WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, along with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), announced $21,199,755 in new grants for Wisconsin that will support AmeriCorps members serving the community with local organizations.
“Wisconsinites are committed to serving their communities more than ever, and hundreds of thousands of men and women have answered the call to service. And those who serve not only have the opportunity to make a difference, they develop valuable skills and find a passion for service that lasts a lifetime. These grants will help organizations continue to expand their reach to engage more people and bring communities together in our state,” said Senator Baldwin. “I want to thank all those who have served in AmeriCorps in Wisconsin and across the country, and the organizations that have made their service possible. Given the stiff competition for these grants, only the most exceptional proposals are funded and I am especially proud of these Wisconsin organizations and the work they are doing.”
“Building on a strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will change lives, improve communities, and build a safer, stronger, and more united Wisconsin,” said Chester Spellman, director of AmeriCorps. “For 25 years, the AmeriCorps members who pledge to ‘get things done’ have represented the best of America while demonstrating the great promise and ideals of our country. I salute all the AmeriCorps members who will join them, and thank those who help make their service possible.”
Through this competition, 18 successful grantees operating in Wisconsin will receive $12,726,099 in competitive funding from CNCS to support approximately 1,175 AmeriCorps members. CNCS will also provide an additional $5,864,596 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the Wisconsin AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of approximately $6,000 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans. The Serve Wisconsin - Wisconsin National and Community Service Board, the Governor-appointed state service commission, will also receive $2,609,060 in non-competitive formula funding, which will in turn be awarded to Wisconsin organizations to support additional AmeriCorps members in the coming months.
Every year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve through 21,000+ schools, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations across the country. These citizens have played a critical role in the recovery of communities affected by disasters and helped thousands of first generation college students access higher education. They also tutor and mentor young people, connect veterans to jobs, care for seniors, reduce crime and revive cities, fight the opioid epidemic, and meet other critical needs.
Below is a listing of 2019 competitive AmeriCorps grants in Wisconsin:
MILWAUKEE
- College Possible: AmeriCorps members will support low-income students for success in post-secondary education through academic and college preparation programming in Milwaukee and surrounding areas. ($448,560 grant; 42 AmeriCorps members)
- Milwaukee Christian Center – YouthBuild: AmeriCorps members will construct affordable homes while receiving education and training that will propel Opportunity Youth towards post-secondary education or advanced training and family-supporting career paths in the City of Milwaukee. ($172,082 grant; 23 AmeriCorps members)
- Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee will receive two grants:
- AmeriCorps Academic & Career Planning: AmeriCorps members will support the dramatic expansion of college preparation and workforce training through the AmeriCorps Academic & Career Planning program in 10 Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) high schools, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Milwaukee home office and the Adult Learning Center. ($91,889 grant; 23 AmeriCorps members)
- Education through Art, Reading and Nature (EARN): AmeriCorps members will serve in three program areas through the EARN program to support struggling readers to reach proficiency, provide social and emotional learning and environmental education for youth, and teach fundamental art skills to underserved MPS students during after-school program hours. ($277,453 grant; 73 AmeriCorps members)
- Public Allies, Inc. will receive two grants:
- Public Allies Milwaukee Americorps: AmeriCorps members will provide capacity building services to 25 nonprofit organizations throughout the Greater Milwaukee area to increase effectiveness, efficiency and program reach in at least 18 unique nonprofit organizations. ($675,224 grant; 45 AmeriCorps members)
- Public Allies National Direct Fixed Amount: AmeriCorps members will provide capacity building services to 350 organizations across the United States addressing economy disparity in order to boost effectiveness, efficiency and reach. ($7,579,000 grant; 583 AmeriCorps members)
MADISON
- United Way of Dane County will receive two grants:
- Schools of Hope Americorps Project: AmeriCorps members will serve as tutors and tutor coordinators in elementary schools in the Madison Metropolitan and Sun Prairie Area school districts. ($298,570 grant; 20 AmeriCorps members)
- Achievement Connections: AmeriCorps Members will tutor more than 400 disadvantaged students in Algebra and Geometry in Madison and Middleton. ($291,446 grant; 28 AmeriCorps members)
- Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction: AmeriCorps members will implement farm to school programming (e.g. nutrition lessons, school gardens, etc.) and build up the capacity of communities to support it in 16 different host sites across Wisconsin. ($227,859 grant; 25 AmeriCorps members)
- Dane County Human Services: AmeriCorps members will tutor and run extended learning programs at school and community center sites in Dane County, Wisconsin, in order to improve the literacy skills of students reading below grade level and improve school engagement by building social-emotional learning skills for students at risk of not graduating high school. ($386,518 grant; 52 AmeriCorps members)
- Easter Seals Wisconsin: AmeriCorps members will provide intensive personal care and lead therapeutic recreation activities for individuals with disabilities, youth in transition and veterans and their families at Easter Seals Wisconsin camps in Wisconsin Dells, WI. ($263,498 grant; 51 AmeriCorps members)
- Wisconsin Association of Runaway Services: AmeriCorps members will provide an array of support services for runaway and homeless youth including street outreach, community education, community outreach and aid in transitional living programs and shelters in 15 communities in Wisconsin. ($387,396 grant; 27 AmeriCorps members)
EAU CLAIRE
- University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire: AmeriCorps members will provide one-on-one intervention to preschool children between three and five years of age in the Eau Claire and Altoona communities. ($93,427 grant; 45 AmeriCorps members)
WAUSAU
- North Central Community Action Program: AmeriCorps members will tutor and mentor students in the Wausau, Antigo, Merrill and Wisconsin Rapids school districts who have been identified as target students based on economic disadvantage, English language ability and credit deficiency. ($238,775 grant; 31 AmeriCorps members)
PORTAGE
- Renewal Unlimited, Inc: AmeriCorps members will construct two affordable, energy-efficient, single family homes in Columbia County while also working to finish their education and learn leadership, job training and life development skills. ($140,332 grant; 25 AmeriCorps members)
MARSHFIELD
- Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation will receive three grants:
- Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Volunteer Wisconsin: AmeriCorps members will support the development of nonprofit organizational capacity to effectively engage volunteers throughout Wisconsin, in order to implement effective volunteer management practices and improve effectiveness and efficiency. ($531,720 grant; 35 AmeriCorps members)
- Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Afterschool: AmeriCorps members will implement the evidence-based, Academic Plus case management program for socioeconomically disadvantaged students participating in at least 10 afterschool programs located throughout northwestern Wisconsin. ($345,750 grant; 25 AmeriCorps members)
- Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps – Recovery Corps: AmeriCorps members will serve as recovery coaches to reduce prescription drug, opioid and other substance use disorders in the northcentral Wisconsin region served by HOPE Consortium. ($276,600 grant; 22 AmeriCorps members)