Governor Quinn Announces Additional $4 Million Federal Grant for Illinois' AmeriCorps Programs

CHICAGO - Governor Pat Quinn today announced that the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) has awarded an additional $4 million to Illinois to enable more than 1,700 volunteers in 26 AmeriCorps programs to better serve Illinois communities. Today's announcement is part of Governor Quinn's agenda to promote volunteer service in Illinois.

"Our communities thrive when people take charge of helping their neighbors, making their home towns safe, welcoming and vibrant," Governor Quinn said. "For the past 20 years, more than 30,000 people across Illinois have helped their neighbor through the AmeriCorps programs and helped ‘get things done' for their communities."

This award is in addition to the $4.4 million grant Illinois received earlier this year for seven programs that were funded competitively at the national level by CNCS. The grants will help fund such services as tutoring and mentoring at-risk youth, preparing communities to respond effectively to emergencies and building connections between immigrants and their non-immigrant neighbors.

These grants will support AmeriCorps programs in Champaign, Chicago, Dixon, East St. Louis, Evanston, Ina, Lake Forest, Macomb, Marion, Moline, Peoria, Rockford and Springfield. CNCS is the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, and its goal with the grant is to develop and expand volunteer organizations across the country. The Governor's Serve Illinois Commission, now a part of the Illinois Department of Public Health as of July 1, administers the AmeriCorps programs in Illinois.

"Just like our military men and women, AmeriCorps volunteers in Illinois are on the front lines of service," Executive Director of Serve Illinois Brandon Bodor said. "These nearly 2,000 members are a catalyst to recruit thousands more volunteers across the Land of Lincoln."

AmeriCorps programs receiving CNCS support from the $4 million grant include:

Champaign

• University of Illinois Extension (AJMPU)

Chicago

• Academy for Urban School Leadership
• Asian Human Services
• Chicago Bar Foundation, Illinois Justice Corps
• Greater Chicago Food Depository
• Northwestern Illinois University Settlement, Project YES
• Up2Us

Dixon

• Sauk Valley Community College, ABC AmeriCorps - Dixon

East St. Louis

• Lessie Bates Davis Neighborhood House, AmeriCorps East St. Louis

Evanston

• Youth Organization Umbrella - Evanston

Ina

• Rend Lake College, Land of Lincoln AmeriCorps

Lake Forest

• Schuler Family Foundation

Macomb

• Western Illinois University, Peace Corps Fellows Program

Marion

• Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, Prisoner and Family Ministries

Moline

• Western Illinois University, Quad Cities

Peoria

• Children's Home Association of Illinois, Fostering Transitions AmeriCorps

Rockford

• YMCA of Rock River Valley

Springfield

• Illinois Public Health Association - Springfield
• Springfield Urban League, AmeriCorps/ Youth Corps - Springfield

The Serve Illinois Commission is a 40 member, bi-partisan board appointed by the Governor. Its mission is to improve Illinois communities by enhancing volunteerism and instilling an ethic of service throughout the state. The Commission supports local community-based efforts to enhance volunteer opportunities. For more information on Serve Illinois, or to find one of more than 100,000 volunteer opportunities in the state, visit Serve.Illinois.gov.