May 21, 2020

Duckworth, Durbin Announce $15 Million to Support Community Service Projects in Illinois

 

[WASHINGTON, DC] – U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) today announced that Illinois will receive a total of $15,579,643 in federal funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the agency that administers AmeriCorps and other national service programs. The funding will be distributed to 14 Illinois-based organizations to help more than 750 AmeriCorps members serve local communities, pay back student loans, and cover the cost of college after their service is completed.

"AmeriCorps national service programs bring together people from all walks of life to address pressing challenges in local communities and strengthen our nation," Duckworth said. "Just as picking up a rifle to defend our country is ‘American Service,’ so is volunteering to help lift up impoverished communities. I will continue to advocate for greater investments in national service opportunities so that every Illinoisan who wants to serve has the opportunity to do so."

"From big cities to rural towns, the AmeriCorps National Service Program has been a source of assistance and support in communities throughout Illinois. AmeriCorps Members come from all ages and backgrounds to mentor students, help people access affordable homes, rebuild after disasters, and much more," Durbin said. "Senator Duckworth and I will continue our strong support for funding that aids the great work being done by AmeriCorps volunteers across our state and country."

The following organizations will receive funding:

  • Greater Chicago Food Depository (Chicago): $210,520 in program funding and $105,676 in education awards
  • Up2Us Sports' Coaches in Illinois (Chicago): $305,581 in program funding and $123,900 in education awards
  • City Year Chicago (Chicago): $3,165,583 in program funding and $1,313,340 in education awards
  • Teach for America (Chicago): $1,183,245 in education awards
  • United Way of Metropolitan Chicago (Chicago): $182,284 in program funding and $74,340 in education awards
  • College Possible (Chicago): $354,510 in program funding and $167,265 in education awards
  • Relay Graduate School of Education’s Chicago Residency (Chicago): $402,675 in education funding
  • American Red Cross – Chicago: Illinois Disaster Corps (Chicago): $278,622 in program funding and $111,510 in education awards
  • Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois’ MORE: Making Opportunities for Reading Enrichment (Chicago): $184,310 in program funding and  $101,513 in education awards
  • Illinois Bar Foundation’s Illinois JusticeCorps (Chicago): $316,199 in program funding and $132,979 in education awards
  • Public Allies, Inc. (Chicago): $765,062 in program funding and $309,750 in education awards
  • Youth & Opportunity United, Inc.’s Y.O.U.th Serve Evanston, Morton Grove, and Skokie (Evanston): $270,326 in program funding and $111,510 in education awards
  • Sauk Valley Community College’s ABC AmeriCorps (Dixon): $161,915 in program funding and $69,066 in education awards
  • Board of Trustees of Western Illinois University’s Peace Corps Fellows/AmeriCorps Program (Macomb): $185,748 in program funding and $74,340 in education awards  

Serve Illinois, the Governor-appointed state service commission, will also receive $4,917,874 in formula funding, which will in turn be awarded to Illinois organizations to support additional AmeriCorps members in the coming months.