Heinrich Announces New AmeriCorps Funding for New Mexico
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the National Service Congressional Caucus and the first AmeriCorps alum to serve in the United States Senate, announced four AmeriCorps grants totaling nearly $1 million awarded to organizations in New Mexico. The grants will support more than 230 AmeriCorps members who will serve New Mexico communities over the coming year.
Senator Heinrich made the announcement today on a conference call hosted by the Corporation of National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that that engages more than five 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.
Senator Heinrich commented on the importance of serving the community. He said, "National service is a critical and cost effective approach to solving problems. It helps organizations to expand their reach and impact, engages citizens, and brings communities together. And there are lifelong benefits that only national service experiences yield. Serving as an AmeriCorps volunteer taught me that there is no venture more rewarding than working to improve the lives of those around us."
Senator Heinrich also commended the organizations receiving grant funds for their efforts, " I want to thank all those who have served in AmeriCorps 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 organizations and the work they are doing for New Mexico communities."
“AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation,” said CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer. “Building on New Mexico’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will improve lives and strengthen communities across New Mexico. While they serve others, AmeriCorps members will also expand opportunity for themselves - gaining skills and experience to jumpstart their careers. As we mark the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, we salute AmeriCorps members for their dedication, and thank our outstanding partners who make their service possible.”
2014 marks the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Over the past two decades, more than 830,000 men and women have served in the program, providing more than one billion hours of service to address critical challenges from poverty and hunger to disasters and the dropout crisis. The grant funds will support more than 230 AmeriCorps members who will serve New Mexico communities through four local organizations over the coming year.
Awarded grant funding:
- City of Albuquerque "Running Start for Careers" initiative: $265,946 for 20 AmeriCorps members to provide academic tutoring, career coaching, and financial education to ninth through 12th grade students. The program will serve high schools in and around Albuquerque, New Mexico.
- Rocky Mountain Youth Corps AmeriCorps: $452,568 for 115 AmeriCorps members to receive weekly training and on-the-job experience in land restoration and energy efficiency, as well as leverage community volunteers engaged in service days geared to support environmental stewardship projects across northern New Mexico.
- Earth Care International: $191,034 for 27 AmeriCorps members to increase access to healthy foods to low-income families; provide food and health education; and environmental stewardship, resulting in increased food security in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
- Teach for America, New Mexico: $56,000 for 70 AmeriCorps members to teach grades K-12 in low-income, predominantly Hispanic and Native American communities in New Mexico.
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