CHICAGO (WBBM NEWSRADIO) -- Illinois is getting help for its AmeriCorps members.
The Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service announced Sunday $10.2 million in federal grants to place 719 AmeriCorps Members in 13 programs to serve Illinois communities.
State officials said these awards include $3.9 million in education awards that AmeriCorps Members can use to pay for college or pay off student loans after their term of service.
AmeriCorps programs will match these funds with an additional $15.9 million in local funding. The total investment into Illinois communities will be $26.1 million. This is the first of two AmeriCorps funding announcements for 2020.
AmeriCorps Members dedicate up to one year to help communities meet unmet economic, education, health, public safety, disaster preparedness, veteran services, and environmental needs. Members may receive a modest living allowance, student loan deferment, health insurance, childcare, and professional development. Members who successfully complete their service receive an educational award of up to $6,195 to help pay for college, graduate school, vocational training, or to pay off student loans.
“Even during COVID-19, our AmeriCorps Members are still serving, and we are excited to continue that service,” said Serve Illinois Executive Director Scott McFarland, in a statement. “Last year, AmeriCorps Illinois served nearly 400,000 Illinoisans including more than 209,000 disadvantaged youth and nearly 40,000 veterans, active military, and military family members.”
These federal grants will be used for services in Illinois, including tutoring and mentoring at-risk youth, preparing communities to respond effectively to emergencies, feeding those in need, providing legal support services, assisting incarcerated individuals re-enter into their communities, promoting environmental stewardship, supporting veterans, and improving youth and adult literacy. Serve Illinois, a part of the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH), administers the AmeriCorps programs in Illinois.
“These AmeriCorps Members represent the best our state and nation has to offer,” McFarland said. “We believe that service is the solution, and when you see the AmeriCorps 'A', you know things are getting done.”
Since 1994, over 45,000 Illinoisans have served 64 million hours through AmeriCorps. Those hours equal more than $1.5 billion in community impact. They have also earned more than $157 million in education awards.