fight in support of this vital program,” said Senator Van Hollen, a member of the Budget and Appropriations Committees.

 

Senators Cardin and Van Hollen are committed to protecting AmeriCorps programs, which were zeroed out in President Trump’s FY2020 budget. In 2018, Baltimore ranked first nationwide among large cities for producing AmeriCorps members, and Maryland ranked tenth among states.

 

The CNCS investment is expected to leverage an additional $23.5 million from the private sector, foundations, and other sources, increasing the return on federal investment. The $17 million in federal funding includes: 

·       More than 7.5 million in direct funding to ten successful grantees, listed below;

·       Close to 7 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for participants to cover post-secondary education costs or to pay back student loans after their service; and

·       More than 2.6 million for the Maryland Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism to distribute among Maryland organizations for additional AmeriCorps volunteers.

 

This year, 1,219 members will work through ten organizations headquartered in Maryland, including some working exclusively in state and others working across state lines. FY2019 grantees and the numbers of volunteers they will host are listed below.

 

·       Salisbury State University (PALS) – AmeriCorps members will increase the number of individuals attending drug related health education programs on the Eastern Shore of Maryland. (20 members)

·       Reading Partners – Reading Partners AmeriCorps members will manage the volunteer recruitment for and day-to-day operations of our one-on-one literacy tutoring program for economically disadvantaged students at 16 Title I elementary schools across Baltimore, MD. (27 members)

·       Urban Teacher Center dba Urban Teachers – AmeriCorps members will be recruited and supported to become high performing, career teachers in Baltimore City, MD; Washington DC; and Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX (DFW). (242 members)

·       The Literacy Lab – AmeriCorps members will provide low-income preschool children with daily, targeted early literacy intervention through the Maryland Reading Corps Program in pre-K classrooms in Baltimore, MD. (30 members)

·       Habitat for Humanity of the Chesapeake – AmeriCorps members will build and rehabilitate homes and their property primarily in Baltimore City and the surrounding Central Maryland counties. (15 members)

·       Frostburg State University – AmeriCorps members will address the prescription drug and opiate crisis by educating the community on resources and programs available to them in Allegany, Garrett, Washington, and Frederick Counties. (9 members)