[Madison, WI] – Serve Wisconsin proudly announces that Wisconsin received $13.1 million in grant funding from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and community volunteerism, to support 31 programs and planning grants across the state. Included within those funds is $1,576,663 in AmeriCorps funding for eight AmeriCorps programs specifically centered in Dane and Columbia counties, with several other statewide AmeriCorps programs also having members serving in area.
“This funding will put 880 AmeriCorps members on the ground at over 200 service sites throughout the state, including over 140 AmeriCorps members in Dane County and Columbia County, to help make a difference and improve the lives of people across Wisconsin,” said Jeanne Duffy, Executive Director of Serve Wisconsin.
“The AmeriCorps members will continue and expand on the over 1.2 million hours of service by Wisconsin AmeriCorps members over the last two years, as they helped to tackle some of the toughest problems in Wisconsin, many of which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic,” Duffy continued. “During their service this year, these new AmeriCorps members will positively impact the lives of people throughout Wisconsin by addressing issues including the achievement gap and educational challenges, public health and healthcare access, opioid and substance abuse, economic opportunity and housing availability, conservation and environmental sustainability, and other concerns impacting communities across the state.”
2022-2023 Wisconsin AmeriCorps programs
The funding will support the following AmeriCorps programs:
Dane County Department of Human Services – Partners for After School Success (PASS) 49 AmeriCorps members will be placed in predominately low-income or resource-scarce communities to enhance the academic achievement and school engagement of middle and high school youth through positive relationships, academic coaching and tutoring, extended learning programs, and volunteer service.
Easterseals Wisconsin 36 AmeriCorps members will provide intensive personal care and lead or facilitate therapeutic recreation activities for individuals with disabilities and their families at Camp Wawbeek and Respite Camp. AmeriCorps members also provide therapeutic recreation activities for veterans and their family members at Veteran Family Camps.
Renewal Unlimited, Inc. Fresh Start Program 25 AmeriCorps members will construct two single-family homes to be sold to low-income and moderate-income families. While working on the houses, they develop educational, pre-employment, job, independent living and leadership skills.
United Way of Dane County – Achievement Connections 18 AmeriCorps members tutor high school students in math and leverage additional volunteers to provide tutoring to increase the number of students who pass Algebra by 10th grade.
United Way of Dane County – Schools of Hope AmeriCorps Project 16 AmeriCorps members will serve as literacy tutors and tutor coordinators in high-need elementary schools where they work with staff to increase students’ literacy skills in kindergarten through fifth grade.
Future Programs
The following organizations received a grant to develop a new program or expand an existing program, which are expected to begin in the Fall of 2023.
Boys and Girls Clubs of Dane County AmeriCorps members will support youth by providing college preparation and career readiness programming, academic tutoring, and other virtual programming, as well as supporting efforts focusing on youth advocacy, food security, sustainability, and program development.
University of Wisconsin System – Athletic Training Service Corps AmeriCorps members will be placed in underserved high schools to improve health outcomes for students by providing school-based health care, making referrals to community health care resources, and serving as an educational resource hub for students.
University of Wisconsin System – Wisconsin 4-H Expanding Access AmeriCorps members will be placed throughout the state in partnership with county-based youth development professionals to design and implement community-based, highly effective, and evidenced-based youth development programming to assist youth in underrepresented and underserved communities.
The unique model for AmeriCorps means the Wisconsin AmeriCorps programs will leverage an additional $8.2 million from the private sector, foundations, and other sources, including over $1.9 by the programs centered in Dane and Columbia counties, further increasing the return on the federal investment for Wisconsin communities.
AmeriCorps members make a critical difference through their service by educating students for the 21st century workforce, supporting veterans and military families, completing conservation projects, tackling the opioid epidemic, promoting economic opportunity in our communities, helping people to live healthier lives, and through several other projects to make their local communities stronger. Additionally, they have played a critical role helping communities throughout the United States recover from flooding, hurricanes, wildfires, and other national disasters.
For the past year, thousands of AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors members across all 50 states and U.S. territories have continued their service, quickly adapting to meet the changing needs caused by the pandemic. Dedicated members have persisted in supporting communities as they respond and recover from the impact of COVID-19, developing new ways to deliver the same services to keep both themselves and those they serve safe.
Every year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve through thousands of nonprofit, community and faith-based organizations across the country. Since 1994, AmeriCorps members have provided more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earned nearly $4 billion in education awards to pay for college or pay back student loans. Included within those numbers are the more than 29,000 Wisconsin residents have served approximately 44 million hours and earned education awards totaling more than $113.9 million. Those interested in serving can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/join.
For more information about the AmeriCorps funding for Serve Wisconsin’s thirty-one 2022-23 AmeriCorps programs and planning grants across the state, visit this release: Serve Wisconsin Announces $13.1 Million in AmeriCorps Funding for Wisconsin
