Senator Baldwin Announces Wisconsin AmeriCorps Grant Recipients

Washington D.C. – U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin today announced the new AmeriCorps funding for Wisconsin. Wisconsin grantees have received over $9.2 million this year. Since 1994, more than 800,000 Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service to their communities and country through AmeriCorps.  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.  They also expanded health services, built affordable housing, ran after-school programs, helped veterans access employment and other services, responded to disasters, and recruited and trained other volunteers.

“National service helps organizations to expand their reach and impact, engages citizens and brings communities together,” Baldwin said, “National service provides those who serve the opportunity to make a difference. I couldn’t be more proud of Wisconsin’s AmeriCorps grant recipients.”

This year’s recipients include:

Partners Energy Conservation Corps- Partners for Community Development $104,000

• 8 AmeriCorps members will provide free home weatherization to low-income families in Sheboygan, Manitowoc, and Ozaukee Counties in Wisconsin. Economically disadvantaged members will develop green construction skills and receive certifications allowing them to pursue careers in energy conservation post-service.

Vet Corps: University of Wisconsin- Oshkosh $72, 939

• 22 AmeriCorps members who are veterans will successfully integrate into civilian life and increase in their professional skills while working to build capacity in local nonprofits that serve veterans and military families. The program will serve a four county area of northeast Wisconsin.

Teach for America- Wisconsin $156,600

• 115 AmeriCorps members will provide classroom instruction and enrichment activities focused on overcoming the education achievement gap of students attending public schools, charter schools, partnership schools, and parental choice schools in Milwaukee.

Public Allies- Milwaukee $555,750

• 45 AmeriCorps members many of them opportunity youth, will recruit volunteers and provide capacity-building services to local nonprofit organizations in Milwaukee, to enable them to address community needs in the area.

Public Allies- National $6,331,000

• 487 AmeriCorps members serve in non-profits that are too small to host their own members, building organizational capacity in more than 20 high poverty communities. Half of the program's members will be opportunity youth, whom the program will link to post-secondary education.

College Possible- Milwaukee $247,000

• 20 AmeriCorps members will provide academic support, college preparation and college success support for low-income high school and college students in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Wisconsin HealthCorps- Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association $247,000

• 20 AmeriCorps members will provide health education and information on accessing health care throughout medically underserved areas in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin AmeriCorps Farm to School Program $186, 324

• 28 AmeriCorps members will conduct community outreach and nutrition education activities to increase consumption of healthy foods, and improve access to healthy local foods. Members will recruit and support volunteers to address the Healthy Futures focus area of combating obesity.

School of Hope AmeriCorps Project- United Way of Dane County $325,163

• 52 AmeriCorps members will serve in three school districts in Dane County, WI boosting literacy achievement for students of color and children from low-income families. Members will leverage trained tutors serving struggling elementary students in designated high-need schools.

Easter Seals Wisconsin AmeriCorps Partnership $220,211

• 53 AmeriCorps members will serve at one of two camps providing social and recreational therapeutic support to youth and adults with physical and cognitive and veterans with disabilities, while offering respite to their families, resulting in increased quality of life for both the campers and their families who care for them.

Partners for After-School Success- Dane County Human Service $388,738

• 35 AmeriCorps members will tutor economically disadvantaged middle and high school students and provide after school programming to improve academic achievement in reading.

Western Dairyland Fresh Start- Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council $122,550

• 20 AmeriCorps members will work to construct and rehabilitate homes for income-eligible families in Eau Claire and Marathon Counties. Members will obtain high school diplomas/HSEDs, develop job-training skills, serve the community, and prepare for post-secondary education. For the 2013-2014 year, 15 members will build one new home in Eau Claire County, while five members will rehabilitate four homes for income-eligible families in Wausau, Wisconsin. Western Dairyland will partner with Wausau Area Hmong Mutual Assistance to serve five Hmong members. Members will also recruit community volunteers.

TAP AmeriCorps Project- Sokaogon Chippewa Community $247,000

• 13 AmeriCorps members will support and assist tribal coalitions in planning and implementing evidence-based/informed programs designed to prevent substance abuse in American Indian communities across Wisconsin.