Volunteer Tennessee Commission Announces $7.4 Million in AmeriCorps Grants to 18 Tennessee Organizations

Wednesday, July 05, 2023 | 10:51am

NASHVILLE, TN – Volunteer Tennessee, the state’s governor-appointed commission on volunteerism and community
service, announced that Tennessee received more than $7.4 million in grant funding from AmeriCorps, the federal agency responsible for national service and volunteer programs.

These grants will support more than 800 AmeriCorps members across Tennessee as they serve with 18 organizations. The AmeriCorps members will tackle critical challenges throughout the state, including supporting students with tutoring and mentoring, providing health services, restoring the environment, increasing economic opportunities, and recruiting and managing volunteers.

 “We are excited to leverage this grant funding from AmeriCorps to address some of the toughest problems facing our state,” said Amy Walters, chair of the Volunteer Tennessee commission. “From homelessness to school readiness and food insecurity to environmental improvements, AmeriCorps members will strengthen communities and improve lives while developing key civic and leadership skills. I congratulate these outstanding organizations and thank all those who serve Tennessee through AmeriCorps.”

Of the $627 million awarded in AmeriCorps State and National federal funding, $7.4 million will be granted to Volunteer Tennessee, which in turn will award grants to nonprofit organizations and public agencies across the state.  The law creating AmeriCorps gave a key role to states in determining how national service resources are used and in promoting service and volunteering to meet community needs.

Every year, 200,000 AmeriCorps members serve through more than 36,000 schools, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations across the country. These citizens have played a critical role in the recovery of communities affected by COVID and natural disasters and helped thousands of first-generation college students access higher education.

AmeriCorps’ unique model means that the grants announced today will leverage an additional $15 million from the private sector, foundations, and other sources – further increasing the return on the federal investment.

AmeriCorps will also provide nearly $6 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants in Tennessee. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of approximately $6,900 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans. 

The grants awarded will support AmeriCorps members in all three regions of Tennessee, including Teach for America, Hands On Nashville, Emerald Youth Foundation, and Bridges USA. A complete list of awards, including organizations and funding totals can be found below.

CHATTANOOGA

  • Public Education Foundation – Funding Awarded: $460,000/ 20 AmeriCorps members will participate in a teacher residency program in Hamilton County schools.


CHATTANOOGA/NASHVILLE


JOHNSON CITY


KNOXVILLE


MEMPHIS

  • BRIDGES USA, Inc. – Funding Awarded: $214,981/ 39 AmeriCorps members will work with youth on life and academic skills.
  • City Year Memphis - Funding Awarded: $1,150,000/ 50 AmeriCorps members will serve as coaches and mentors in schools.
  • Porter-Leath - Funding Awarded: $414,000/ 18 AmeriCorps members will provide educational support.
  • Impact America - Tennessee – Funding Awarded: $78,200/ 4 AmeriCorps members will implement projects related to health and economic opportunity.
  • Literacy Mid-South – Funding Awarded: $122,209/ 39 AmeriCorps members will support K-5 students enrolled in afterschool activities and English Language Learners.
  • Memphis Teacher Residency – Funding Awarded: $736,000/ 32 AmeriCorps members will serve as co-teachers for Memphis' most academically-challenged public schools.
  • Teach for America: Memphis – Funding Awarded: $90,000/ 90 AmeriCorps members will teach low-income children in the Shelby County School District. 


MEMPHIS/KNOXVILLE/NASHVILLE

  • Relay Graduate School of Education – Funding Awarded: $100,000/ 100 AmeriCorps members participate in a teacher preparation program in Knoxville, Nashville and Memphis leading to certification to teach K-12 students.


MORRISTOWN/VARIOUS SITES ACROSS TENNESSEE


NASHVILLE

  • Hands On Nashville – Funding Awarded: $345,000/ 30 AmeriCorps members will build the capacity of local programs while receiving professional development training.
  • Martha O’Bryan Center – Funding Awarded: $328,666/ 21 AmeriCorps members will serve children, youth, and adults
    to transform their lives through education.


RUTLEDGE/GREENVILLE AREA


SEWANEE

  • University of the South – Funding Awarded: $353,445/ 30 AmeriCorps members will address food insecurity and develop economic opportunity programs.

 

Additional info: AmeriCorps service and benefits.

AmeriCorps members typically receive a modest living stipend and a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award, or scholarship, upon completion of their service. Since the agency’s inception in 1994, nearly 1.2 million AmeriCorps members have served the nation. In Tennessee, more than 16,000 Tennessee residents have served approximately 30 million hours through AmeriCorps, earning Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards totaling more than $60.6 million.

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Volunteer Tennessee, the Governor’s commission on volunteerism and service builds capacity and sustainability in Tennessee’s volunteer sector. Annually, Volunteer Tennessee provides more than $6 million in AmeriCorps grants and
volunteer center grants to local agencies throughout the state so they can engage volunteers to meet local needs in education, social services, health and wellness, public safety and the environment. The commission consists of
a 25-member, bi-partisan volunteer citizen board appointed by the Governor and eleven State Government ex-officio representatives. For more information, visit www.volunteertennessee.net or visit us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn,
and Instagram.

 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. 

 

 

 

 

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