U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces Nearly $20 Million in AmeriCorps Funding For Wisconsin

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin, along with the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), announced $19,999,015 in new grants for Wisconsin that will support AmeriCorps members serving the community with local organizations.

“Wisconsinites are committed to serving their communities now 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.”

Through this competition, 16 successful grantees operating in Wisconsin will receive $12,043,981 in competitive funding from CNCS to support approximately 1,081 AmeriCorps members. After successfully completing their service, a total of $5,309,194 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards, a post-service benefit used to cover the costs of post-secondary education or help pay back qualified student loans, will be awarded to these AmeriCorps members for their service. Serve Wisconsin – Wisconsin National and Community Service Board, the Governor-appointed state service commission, will also receive $2,645,840 in 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 2020 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 memberswill 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:

o  AmeriCorps Academic & Career Planning: AmeriCorps members will support the dramatic expansion of college preparation and workforce training through the AmeriCorps Academic & Career Planning (ACP) program in 10 Milwaukee Public Schools (MPS) high schools, the Boys & Girls Club main office, and the Adult Learning Center.($91,889 grant; 23 AmeriCorps members)

o  ClubCorps (formerly EARN):AmeriCorps members will be responsible for providing targeted core area programming to club members that is grounded in Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) Positive Youth Development Framework in locations across Milwaukee and Camp Whitcomb-Mason. ($454,860 grant; 104 AmeriCorps members)

·        Public Allies, Inc. will receive two grants:

o  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; 537 AmeriCorps members)

o  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)

MADISON

·        United Way of Dane County will receive two grants:

o  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.($247,659 grant; 16 members)

o  Achievement Connections: AmeriCorps members will tutor High School students in Algebra and Geometry in four high schools in Madison and Middleton, Wisconsin. ($195,030 grant; 18 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; 21 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 ESW Camps in Wisconsin Dells, WI.($269,607 grant; 43 members)

EAU CLAIRE AND CHIPPEWA COUNTIES

·        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 members)

·        Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council: AmeriCorps members will participate in the construction of three new single-family homes in Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties. They will also assist with the Chippewa Fresh Start YouthBuild Program by providing career direction, employability skills, transportation rides to and from the site/school, and assistance on the construction site. ($319,950 grant; 48 members)

WAUSAU

·        North Central Community Action Program: AmeriCorps members will tutor and mentor elementary, middle and senior high school students in the Wausau, Antigo, Merrill & Wisconsin Rapids school districts, who have been identified as targeted students based on economic disadvantage, English language ability and credit deficiency.($238,775 grant; 31 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.($152,589 grant; 25 members)

MARSHFIELD

·        Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation will receive two grants:

o  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 members)

o  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 members)

An online version of this release is available here.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.