Press Release - Monday, July 25, 2016
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Serve Illinois Commission Announces $15.6 Million for AmeriCorps Programs
SPRINGFIELD – The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service (Commission) today announced approximately $9.2 million in Corporation for National and Community Service federal grants to almost 1,600 volunteers in 32 AmeriCorps programs to better serve Illinois communities. An additional $6.4 million will support education awards for the volunteers after their service is completed.
“This year we were able to leverage enough federal funds to expand AmeriCorps’ reach into new counties throughout the state,” said Serve Illinois Executive Director Scott McFarland. “AmeriCorps members work every day to support thousands of Illinoisans in need including 425,000 disadvantaged youth and 10,000 veterans and military family members. These volunteers are going to change the lives of hundreds of thousands of Illinoisans.”
These federal grants will be used for services in Illinois, including tutoring and mentoring at-risk youth, preparing communities to respond effectively to emergencies, feeding those in need, providing legal support services, reentering incarcerated individuals into their communities, and improving youth and adult literacy. The Commission, a part of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), administers the AmeriCorps programs in Illinois.
“While they serve others, AmeriCorps members also expand opportunity for themselves – gaining the skills, experience, and college money to help jumpstart their careers,” said Bill Basl, director of AmeriCorps. “We are looking for men and women of all ages who want to serve and make a difference for their country.”
AmeriCorps members dedicate a year to helping communities meet their unmet economic, education, health, public safety, and environmental needs. Members may receive a modest living allowance, student loan deferment, and training. Members who successfully complete their service receive an educational award of up to $5,775 to help pay for college, graduate school, vocational training, or to pay off student loans.
Since 1994, 33,000 people have volunteered 45 million hours in Illinois through AmeriCorps. Those hours equal more than $1.1 million in community impact.
Serve Illinois’ AmeriCorps Programs:
Program
Counties Served
Focus Areas
Funding
Members
Academy for Urban School Leadership
Cook
Education
$40,000
50
American Red Cross
Adams, Champaign, Cook, DeKalb, Kankakee, McDonough, Rock Island, Sangamon, St. Clair, Winnebago
Disaster Services
$332,085
27
Asian Human Services
Cook
Economic Opportunity, Education, Healthy Futures
$164,421
12
Bhicks Childcare
*New ProgramChampaign, Coles, DeKalb, Jackson, Madison, McDonough, Sangamon, St. Clair
Education
$109,121
20
City Year Chicago
Cook
Education
$2,106,668
188
East St. Louis School District #189
St. Clair
Economic Opportunity, Education
$461,374
91
First Defense Legal Aid
*New ProgramCook
Safer Communities
$123,570
9
Girl Scouts of Northern Illinois
*New ProgramBoone, DeKalb, Kane, McHenry, Stephenson, Whiteside, Winnebago
Education
$163,711
19
Greater Chicago Food Depository
Cook
Healthy Futures,
Veterans and Military Families$139,143
15
Housing Forward
Cook
Capacity Building, Economic Opportunity
$162,898
12
Illinois Bar Foundation
Champaign, Cook, Kankakee, Knox, Lake, Madison, McLean, Will, Winnebago
Economic Opportunity, Veterans and Military Families
$280,641
68
Illinois Public Health Association
Adams, Cook, Kane, Hamilton, Lee, Macoupin, McLean, Ogle, Sangamon, Stephenson, St. Clair, Wayne
Disaster Services, Healthy Futures
$274,549
20
Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House
St. Clair
Capacity Building, Economic Opportunity, Education, Healthy Futures
$627,968
143
Lester & Rosalie Anixter Center
*New ProgramCook, DuPage, Lake
Economic Opportunity, Education
$109,820
16
Literacy Volunteers of Illinois
Cook, DuPage, Henry, Kane, Saline
Economic Opportunity, Education
$261,825
31
Lutheran Social Services of Illinois
Franklin, Jackson, Jefferson, Madison, Saline, St. Clair, Williamson, Winnebago
Economic Opportunity
$198,544
30
Northwestern University Settlement Association
Cook
Capacity Building, Education
$502,740
75
Public Allies
Cook
Capacity Building
$458,563
36
Rend Lake College
Alexander, Clinton, Franklin, Hamilton, Jackson, Jefferson, Johnson, Marion, Massac, Perry, Pulaski, Washington, Williamson, Union
Economic Opportunity, Education, Environmental Stewardship
$445,034
59
Sauk Valley Community College
Bureau, Carroll, Henry, Lee, Ogle, Whiteside
Capacity Building, Economic Opportunity, Education
$201,145
45
Schuler Family Foundation
*Program only receives education awardsCook, Lake
Education
$0
40
Southwestern Illinois College
St. Clair
Education
$401,022
73
Springfield Urban League
Sangamon, Morgan
Education
$198,521
54
Teach for America
Cook
Education
$118,260
292
United Way Of Metropolitan Chicago
*New ProgramCook
Economic Opportunity, Education, Healthy Futures
$164,760
12
University of Illinois - Chicago
Cook
Economic Opportunity
$151,474
21
Up2Us – Coach Across America
Cook
Healthy Futures
$155,789
16
Western Illinois University
Carroll, McClean, McDonough, Shelby
Capacity Building, Disaster Services
$137,300
14
Western Illinois University – Quad Cities
Rock Island
Education
$207,854
40
YMCA – Rock River Valley
Winnebago
Capacity Building, Education, Healthy Futures
$190,057
28
Youth and Opportunity United, Inc. (YOU)
Cook
Education
$245,872
22
Youth Guidance
Cook
Education
$105,823
16
Serve Illinois is a 40 member (25 voting and 15 non-voting), bipartisan commission appointed by the Governor and administered by IDPH. Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing traditional volunteer activities and supporting national service programs. The commission supports local community-based efforts to enhance volunteer opportunities and the administration of Illinois' AmeriCorps program. For more information on the Serve Illinois and AmeriCorps, visit www.Serve.Illinois.gov.
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