Springfield College AmeriCorps Program Receives National Funding

Wed, 05/01/2019 - 12:00

The Springfield College AmeriCorps Program will receive $1,133,274 in AmeriCorps funding spread out over the next three years from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs.

Springfield College is one of 26 Massachusetts-based organizations that received federal funding, which will support 6,611 AmeriCorps members in their efforts to tackle ongoing challenges in early childhood education, job-readiness, and environmental conservation.

For 22 years, the Springfield College AmeriCorps program has provided the city of Springfield and Springfield Public Schools with student support and academic support specialists. Our staff and student volunteers provide mentoring, counseling, social-emotional reinforcement, direct interventions, and identification of risk factors that lead to dropping out of school. The Springfield College AmeriCorps program is the largest in Western Massachusetts with 56 total members.

The AmeriCorps member experience can be summed up by the words of Nick Fouche (a 3-year veteran member), “We wake up every morning knowing that there is more to give. So, we throw on our name badge and our quarter zip. The ‘A’ we wear on our chest is no scarlet letter. It's something that we should be proud of - it says we make the world better."

Springfield College AmeriCorps members have provided an average of more than 44,000 hours of service to more than 16 of Springfield’s public schools leading to student academic success in English and math, and improved results in early literacy skills, attendance, and behavior.

AmeriCorps’ unique model means that the grants announced today will leverage an additional $70,155,026 from the private sector, foundations, and other sources to further increase the return on the federal investment. CNCS will provide an additional $19,902,265 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of up to $6,000 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million Americans have served, providing more than 1.5 billion hours of service and earning more than $3.6 billion in education scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student debt. Every year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members partner with over 21,000 schools, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations to serve their communities. These citizens have played a critical role in the recovery of communities affected by disasters and helped thousands of first generation college students access higher education. They also tutor and mentor young people, connect veterans to jobs, care for seniors, reduce crime and revive cities, fight the opioid epidemic, and meet other critical needs.

Both Springfield College undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to apply to the Springfield College AmeriCorps program, as well as community members, and retired educators. Both half-time and quarter-time positions are available. Members receive a modest living allowance and, upon completion of their service, they earn Education Award funds that can be applied toward tuition or qualified student loans. For more information about the Springfield College AmeriCorps program, visit springfield.edu/americorps or e-mail americorps@springfield.edu.

Springfield College is an independent, nonprofit, coeducational institution founded in 1885. Nearly 5,000 students, including 2,500 full-time undergraduate students, study at its main campus in Springfield, Mass., and at its regional campuses across the country. Springfield College inspires students through the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy – educating in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others.