AmeriCorps Week Spotlights How AmeriCorps Works in Utah

AmeriCorps Week Spotlights How AmeriCorps Works in Utah

Lieutenant Governor Bell Thanks Utahns for their service during AmeriCorps Week

(Salt Lake City) Every day in communities across the nation, AmeriCorps members are improving schools, rebuilding after disasters, providing health services, preserving the environment, fighting poverty, and meeting other local needs. Utah is no exception, with over 400 members currently serving to meet the needs in communities throughout the state. From increasing high school graduation rates and grade level reading proficiencies to mentoring at-risk youth and restoring public lands, these everyday AmeriCorps heroes are strengthening Utah communities as they transform their own lives.

This week (March 10^th – 18^st) is national AmeriCorps Week and people all across Utah are thanking the AmeriCorps members who work quietly and without fanfare across the state to improve the lives of thousands of our most vulnerable citizens. The theme for 2012, AmeriCorps Works, communicates the value and effectiveness and helps conveys the AmeriCorps triple bottom line return on investment -- for the recipients of service, the people who serve, and the larger community and nation.

 Because of AmeriCorps members over 12,464 youth are receiving tutoring in math and reading, over 5,760 acres of habitat were restored on public lands, and nearly 25,000 people were assisted with health care related issues. AmeriCorps members are also tasked with bringing community volunteers into the organizations in which they serve and in 2011, AmeriCorps members across Utah recruited and trained over 31,000 community volunteers who served over 308,000 hours. These recruited volunteers bring an estimated $5.5 million dollars worth of service into Utah’s economy.

“We are grateful for the work of AmeriCorps members in Utah,” said Lieutenant Governor Greg Bell. “Their service is a model for how government and local community organizations can partner for success.”

 In 2011, the Commission was awarded $3.4 million in federal grant funding that was passed through to 13 State AmeriCorps Programs. These programs matched the federal dollars with over $6.6 million. In exchange for a year of full-time service, members earn an education award equal to the maximum amount of the Pell Grant that can be used to pay for educational expenses at qualified institutions of higher education, or to pay back qualified student loans. Awards are pro-rated for part-time service. Some members also receive a living allowance and health care.

 

“AmeriCorps Weeks is an opportunity to trumpet the impact of AmeriCorps service to transform lives and communities. In this time of fiscal constraint, AmeriCorps is a highly cost effective and impactful program.” said LaDawn Stoddard, Acting Executive Director of the Utah Commission on Volunteers.

 
The mission of the Utah Commission on Volunteers, an office of the Lieutenant Governor, is to improve communities through service and volunteering. It furthers its mission by promoting community collaboration, volunteer recognition, youth and older adult service and administering federally funded AmeriCorps and National Service programs. The Lt. Governor’s Conference on Service, State Volunteer Recognition and Awards Banquet, Summer of Service, and the statewide volunteer matching website, www.volunteers.utah.gov, are also premiere programs of the Utah Commission on Volunteers. For more information, visit www.volunteers.utah.gov or call 1-888-755-UTAH.

 

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