Alexandria, VA (May 20, 2020) – Catholic Charities USA (CCUSA) announced that it has received $603,678 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs.
This grant will support 14 AmeriCorps members in Austin, Texas; Amarillo, Texas; Springfield, Missouri; Jefferson City, Missouri; Smyrna, Georgia; Washington, DC; Fort Worth, Texas; Overland, Kansas; Pueblo, Colorado; Wichita, Kansas; Portland, Maine; and Tucson, Arizona.
The AmeriCorps members will teach the FDIC’s Money Smart curriculum to low-income individuals. They will be responsible for helping 1,500 individuals enhance their financial skills and create positive banking relationships. In addition, the AmeriCorps members will leverage 150 volunteers to teach financial education classes.
“The AmeriCorps funding from CNCS for financial education comes at a critical time for many people struggling with little or no income due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Sister Donna Markham OP, PhD, president and CEO of Catholic Charities USA. “The classes will help them develop important skills that can be put to use in the long term.”
CCUSA is the national membership association for local Catholic Charities agencies, each of which is an independent 501(c)3 authorized by the local Catholic diocese and credentialed to work within the state in which it is incorporated. CCUSA’s members provide help and create hope for over 12 million people of all faiths and social and economic backgrounds. The mission of CCUSA is to exercise leadership in assisting its members, particularly the diocesan Catholic Charities agencies, in their mission of service, advocacy, and convening.
“For more than two decades, Americans have answered the call to serve by pledging to ‘get things done’ as AmeriCorps members,” said Chester Spellman, director of AmeriCorps. “Through their dedication and sacrifice, I know our nation is in good hands.. We are so pleased to be supporting more AmeriCorps members for Catholic Charities USA, where their service will help to create a brighter tomorrow. I salute all of our AmeriCorps members – past, present, and future – and thank those who help make their service possible.”
CNCS will provide additional funding through 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 approximately $6,000 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.
Every year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve through 21,000+ schools, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations across the country. 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.
AmeriCorps is funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency for volunteering and service, and recently marked its 25th anniversary. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1.1 million AmeriCorps members have served the nation, providing more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earning nearly $4 billion in education awards to pay for college or pay back student loans. Those interested in joining AmeriCorps can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/Join.
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