WASHINGTON, D.C.  – Today, U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05) announced that three non-profit organizations in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District will receive $959,000 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS). 

These grants will put 120 AmeriCorps members on the ground to serve students in southern and eastern Kentucky schools. AmeriCorps members will tackle some of the toughest problems in the region, including low test scores in reading and math, as well as obesity and drug abuse.

“AmeriCorps members are an indispensable resource for nonprofits, communities, and the individuals they serve,” said Congressman Rogers. “AmeriCorps members have helped our eastern Kentucky students improve test scores, make healthier choices about food and exercise, and they have mentored thousands of students from broken homes. I congratulate UNITE, Morehead State University and Kentucky's Teach for America Program for receiving this competitive grant, and thank all those who have answered the call to service by joining AmeriCorps.” 

UNITE Service Corps (Operation UNITE) will receive $543,400 for 44 AmeriCorps members in Bell, Breathitt, Harlan, Johnson, Knott, Laurel, Leslie, Perry, Pike, Rockcastle and Wolfe Counties.

MSU Corps (Morehead State University) will receive $379,050 for 30 AmeriCorps members throughout the MSU service region, including Boyd, Lawrence, Morgan and Rowan Counties in Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District.

Kentucky's Teach for America will receive $36,800 for 46 AmeriCorps members in Bell, Breathitt, Floyd, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Martin, McCreary, Perry, Pike, Rockcastle and Whitley Counties.

“AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation,” said CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer. “Building on Kentucky’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will improve lives and strengthen communities across the Commonwealth. While they serve others, AmeriCorps members will also expand opportunity for themselves - gaining skills and experience to jumpstart their careers.  As we mark the 20^th anniversary of AmeriCorps, we salute AmeriCorps members for their dedication, and thank our outstanding partners who make their service possible.”

The current year’s AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive, due to the strong demand by organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. The 2014 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and continued a new initiative for governors and mayors.

CNCS will provide an additional $667,000 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of $5,645 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 25,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

2014 marks the 20^th anniversary of the AmeriCorps program. Since 1994, more than 830,000 Americans have provided more than one billion hours of service addressing critical challenges from poverty and hunger to disasters and the dropout crisis.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visitwww.NationalService.gov .

 

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