Today, U.S. Rep. Bill Delahunt announced that AmeriCorps Cape Cod will receive $338,000 in federal funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service. 

“This grants announced today are made possible because of the hard work and lasting legacy of Senator Kennedy who believed strongly that citizen service play a vital role in shaping our nation’s future,” said Delahunt. “I want to congratulate AmeriCorps Cape Cod and Barnstable County for receiving this grant and want to recognize all those who have answered the call to service by joining AmeriCorps.”

The grant funding will support 26 AmeriCorps members who will provide natural resource management, disaster preparedness & response, community outreach & education and volunteer engagement to residents of Barnstable County.

In addition to grant dollars, the Corporation is setting aside funding to pay for Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for individuals who will serve in positions funded by these grants.  After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an education award of $5,350 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.

The grants, the first made under the bipartisan Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act passed last year,  focuses AmeriCorps resources on five key areas: strengthening education, improving health, meeting environmental and energy efficiency needs, assisting veterans and military families, and fostering economic opportunity. 

AmeriCorps is a national service program that engages Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet critical needs.  Its members serve in thousands of nonprofit and faith-based organizations in rural and urban communities throughout the nation. Among other activities, tutor and mentor youth, expand health services, build affordable housing, run after-school programs, support veterans, help communities respond to disasters, and recruit and train volunteers.

AmeriCorps engages more than 85,000 people each year in intensive, results-driven service through more than 3,000 nonprofits across the country.  Since 1994, more than 634,000 Americans have provided more than 775 million hours of service to their communities and country through AmeriCorps.   Interested individuals can learn about available opportunities and apply online by visiting www.AmeriCorps.gov.