Pennsylvania Honors Impact of AmeriCorps During AmeriCorps Week

HARRISBURG, Pa., April 2, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Pennsylvania is celebrating AmeriCorps Week, March 30 – April 5, spotlighting the vital work done by AmeriCorps members in communities across Pennsylvania since the national service program began 20 years ago.

More than 1,200 AmeriCorps members are serving in Pennsylvania this year, helping students learn to read, mentoring at-risk youth, providing health services, building homes for low-income families, and helping nonprofits recruit volunteers and achieve their mission.

"We are proud to be part of AmeriCorps and grateful for the AmeriCorps members who are getting things done for Pennsylvania," Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Julia Hearthway said.  "AmeriCorps members have made a significant impact on Pennsylvania's ability to meet so many local needs, and AmeriCorps Week is a perfect opportunity to recognize their great work."

PennSERVE, located within L&I, provides funding for AmeriCorps programs across Pennsylvania that use national and community service as a tool to address local issues such as education, disaster preparedness, food security, and health issues.  Each of these organizations uses its AmeriCorps funding to recruit, place, and supervise AmeriCorps members to carry out service.

Since 1994, more than 41,000 AmeriCorps members have served in Pennsylvania, providing more than 55 million hours of service through AmeriCorps.  This year, more than 3,000 AmeriCorps members will meet pressing community needs across the commonwealth. Serving at more than 2,300 locations statewide, AmeriCorps members served more than 18,000 individuals last year, boosting the impact of the nonprofit and faith-based organizations they serve. 

AmeriCorps members agree to a term of service that ranges from 300 to 1700 hours within a year.  In exchange for their service, members are awarded an education award that can be used for education costs, including student loans or for future tuition costs, and may also receive a modest living stipend.  Since AmeriCorps' inception, members serving in Pennsylvania have earned more than $124,850,000 in education awards.  For more information visit AmeriCorps.gov.

For additional information on PennSERVE or a complete list of AmeriCorps Week events, visit www.dli.state.pa.us/pennserve or call 1-866-6-SERVEU.

Media contact: Theresa Elliott, 717-787-7530

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry

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