Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces More Than $17.3 Million in AmeriCorps Funding for Wisconsin

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, along with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) CEO Wendy Spencer, announced more than $17.3 million in new grants for Wisconsin that will support AmeriCorps members serving the community with local organizations. The funding announced today includes $12 million in grants to Wisconsin nonprofits and $5.2 million in education scholarships for AmeriCorps members. In addition, the grants will leverage an additional $18.6 million in local matching support – stretching the federal investment through a public-private partnership that increases the impact AmeriCorps has on communities. When it comes to enrolling in AmeriCorps, Milwaukee residents rank #9 among major cities according to new data released today by CNCS, the federal agency that administers the AmeriCorps program and leads the nation’s national service and volunteer programs. Wisconsin came in at #12 among states; Madison took the #5 slot on the midsize city list.

As a member of both the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and Appropriations Committees, Senator Baldwin has been able to support the important work of CNCS. In March, Senator Baldwin joined 26 of her colleagues on a letter urging the Appropriations Committe to provide $1.46 billion for AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and all the other great work of CNCS.

“National service is a critical and cost effective approach to solving problems. It helps organizations to expand their reach and impact and engages citizens and brings communities together. And it provides those who serve the opportunity to make a difference and a passion for service that lasts a lifetime,” said Senator Baldwin. “Wisconsinites are committed to serving their communities more than ever, and hundreds of thousands of men and women have answered the call to service. 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.”

“AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Building on Wisconsin’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will improve lives and strengthen communities across the state.  While they serve others, AmeriCorps members will also expand opportunity for themselves – gaining skills and experience to jumpstart their careers. I salute all the AmeriCorps members for their dedication and thank our outstanding partners who make their service possible.”

CNCS engages more than 5 million Americans in service through its AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, Social Innovation Fund, and Volunteer Generation Fund programs, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve.

Last year marked the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Over the past two decades, more than 900,000 men and women have served in the program, providing more than one billion hours of service to meet local needs.

AmeriCorps State and National Grantees in Wisconsin:

EAU CLAIRE:

ECLIPSE – University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire

• $86,717 for 45 AmeriCorps members who will work in preschool classrooms in the Eau Claire and Altoona areas to provide literacy, language, social emotional, and math intervention services to low-income preschool children for improved school readiness.

MILWAUKEE:

Public Allies National Direct Fixed Amount, Public Allies, Inc.

• $6,178,900 for 490 AmeriCorps members who will increase the effectiveness of programs at organizations addressing economic disparity. Forty percent of these members will be Opportunity Youth and other economically disadvantaged adults discounted from education or employment. Members will be responsible for helping organizations deliver services to new beneficiaries and will leverage additional volunteers.

SSP/Kinder Academy/Graduation+, Boys and Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

• $82,754 for 24 AmeriCorps members who will provide tutoring and educational support activities to Pre K-high school students to increase academic performance and engagement.

Milwaukee Christian Center – YouthCorps, Milwaukee Christian Center – Youth Build

• $167,083 for 23 AmeriCorps members who will construct affordable and accessible homes while receiving education and training that will lead to career paths and productive lives on the south side of Milwaukee.

College Possible – Milwaukee, College Possible

• $296,400 for 30 AmeriCorps members who will provide academic support, college preparation and college success support for low-income high school and college students in Milwaukee.

Public Allies Milwaukee, Public Allies

• $555,750 for 45 AmeriCorps members who will deliver capacity-building service projects to organizations in Milwaukee, resulting in organizations becoming more effective and being able to deliver services to additional beneficiaries.

Teach for America Wisconsin, Teach for America

• $96,000 for 120 AmeriCorps members who will teach two years in low-income schools in Milwaukee and will be responsible for significantly improving the educational outcomes for over 7,700 students.

SPARK Literacy Program/Environmental Education Initiative, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee

• $245,323 for 73 AmeriCorps members who will provide tutoring to Milwaukee Public School students in kindergarten through third grade and offer arts enrichment in after school programs and environmental education service learning projects to Milwaukee youth, ages 6-18.

MARSHFIELD:

Marshfield Clinic AmeriCorps Afterschool, Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation

• $378,300 for 30 AmeriCorps members who will deliver academic case management services to disadvantaged students participating in afterschool programs in 37 rural northwest counties.

MADISON:

Wisconsin HealthCorps, Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association

• $247,000 for 20 AmeriCorps members who will provide health education and information on accessing health care throughout medically underserved areas within the state.

Partners for Afterschool Success, Dane County Human Services

• $344,451 for 35 AmeriCorps members who will tutor at-risk middle and high school students and run extended learning programs at school and community centers resulting in increased literacy skills and enhanced school engagement in Dane County.

Achievement Connections, United Way of Dane County

• $257,188 for 20 AmeriCorps members and leveraged volunteers who will tutor high school students in math resulting in increased scores on state standardized tests in Madison and Middleton.

Wisconsin Association for Runaway Services, Wisconsin Association for Runaway Services

• $375,941 for 35 AmeriCorps members who will provide outreach and support services to runaway and homeless youth in 15 urban and rural communities throughout the state. These intensive services will result in 95 percent of the youth returning home or finding a safe alternative.

ReadyWisconsin AmeriCorps Disaster Preparedness Project, Wisconsin Emergency Management

• $130,503 for 20 AmeriCorps members who will develop jurisdictional emergency volunteer management plans and deliver emergency preparedness training in 14 to18 locations, from larger urban areas of Milwaukee and Madison, mid-size communities such as Fond du Lac and La Crosse, and small rural communities in the northern and western parts of the state, such as Grant and Sawyer counties. 

PORTAGE:

Renewable Unlimited, Inc. Fresh Start Program, Renewal Unlimited, Inc.

• $185,549 for 36 AmeriCorps members who will construct two affordable, energy efficient, single family homes. Members who are Opportunity Youth will obtain their high school diploma, develop career goals, participate in job training and placement services, improve self-esteem, alleviate barriers to economic self-sufficiency, and enter employment, post-secondary education or join the military while they complete construction on the homes.

OSHKOSH:

Vet Corps, University of Wisconsin - Oshkosh

• $72,939 for 22 AmeriCorps members who are veterans will serve in a four county area of northeast Wisconsin, providing support to local nonprofits that serve veterans and military families. Members will receive meaningful experience that will help with their integration to civilian life and increase professional skills.

LADYSMITH:

Indianhead Community Action Agency – Wisconsin Fresh Start, Indianhead Community Action Agency, Inc.

• $113,292 for 20 AmeriCorps members who will be engaged in building affordable housing, participating in community service, and earning high school equivalency diplomas (HSED) in Rusk and Sawyer counties in Northwestern Wisconsin (WI). 

Finally, CNCS is also providing a grant of $2,177,375 to Serve Wisconsin to make additional grants to Wisconsin nonprofits this summer.

For more information about the Corporation for National and Community Service and AmeriCorps, visit NationalService.gov.