AmeriCorps VISTA: Project UNITE to Fight Poverty with Passion

AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically for the purpose of fighting poverty.  VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more.

President John F. Kennedy came up with the idea for VISTA in 1965.  Since that time, 170,000 VISTAs have played a key role in establishing many of the best-known anti-poverty programs, including Head Start, Upward Bound, and the credit union system.

“AmeriCorps VISTA: Project UNITE to Fight Poverty with Passion” is an outreach project of United Way that is focused on helping nonprofits in the CSRA.  Since 2007, United Way has served as an intermediary sponsor for more than $1.2 million in AmericCorps VISTA Project UNITE funding which has provided support to over 24 host agency nonprofits.  Nonprofit organizations are a crucial part of our society, providing help to the needy, education for a lifetime, funds for good causes, and social services for the homeless and those experiencing poverty.  The number of VISTA members was increased from 15 to 35, bringing a total of $610,725 into the community for nonprofit capacity building efforts,  nearly a 75% increase over the previous year. 

In 2009, VISTA members impacted the CSRA and leveraged resources as follows: 

• Engaged more than 2,668 CSRA residents in 17,617 hours of volunteer community service at 24 host agency sites - a 100% percent increase over the previous year. 

• Implemented the Recovery Act to support 8 additional AmeriCorps members who are meeting social and economic needs in distressed CSRA counties.

• Engaged 405 disadvantaged youth in quality summer service learning programs that increased student engagement and decreased student violence throughout the CSRA.

• Recruited a record number of “baby boomer” volunteers who served in host agency programs such as tutoring children and serving homeless with emergency services.  The number of volunteers jumped from 332 to 675 in 2009.

• Secured over $306,634 through grants, local funding streams and in-kind donations for CSRA nonprofits to support health and human service programs.

• Hosted a “Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service” where VISTA members created and distributed 1,033 emergency hygiene packets for the homeless in Augusta-Richmond County.

• Hosted “Hands on Georgia Week”, expanding knowledge and awareness of United Way initiatives (Born Learning, FamilyWize, and United Way 2-1-1).  VISTA members prepared displays and distributed materials to 135 health and human service organizations in 13 counties in the CSRA.

• Participated in United Way’s Project Serve day-of-caring, completing two projects at the Senior Citizens Center and at a senior citizen’s home.

• Implemented the first pilot veteran initiative in Georgia, as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act and the Kennedy Serve America Act, to reach out to wounded warriors, veterans, and their families who are exiting the military.