We are excited to announce $20 million in Corporation for National and Community Service federal grants to place 1,830 AmeriCorps Members in 45 programs to serve Illinois communities. This is an increase of $2.5 million over last year, allowing AmeriCorps Members to serve in seven additional programs. These awards include $7.4 million in education awards that AmeriCorps Members can use to pay for college after their term of service. AmeriCorps programs will match these funds with an additional $15.7 million in local funding. The total investment into Illinois communities will be $35.7 million!
AmeriCorps Members dedicate up to one year to help communities with unmet economic, education, health, public safety, disaster preparedness, veteran services, and environmental needs. Members may receive a modest living allowance, student loan deferment, health insurance, childcare, and professional development. Members who successfully complete their service receive an educational award of up to $5,920 to help pay for college, graduate school, vocational training, or to pay off student loans.
Since 1994, more than 41,000 Illinoisans have served 59 million hours through AmeriCorps. Those hours equal more than $1.5 billion in community impact. They have also earned $140.8 million in education awards.
Each week we feature a new person or group as Illinois' Volunteer of the Week. Since we began, the hard work of hundreds of Illinoisans has been hightlighted, and we are just getting started!
Do you know a volunteer that is doing amazing things in your community that you would like to get the attention they deserve?
Nominate them!
