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BOSTON--Saga Education today announced that its programs in Chicago, New York City, and Washington D.C. have received an award of $2,278,800 million in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency responsible for AmeriCorps and other national service programs.
This AmeriCorps funding will put up to 150 Saga Education AmeriCorps members on the ground to serve roughly 2,800 students in 25 high schools.
“This federal support is a major milestone, honor and recognition of the work that we do at Saga Education. We are excited to be part of the nationwide movement around the power of community service, where citizens from all walks of life come together to overcome the nation’s greatest challenges,” said Antonio Gutierrez, Co-founder of Saga Education.
Saga is pleased to receive this significant award in such a highly competitive year.
CNCS will provide an additional $900,000 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members at Saga funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of approximately $6,000 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.
Every year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve through 21,000+ schools, nonprofits, and community and faith-based organizations across the country. These members have played a critical role in the recovery of communities affected by disasters and helped thousands of first generation college students access higher education. They also tutor and mentor young people, connect veterans to jobs, care for seniors, reduce crime and revive cities, fight the opioid epidemic, and meet other critical needs.
“Building on our nation’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will change lives, improve communities, and build a safer, stronger, and more united America,” said Chester Spellman, director of AmeriCorps. “For 25 years, the AmeriCorps members who pledge to ‘get things done’ have represented the best of America while demonstrating the great promise and ideals of our country. I salute all the AmeriCorps members who will join them and congratulate Saga Education on their 2019 AmeriCorps grant.”
This year marks the 25th anniversary of AmeriCorps. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million Americans have served, providing more than 1.5 billion hours of service, and have earned more than $3.6 billion in education scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student debt. Those interested in joining AmeriCorps can learn more at AmeriCorps.gov/Join.
The Corporation for National and Community Service is a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation's volunteering and service efforts. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.
