Congressman Fattah Announces AmeriCorps Grants for Three Local Organizations

WASHINGTON, May 30, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Three local nonprofit organizations are the beneficiaries of AmeriCorps grants totaling $3.4 million dollars. Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee and a leading advocate of programs for young people who commit themselves to national service made the announcement saying more than 600 AmeriCorps members will be supported by the grants.

These grants are the result of the 2012 AmeriCorps State and National funding competition and advance the priorities of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and Corporation for National and Community Service Strategic Plan. The Philadelphia grants will support programs with a focus on education and health.

Fattah said, "These grants will continue high-impact interventions for our students, getting them on the right track to graduating from high school and strengthening our city and will provide critical services to educate and empower HIV positive Philadelphians to reduce the impact of the disease.  I am a long-time supporter of national service and am committed to the enduring benefit gained by volunteers, service recipients and our community as a whole."

The 2012 grantees are:

• City Year, Inc. - $2,932,500 for 255 AmeriCorps member positions.  AmeriCorps members with City Year will tutor and mentor 6th through 12th graders in Philadelphia schools.
• The Philadelphia AIDS Consortium - $374,070 for 60 AmeriCorps member positions. These AmeriCorps members will provide health education and support services for HIV infected individuals through direct service and volunteer recruitment. They will target low income minorities in the Philadelphia area and other cities. Their service will result in reduced HIV infection and better outcomes for HIV-positive individuals.
• Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania - $50, 712 to support 287 AmeriCorps member positions. The AmeriCorps members will be placed at non-profit organizations to increase capacity and enrich relationships between higher education and surrounding communities.

AmeriCorps programs engage more than 80,000 people each year in intensive, results-driven service through more than 14,000 nonprofits across the country. In exchange for 1,700 hours of service, members can earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $5,500 to help pay for college or pay back student loans.  Among other accomplishments, AmeriCorps members last year mobilized 3.4 million community volunteers and tutored, mentored or served more than 3.5 million disadvantaged youth.

SOURCE Office of Congressman Chaka Fattah