FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Mar 09, 2015

 

WASHINGTON, DC – The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) today announced more than $17, 200,000 in funding to support organizations and nonprofits across the nation. The organizations will leverage the experience and skills of Senior Corps RSVP volunteers who serve in schools, disaster response initiatives, veterans’ organizations, and other areas.

More than 83,900 senior volunteers will serve through 232 organizations receiving awards in 41 states. These funds were awarded as part of a grant competition for RSVP, one of three Senior Corps programs administered by CNCS. Selected grantees plan to address a variety of community issues including emergency response efforts, early childhood education, military families, and environmental stewardship.

A complete list of grants is available here.

For generations, seniors have been making a powerful impact in their communities, and their service is more important now than ever,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “As a result of these grants, senior volunteers will make a difference in the lives of children, veterans, the elderly, and disaster survivors."

Established in 1971, RSVP engages Americans age 55 and older in volunteer opportunities across the country and allows citizens to find solutions to community challenges. RSVP volunteers help seniors to live independently in their homes, mentor at-risk youth, and provide critical support to communities recovering from disasters. While serving, RSVP volunteers also improve their own lives, by staying active and civically engaged.

“We know that one of the most significant benefits of volunteering is simply knowing that you’re making a difference in the lives of others by incorporating service into your own life,” said Dr. Erwin Tan, director of Senior Corps at CNCS. “But the health benefits of volunteering are indisputable. Time and time again, we see evidence that volunteering helps lead to higher levels of well-being and lower rates of depression. So in the process of transforming their communities, RSVP volunteers also transform their own lives as well.”

In a recent program year, more than 232,000 RSVP volunteers delivered more than 40.4 million hours of service in their communities. Through community and faith-based organizations, RSVP volunteers served more than 329,400 veterans, mentored more than 78,000 children, and provided independent living services to nearly 797,000 elderly adults.

Please visit nationalservice.gov/seniorcorps to find local volunteer opportunities with a Senior Corps program in your area.

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.