Austin, TX – OneStar Foundation announced today that 24 organizations in Texas have received AmeriCorps State grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
OneStar Foundation will distribute more than $13.7 million in funding to organizations selected in a highly competitive statewide and national process to support 2,282 AmeriCorps members across the state who will serve as in-school, after-school and summertime teachers, tutors and mentors. These members will work to provide intensive college access and success services, engage in adult and early literacy interventions, participate in early childhood development programs, distribute food to economically disadvantaged children and families, engage children in daily physical activity, assist with case management for the homeless, recruit hundreds of volunteers, and respond to disasters throughout the state.
“National service is an essential part of the solution to many of the social challenges facing our Texas communities,” said Elizabeth Darling, President/CEO. “These AmeriCorps members will meet pressing local needs and strengthen Texas as they develop civic and leadership skills that can last a lifetime. I congratulate these outstanding organizations and thank all those who serve their communities through AmeriCorps.”
The current year’s AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive, due to the strong demand by organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. The 2014 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and continued a new initiative for governors and mayors.
“AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation,” said CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer. “Building on Texas’ strong tradition of ‘neighbor helping neighbor,’ AmeriCorps members will improve lives and strengthen communities across the state. As they serve others, AmeriCorps members will also expand opportunity for themselves - gaining skills and experience to jumpstart their careers. As we mark the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, we salute AmeriCorps members for their dedication, and thank our outstanding partners who make their service possible.”
On a national level, AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 25,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.
2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the AmeriCorps program. Since 1994, more than 830,000 Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service addressing critical challenges from poverty and hunger to disasters and the dropout crisis.
Below is a listing of 2014 AmeriCorps grants in Texas: - Amarillo Independent School District, $285,431 to support 55 AmeriCorps Members
- American YouthWorks, $390,000 to support 30 AmeriCorps Members
- Austin Independent School District, $265,255 to support 20 AmeriCorps Members
- AVANCE, Inc. El Paso Chapter, $1,048,058 to support 80 AmeriCorps Members
- Boys & Girls Club of Austin, $465,225 to support 70 AmeriCorps Members
- Breakthrough, $464,835 to support 139 AmeriCorps Members
- City Year, Inc., $1,476,300 to support 116 AmeriCorps Members
- CitySquare, $1,153,652 to support 298 AmeriCorps Members
- College Forward, $931,178 to support 73 AmeriCorps Members
- Communities in Schools of Central Texas, $711,032 to support 90
- Communities in Schools of the Heart of Texas, $279,168 to support 48 AmeriCorps Members
- Front Steps, $403,000 to support 31 AmeriCorps Members
- Harris County Department of Education, $327,394 to support 32 AmeriCorps Members
- Literacy Coalition of Central Texas, $503,508 to support 39 AmeriCorps Members
- Project GRAD Houston, $244,353 to support 25 AmeriCorps Members
- Project Transformation, $550,550 to support 133 AmeriCorps Members
- Reading Partners, $370,500 to support 30 AmeriCorps Members
- Schulenburg Weimar In Focus Together Inc., $271,559 to support 41 AmeriCorps Members
- Teach for America, $950,000 to support 622 AmeriCorps Members
- The University of Texas at Brownsville, $280,397 to support 80 AmeriCorps Members
- Travis Co. through the Travis Co. Health and Human Services and Veterans Services, $301,696 to support 29 AmeriCorps Members
- United Way of El Paso County, $265,611 to support 20 AmeriCorps Members
- University of North Texas, $466,003 to support 78 AmeriCorps Members
- University of Texas at Austin | Charles A. Dana Center, $1,356,600 to support 103 AmeriCorps Members
