FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Nov 19, 2009

Washington, DC - The Corporation for National and Community Service released its Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Financial Report (AFR), which presents an overall assessment of agency performance, including financial management and audit. The report confirms that the agency and its programs are meeting critical needs in education, youth development, disaster relief, health and other human needs in communities across the country through high quality service programs.

“This was a year of major transition, growth and progress for us and the programs we support,” said Nicky Goren, Acting CEO of Corporation. “I am proud to report that in the midst of such an environment, this performance and financial review found us to be a well-managed agency, effectively moving toward accomplishing the goals set for us by Congress and the Obama Administration with accountability and appropriate planning for continued growth.”

 

For Fiscal Year 2009, the Corporation produced an alternative to the consolidated Performance and Accountability Report (PAR), as authorized under the Office of Management and Budget's Pilot Program. The alternative includes the AFR and the agency's forthcoming Fiscal Year 2009 Annual Performance Report, which will be a component of the Fiscal Year 2011Congressional Budget Justification to be provided in February 2010.

 

The complete report is available on the Corporation's Performance and Accountability webpage. Highlights of the report include:

 

Performance Measures:

  • The Corporation engaged more than 5.5 million Americans in service; nearly a 40 percent increase over last year.
        
  • The agency quickly and efficiently implemented the Recovery Act to support nearly 14,000 AmeriCorps members who are meeting social and economic needs in distressed communities.
        
  • AmeriCorps VISTA members recruited over 1 million community volunteers and raised over $183 million in support of local service initiatives.
          
  • In total, 835,000 disadvantaged youth were engaged in innovative service projects that addressed social challenges in their local communities; a 30 percent increase.
        
  • A record number of baby boomers served in the Corporation's programs; jumped from 333,000 to 357,000.
        
  • The Corporation provided independent living services to more than 800,000 elderly and disabled clients.

Management:

  • The Corporation received its 10th consecutive clean audit and the agency's year end budget close out went as scheduled and all accounts came in on budget.
        
  • The Corporation is taking key steps to implement the provisions in the Kennedy Serve America Act, including releasing funding guidelines for several 2010 grant competitions; issuing a first set of regulation changes and program guidance; and developing the implementation plan for new initiatives authorized under the Act.

AmeriCorps, a federal agency, brings people together to tackle the country's most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. AmeriCorps members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers serve with organizations dedicated to the improvement of communities. AmeriCorps helps make service to others a cornerstone of our national culture. Learn more at AmeriCorps.gov.