FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mar 14, 2023

Michael D. Smith presents President’s Volunteer Service Awards, participates in Town Hall at Arizona State University

WASHINGTON, DC—AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith visited the Phoenix metro area on Monday, March 13, to kick off AmeriCorps Week, a weeklong celebration of national service led by the federal agency for national service and volunteerism. Smith made stops at Northern Arizona University and Arizona State University, recognizing incredible volunteer efforts while speaking with AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers.

Smith began his Phoenix visit at Northern Arizona University, where he met with and recognized AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers. Smith and the Center for Service and Volunteerism at NAU awarded the President’s Volunteer Service Lifetime Achievement Awards to seven local volunteers who have served thousands of hours at the center through the Foster Grandparent, RSVP and Senior Companion Programs.

Smith met with AmeriCorps members serving in the VISTA program at Jobs for Arizona Graduates, an organization that helps young people stay in school to acquire the skills they need to be successful in the workplace. Then Smith and director of Public Health AmeriCorps AJ Pearlman visited Arizona State University, a long-term AmeriCorps grantee which hosts many AmeriCorps programs, where he participated in a Town Hall with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, Arizona Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism, AmeriCorps members serving with Public Health AmeriCorps and ASU’s VISTA program, alumni and AmeriCorps Senior volunteers. Smith and spoke to the assembly before taking questions on the future of service and AmeriCorps in Arizona.

Last year, more than 4,100 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in served at more than 500 locations across Arizona, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, veteran facilities, and more. Additionally, AmeriCorps invested more than $15.3 million in federal fudding to support communities working to tackle their toughest challenges.

This AmeriCorps Week, AmeriCorps celebrates the millions of Americans ages 18 to 55+, who have served with AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs. Currently, more than 200,000 people serve as members or volunteers in nearly 40,000 locations across all 50 states and territories. To join the celebration, follow AmeriCorps on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; follow @AmeriCorpsCEO on Twitter; and join the conversation by sharing pictures and stories on Twitter, using #AmeriCorpsWeek. For more information about events, Mayors Day, “Day of the A” and ways to celebrate, visit AmeriCorps.gov/AmeriCorpsWeek.

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, provides opportunities for Americans to serve their country domestically, address the nation’s most pressing challenges, improve lives and communities, and strengthen civic engagement. Each year, the agency places more than 200,000 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers in intensive service roles; and empowers millions more to serve as long-term, short-term, or one-time volunteers. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.

AmeriCorps offers opportunities for individuals of all backgrounds to be a part of the national service community, grow personally and professionally, and receive benefits for their service. Learn how to get involved at AmeriCorps.gov/serve.