Schumer Announces Almost $6 Million For Americorps Programs In New York City And Brooklyn

Today US Senator Charles E. Schumer announced $5,966,407 in funding for Americorps programs in New York City and Brooklyn. The grant is being awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service.

AmeriCorps is one of the world's greatest service programs and this funding will go a long way, not just for the members who will serve, but for the younger people and families who will benefit from the hard work and dedication of the program and its volunteers, Schumer said. The quality and diversity of these organizations together with the contributions of their AmeriCorps members will make a huge difference in improving the quality of life in these communities, particularly with educational needs.

The Church Avenue Merchants Association (CAMBA), in Brooklyn, will receive $371,995. CAMBA works to address the health care needs of residents of Central Brooklyn, primarily, teenage girls, youth in foster care and homeless children. Americorps members educate and mentor teens and preteens, as well as parents on health education issues, prevention education and counseling, and nutrition and healthy life style counseling.

The Cypress Hills Local Development Corporation will receive $254,976 for the Eastern Brooklyn Collaborative for Youth Development Program. Americorps members provide afterschool tutoring to five different sites in Eastern Brooklyn for youth aged 514. Also in Brooklyn, the Red Hook Public Safety Corps will receive $650,600. Red Hook Corps members serve in teams to address public safety and educational needs of atrisk community members. Americorps members work to increase public safety through crime prevention and victim assistance projects. Additionally they educate tenants about crime prevention and provide support and referrals for crime victims.

The YMCA of Greater New York will receive $1,248,914 for its YMCA AmeriCorps School Success Program which supports students with reading difficulties. AmeriCorps members are placed in New York City schools which have been identified by the community as needing additional support.

The AfterSchool Corporation (TASC) is being awarded two separate grants for two programs. The Community Works Program will receive $934,400 and the Teach After 3 Program will receive $416,001. Both programswork to provide afterschool tutoring, mentoring and academic enrichment.

Grand Street Settlement will receive $244,000 to provide Lower East Side residents with tools and support they need to overcome challenging life circumstances and be productive members of the community. AmeriCorps member contribute to the mission of Grand Street Settlement by serving in various sites throughout the Lower East Side with a focus on school readiness.

Pace University will receive $245,119 for its tutoring programs for junior high and high school students on the Lower East Side and in Chinatown. Members provide inclass, afterschool and Saturday tutorial assistance and help with college preparation and counseling guidance.

The Harlem Childrens Zone will receive $1,600,402 for the Harlem Childrens Zone Peacemaker Program. AmeriCorps members participate in program activities that affect younger people, aged 021 and their parents. The programming includes a training program for new parents, a preK, Headstart program for toddlers, a school success program for elementary age students, as well as a youth career exploration center for 1421 year olds.

AmeriCorps members serve in hundreds of nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and community and faith based organizations, in rural and urban communities throughout the country. They mentor youth, build affordable housing, help communities respond to disasters, and build the capacity of nonprofit groups to extend and improve their impact by leveraging volunteers. In exchange for their services, AmeriCorps members earn an education award, ($4, 725 for full time service) to pay for college or to pay off qualified student loans.

AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve through more than 2,100 nonprofits, public agencies, and faithbased organizations. They tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run afterschool programs, and help communities respond to disasters. Created in 1993, AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Together these programs engage more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service each year.

The Corporation for National and Community Service works to mobilize citizens through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. This year, more than 1.6 million individuals of all ages and backgrounds will serve through those programs to help thousands of national and community nonprofit organizations, faithbased groups, schools, and local agencies meet local needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other critical areas. National and community service programs work closely with traditional volunteer organizations to broaden, deepen, and strengthen the ability of America's volunteers to contribute not only to local communities, but to the country as well.