FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Jul 25, 2024

AmeriCorps CEO and board members meet with grantees, members and volunteers in New Orleans, La.

NEW ORLEANS, La.— AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism, announced more than $10 million in federal funding to Volunteer Louisiana, the state’s service commission, during a delegation trip with AmeriCorps board members and CEO Michael D. Smith. The grant award will support the service of approximately 780 AmeriCorps members who will support economic development, education and conservation efforts across the state.

Check for Louisiana grantees

"This year’s AmeriCorps State and National grants will support thousands of enthusiastic and energetic Americans of all ages ready to tackle our most pressing local and national challenges, from education and economic opportunity to conservation and disaster response,” said Michael D. Smith, CEO, AmeriCorps.

“In times of disaster, AmeriCorps members have been on the front lines of response and recovery efforts in Louisiana,” said Judd Jeansonne, Executive Director, Volunteer Louisiana, the State Service Commission in the Office of Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser. “AmeriCorps members are strengthening our communities in blue sky days as well. From tutoring kids in our most challenging schools, to reducing food insecurity in our most rural and underserved parishes, to helping military veterans and their families navigate a return to civilian life, AmeriCorps members are meeting critical needs throughout Louisiana.”

The AmeriCorps delegation also met with AmeriCorps members who serve in New Orleans at SBP, the Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana, St. Vincent De Paul, and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serving with New Orleans Council on Aging. During their visits with these organizations, AmeriCorps honored 18 AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award. Led by AmeriCorps, in partnership with Points of Light, the President’s Volunteer Service Award celebrates Americans who dedicate their time and skills to serving their communities through volunteering.

During a visit with New Orleans Mayor LaToya Cantrell, she and AmeriCorps CEO Michael D. Smith presented two AmeriCorps members with President’s Volunteer Service Awards: Pamela Bourgeois, a client services coordinator with SBP New Orleans who served 850 hours in New Orleans, and Ricky Angelain, a project lead with SBP New Orleans who served more than 680 hours.

AmeriCorps CEO with Mayor and members

“From Natchitoches to New Orleans, AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers are working alongside their neighbors to build stronger communities and a brighter future for all Louisianans,” said Smith.  

All President’s Volunteer Service Award Recipients in New Orleans:

  • Emelda Paul is an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer with the Senior Companion program. For her more than 27,500 hours of service, Paul received a Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Richard Bell is an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer with the RSVP program. For his more than 23,000 hours of service, Bell received a Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Leroy Moon, Jr., is an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer with the RSVP program. For his more than 11,600 hours of service, Moon received a Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Malik Rahim is an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer with the RSVP program. For his more than 5,600 hours of service, Rahim received a Lifetime President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Katrina Weber is AmeriCorps member with the VISTA program at St. Vincent De Paul. For her more than 3,300 hours of service, Weber received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Patricia Marchand is an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer with the Senior Companion program. For her more than 2,600 hours of service, Marchand received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • David Sneed is a Supply and Logistics Coordinator with SBP New Orleans. He served three previous terms, two with AmeriCorps VISTA and one with AmeriCorps State and National. For his more than 1,500 hours of service, Sneed received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Serenthia Joseph is a Client Services Coordinator with SBP New Orleans' Disaster Assistance Program Team. For her more than 1,500 hours of service, Joseph received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Sabria Earin is a Client Services Coordinator with SBP New Orleans' Disaster Assistance Program Team. For her more than 1,300 hours of service, Earin received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • A'Dasha Vallery is a Client Services Coordinator with SBP New Orleans' Disaster Assistance Program Team. For her more than 1,200 hours of service, Vallery received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Rory Anderson is a Disaster Corps Project Lead with SBP New Orleans. They previously served with AmeriCorps NCCC in the Southwest Region and with an AmeriCorps State and National program in Michigan. Anderson was awarded a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award for their more than 900 hours of service.
  • Bryana Lozoya is a Disaster Corps Project Lead with SBP New Orleans. For her more than 870 hours of service, Lozoya was awarded a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Pamela Bourgeois is a Client Services Coordinator with SBP New Orleans. For her more than 850 hours of service, Bourgeois received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Kirianna Gambrel is a Project Lead with SBP New Orleans. She served a previous term with an AmeriCorps State and National program in Maine. For her more than 810 hours of service, Gambrel received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Olivia Karschner is a Disaster Corps Project Lead with SBP New Orleans. For her more than 810 hours of service, Karschner received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Michael Bankston is an AmeriCorps Seniors volunteer with the RSVP program. For his more than 750 hours of service, Bankston received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.
  • Ricky Angelain is a Project Lead with SBP New Orleans. For his more than 680 hours of service, Angelain received a Gold President’s Volunteer Service Award.

  • Kieron Haynes is a Client Services Coordinator with SBP New Orleans. For his more than 470 hours of service, Haynes was awarded a Silver President's Volunteer Service Award.

     

Three decades ago, more than 20,000 Americans raised their right hands and pledged to get things done for America. These members helped more than 1,000 communities nationwide during their first year of service. Since then, more than 1.3 million AmeriCorps members and hundreds of thousands more AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers of all backgrounds have followed in their footsteps, providing billions of hours of results-driven service across the nation.

Last year, more than 3,500 Americans of all ages and backgrounds united to meet local needs, strengthen communities, and expand opportunities through national service in Louisiana. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers served at more than 400 locations across Louisiana, including schools, food banks, homeless shelters, health clinics, youth centers, veterans’ facilities and other nonprofit and faith-based organizations. 

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.