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ASPIRA Wins AmeriCorps Funding
Washington, D.C. - ASPIRA of Connecticut was
chosen from a national pool to receive a 2005 AmeriCorps State
Competitive Continuation Grant by the Corporation for National
and Community Service, Congressman Christopher Shays (R-Bridgeport)
announced today. The $369,513 grant will provide an education
award for 38 AmeriCorps volunteers and support ASPIRA’s
program costs.
“ASPIRA supports and expands the education and leadership
skills of the youth in our community,” Shays said. “AmeriCorps
benefits not only 38 volunteers but the kids they reach out
to, helping to make sure they get to the next step in their
education. This kind of support is crucial to brightening
Bridgeport’s future.”
“The 2005 AmeriCorps grant is a victory in fighting
back the drop out rate amongst the Latino and other minority
youth in the state of Connecticut and having an influence
on the parental educational involvement process,” said
Carmen Rodriguez, AmeriCorps Director, ASPIRA of Connecticut.
“It is also an additional resource to impact the personal
and professional growth of the AmeriCorps volunteers.”
ASPIRA of Connecticut seeks to ensure students complete high
school and move on to post-secondary education through tutoring,
mentoring, leadership development, engaging parents, and creating
support systems to encourage positive behavior and academic
success in each student. It also helps improve the reading
skills of younger students, providing tutoring through summer
camps for third graders.
Shays helped create the Corporation for National and Community
Service and recently co-founded the National Service Caucus
with Reps. Harold Ford (D-TN), Tom Osborne (R-NE) and David
Price (D-NC).
Contact: Sarah Moore,
202/225-5541
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