**VL-JUNK** U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin Announces More Than $18.2 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) CEO Wendy Spencer, announced more than $18.2 million in new grants for Wisconsin that will support AmeriCorps members serving the community with local organizations.

“Wisconsinites are committed to serving their communities 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.”

“For more than 20 years, AmeriCorps members have had a positive and lasting 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 every AmeriCorps member for his or her dedication and determination to ‘get things done’ and respond to the needs in their communities.”

The funding announced today includes $12 million in grants to Wisconsin nonprofits to support 1,288 AmeriCorps members and $6.1 million in education scholarships for AmeriCorps members to help pay for college, vocational training, or tackle student loan debt. The federal investment is projected to generate an additional $20 million in local support to increase community impact and return on federal investment. These AmeriCorps members will tackle some of the toughest problems in Wisconsin including mentoring and tutoring at-risk youth, facilitating access to healthy foods, serving veterans and military families, and more.

National service programs have shown to be smart and effective investments in strengthening the economic security for Americans. A recent study by economists at Columbia University found that for every dollar invested in national service, there is a $3.95 return to society in terms of higher earnings, increased output and other community benefits. Additionally, national service expands opportunity and enables participants to gain marketable job skills and pursue higher education. A report released by CNCS found that unemployed individuals who volunteer are 27 percent more likely to secure employment than those who don’t volunteer.

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 a bipartisan group of 33 of her colleagues on a letter urging the Appropriations Committee to provide strong funding and investments in CNCS.

Below is a listing of 2016 competitive AmeriCorps grants in Wisconsin:

• Wisconsin Primary Health Care Association: AmeriCorps members serving as certified application counselors and community resource coordinators will improve access to health care and connect clients with resources to improve their health and health behaviors.  ($266,200 grant, 22 AmeriCorps members)

MILWAUKEE

• College Possible: AmeriCorps members will prepare low-income students for success in post-secondary education through academic and college preparation programming in the Milwaukee community. ($326,040 grant; 33 AmeriCorps members)

• Milwaukee Christian Center – YouthBuild: AmeriCorps members will construct affordable homes while receiving education and training on the south side of Milwaukee. ($167,083 grant; 23 AmeriCorps members)

• Public Allies Milwaukee: AmeriCorps members will deliver capacity-building service projects to organizations, resulting in organizations becoming more effective and being able to deliver services additional beneficiaries. ($544,635 grant; 45 AmeriCorps members)

·      Teach For America Wisconsin: AmeriCorps members serving through the Teach for America Wisconsin program will teach in low-income schools in Milwaukee and will be responsible for significantly improving the educational outcomes for their students. ($96,000 grant; 127 AmeriCorps members)

·      Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee will receive two grants:

o  SPARK Literacy Program/Environmental Education Initiative:AmeriCorps members will tutor Milwaukee Public School students and offer arts enrichment in after school programs and environmental education service learning projects to Milwaukee youth.($245,168 grant; 74 AmeriCorps members)

o  SSPP/Kinder Academy/Graduation+: AmeriCorps members will provide tutoring and educational support activities to Pre K-high school students to increase academic performance and engagement in Milwaukee.($81, 270 grant; 24 AmeriCorps members)

MADISON

·      United Way of Dane County will receive two grants:

o  Achievement Connections program: AmeriCorps members will tutor high school students in math in Madison and Middleton.($257,188 grant; 20 AmeriCorps members)

o  Schools of Hope program: AmeriCorps members will provide individualized literacy tutoring for students reading below grade level in the Madison Metropolitan, Middleton Cross-Plains Area and the Sun Prairie Area school districts.($258,000 grant; 20 AmeriCorps members)

EAU CLAIRE

·      University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire: AmeriCorps members will provide literacy, language, social emotional and math intervention services to low-income preschool children for improved school readiness in the Eau Claire and Altoona areas. ($86,717 grant; 45 AmeriCorps members)

WAUSAU

·      North Central Community Action Program: AmeriCorps members will tutor and mentor elementary, middle and senior high school students in the Wausau and Antigo school districts.($221,383 grant, 30 AmeriCorps members)

MARSHFIELD

·      Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation will receive two grants:

o  Volunteer Wisconsin AmeriCorps: AmeriCorps members will support the development of nonprofit organizational capacity in communities throughout Wisconsin.($604,350 grant, 45 AmeriCorps members)

o  Marshfield Clinic Research Foundation: AmeriCorps members will deliver academic case management services to disadvantaged students participating in afterschool programs in 37 counties in rural northwest.($378,300 grant; 30 AmeriCorps members)

In addition to the 14 competitive grants, Serve Wisconsin, the state service commission, will be making the following eight grants through formula funding provided by CNCS:

·      Renewal Unlimited: AmeriCorps members will construct affordable homes, while obtaining their HSED/Diploma, developing career goals, participating in job training and placement services that will lead to employment or post-secondary education or joining the military. ($141,694 grant; 25 AmeriCorps members)

·      Wisconsin Association for Runaway Services: AmeriCorps members will distribute hygiene packets, food vouchers, transportation vouchers, clothes, and referral services to provide youth in crisis with safe alternatives to the street.($433,703 grant; 37 AmeriCorps members)

·      Wisconsin Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection: AmeriCorps members will deliver nutrition education lessons to students in grades K-12, introduce unique local foods to students, build and maintain school gardens, and connect local farmers with schools. ($191,925 grant; 30 AmeriCorps members)

·      Dane County Human Services: AmeriCorps members will enhance academic achievement and school engagement of middle and high school youth through positive relationships, literacy tutoring, extended learning programming, and volunteer service.  ($444,237 grant; 35 AmeriCorps members)

·      Western Dairyland Economic Opportunity Council:AmeriCorps members will participate in constructing an affordable home, while obtaining their HSED/Diploma, developing career goals, and participating in job training and placement services that will lead to employment or post-secondary education.($110,394 grant; 17 AmeriCorps members)

·      University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh: Veterans and military families serving as AmeriCorps members will be placed in nonprofits across a five-county area of northeast Wisconsin.($72,618 grant; 20 AmeriCorps members)

·      Interfaith Senior Program: Funding will be used to develop an AmeriCorps program that will engage AmeriCorps members, a significant number of which will be participants age 55 or older, to recruit, train, manage and place volunteers in Waukesha County. ($75,000 grant)

·      Easter Seals Wisconsin: AmeriCorps members will provide personal care and lead therapeutic recreation activities for individuals with disabilities, youth in transition, and veterans and their families at camps in Wisconsin Dells. ($264,225 grant; 51 AmeriCorps 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. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.