SCHUMER, GILLIBRAND ANNOUNCE OVER $707,000 IN FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT AMERICORPS SENIORS PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT NEW YORK

Americorps Seniors RSVP Provides Grants To Engage Senior Volunteers Who Tackle Elder Abuse And Financial Exploitation, Opioid Abuse/Prevention, Transportation Services, Intergenerational Education, Housing Services & Mores In Their Communities

Nine Organizations Throughout New York Will Receive A Portion Of The Allotted $707K; Funding Will Help To Recruit & Manage Over 4,000 Senior Volunteers 

Schumer, Gillibrand: Americorps Funding To Engage Seniors & Help Communities All Over New York

U.S. Senator Charles E. Schumer and U.S. Senator Kirsten Gillibrand today announced $707,092 in federal funding to nine organizations in New York from the AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP program, which provides grants to engage Americans, age 55 and older, to help communities tackle their toughest challenges. The funds were awarded as part of a grant competition to increase the impact of national service in new or specific geographic areas, and will help to recruit and manage an estimated 4,336 senior volunteers across New York.

“AmeriCorps is one of the world's greatest service programs and this funding will go a long way to help, not just for the seniors who serve, but for the people who will benefit from the hard work and dedication of the program and its volunteers,” said Senator Schumer. “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 for those vulnerable seniors in need, particularly with economic and food self-sufficiency, affordable housing and opioid abuse and prevention.”

“New York seniors are invaluable members of our communities and the AmeriCorps organization helps connect them to service and educational opportunities,” said Senator Gillibrand. “We benefit greatly from the 47 million hours serviced by AmeriCorps seniors across the nation. I’m proud to announce this funding to recruit more than 4,000 volunteers and will help our seniors continue to flourish.”

Each year, AmeriCorps Seniors engages approximately 195,000 Americans 55 and older through its Foster Grandparent, Senior Companion, and RSVP programs, leveraging their passion and knowledge to address some of our country’s most pressing issues. AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve their communities through initiatives as diverse as combatting elder abuse and financial exploitation, opioid abuse/prevention, transportation services, intergenerational education, housing services, food insecurity, helping students transition to online schooling, connecting veterans to jobs and benefits, and responding to the new challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the challenges of 2020, AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers persisted, responding creatively to the challenges presented by COVID-19, while adapting their service models to better serve their communities while staying safe.

Allocations to specific organizations can be found below:

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