Events Statewide Mark Expansion of Service Program

HARRISBURG, Pa., May 11 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Governor Edward G. Rendell today proclaimed this week as National AmeriCorps Week in Pennsylvania and thanked the more than 28,000 young Pennsylvanians who have given more than 35.8 million hours of citizen service to the program since 1994.

"Our commonwealth is grateful to these young men and women, who have helped to improve the lives of some of our most vulnerable citizens, strengthen our education system, protect our environment, enhance public safety and improve key historic and recreational attractions," said Governor Rendell. "Through their invaluable citizen service, they have strengthened their communities and their own skills while inspiring other young people to contribute."

AmeriCorps members will be celebrated at events across Pennsylvania this week. Major events are planned for May 12 in Pittsburgh and May 14 in Philadelphia, where Karen Kaskey, executive director of PennSERVE: the Governor's Office of Citizen Service, will present Governor Rendell's National AmeriCorps Week proclamation. PennSERVE administers and distributes approximately three-quarters of AmeriCorps grant funding in Pennsylvania. The remainder is distributed by the federal Corporation for National and Community Service directly to national organizations in the state.

"AmeriCorps, and other Corporation for National and Community Service programs such as Learn and Serve America, SeniorCorps and AmeriCorps VISTA, provide highly effective ways to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in citizen service," said Governor Rendell. "Now, as AmeriCorps expands through the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, both signed into law by President Obama, Pennsylvanians have even more opportunities to take part."

The Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act expands AmeriCorps nationally from 75,000 to more than 250,000 participants a year by 2017. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act includes $201 million in economic stimulus funding to support the expansion of AmeriCorps State and National Programs.

In Pennsylvania, there are approximately 3,200 AmeriCorps members currently serving more than 200 organizations. Upon the completion of their service, members receive an AmeriCorps Education Award of up to $4,725 to pay for college, graduate school or to pay qualified student loans. During their service, members may receive a living allowance, health coverage, child care, training and student loan deferment. Members who serve part-time receive a partial education award.

Beginning in October the education award will increase to $5,350, and people age 55 and older can earn $1,000 education awards that they can transfer to a child, grandchild or even someone they've mentored. Additionally, students in grades 6-12 can earn a $500 education award for helping in their communities in a new summer program.

"In a recession, service programs like AmeriCorps become an even more valuable resource for participants to gain skills and money for their education, and for nonprofit organizations to gain helping hands they desperately need," said Governor Rendell. "Events taking place across the commonwealth this week highlight the constructive work being done throughout the year by Pennsylvanians engaged in citizen service."

To learn more about AmeriCorps grants and service projects in Pennsylvania, go online at www.dli.state.pa.us, keyword: PennSERVE.

EDITOR'S NOTE: Following is a list of major events taking place:

Philadelphia

Wednesday, May 13 - Communities in Schools of Philadelphia's Digital Service Fellows will partner with St. Charles Senior Community Center, 1941 Christian St., South Philadelphia, to celebrate intergenerational volunteerism from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Projects include an outdoor garden, game tournaments and computer literacy training for seniors.

Thursday, May 14 - All Philadelphia AmeriCorps programs will be represented at the city's National AmeriCorps Week rally from 8 to 9 a.m. at Winchester Recreation Center, 2332 N. 15th St., between Dauphin and York streets, North Philadelphia. Following the rally, AmeriCorps members and their friends can tackle any of the more than 100 service opportunities that have been scheduled for the day.

Karen Kaskey, executive director of PennSERVE: the Governor's Office of Citizen Service, will present Governor Rendell's National AmeriCorps Week proclamation. Students from YouthBuild Philadelphia Charter School will install green playground equipment and a mural at the center. The playground was built and the mural painted during the 2009 Martin Luther King Day of Service.

Friday, May 15 - AmeriCorps members and students from Bethune Elementary School will work on beautification projects at the EducationWorks building, 3149 Germantown Ave, at 3:30 p.m., and afterward at the school, 3301 Old York Road.

Pittsburgh

Tuesday, May 12 - All Pittsburgh AmeriCorps programs (KEYS Service Corps, Pittsburgh Health Corps, Public Allies, JumpStart and Literacy*AmeriCorps) will gather for the National AmeriCorps Week Rally in Market Square, Downtown, from noon to 1 p.m. The event will feature live music along with guest speakers including government officials, AmeriCorps alumni and representatives of local nonprofit agencies. AmeriCorps programs will sponsor informational booths to recruit new members and recognize current members and alumni. The rally will be followed by an all-corps beautification project Downtown in conjunction with the Downtown Partnership and the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy from 1 to 3 p.m.

Friday, May 15 - KEYS Service Corps will join Pittsburgh Friends of the Riverfront in a river stewardship cleanup from 5 to 8 p.m. on the Strip District Trail along the Allegheny River. Volunteers will remove invasive plant species and plant and tend to native trees and shrubs.

Centre County

Wednesday, May 13 - CentreSERVE members will sort material for the annual Trash to Treasure event at Beaver Stadium from 1 to 4 p.m. Trash to Treasure is a May 30 giant yard sale of all the things Penn State students leave behind in dorms when the school year ends. The sale benefits the local United Way.

Clarion County

Saturday, May 16 - Knox-based KeystoneSMILES AmeriCorps members will help, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Oil City YMCA in a spring cleanup and upgrading at Camp Coffman, located on Camp Coffman Road, off U.S. Route 322, west of Shippenville. The Keystone SMILES AmeriCorps program encompasses a national service network that includes nine counties in northwestern Pennsylvania.

Mercer County

Friday, May 15 - KeystoneSMILES AmeriCorps members will mentor youth in a House of Trades rehabilitation project of a home at 311 Wallace St., Farrell, beginning at 10 a.m. Mercer County Housing Authority provide the house for a service and learning lab.

Union, Snyder counties

Thursday, May 14 - CORE Susquehanna, in conjunction with the Union-Snyder Community Action Agency, will host a poverty simulation from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Saint Pius X Catholic Church, 116 Fairview Drive, Selinsgrove. Participants will take on family roles in a simulated month of family life in a low-income scenario. Registration is at 9 a.m.

Venango County

Wednesday, May 13 - KeystoneSMILES AmeriCorps members will hold an 11 a.m. reception for their new House of Trades project at the Emlenton Mill, which was built in Emlenton in 1875 by James Bennett and was one of the first steam powered grist mills in Pennsylvania.

    CONTACT:
    David Smith, L&I
    717-787-7530

    Chuck Ardo
    717-783-1116

SOURCE Pennsylvania Office of the Governor