United Way Receives Additional AmeriCorps*VISTA Grants

United Way of the CSRA has received an additional AmeriCorps*VISTA (Volunteers In Service to America) grant to place seven (7) associates for a Summer VISTA  program.  These young associates will work ten-weeks with area nonprofits. These nonprofits run intensive service-learning based programs with the goal of increasing the number of youth who see themselves as change agents in their community. 

United Way expects that a total of 300 at-risk, homeless and special needs youth will be served.  This program will help United Way strengthen nonprofit capacity to provide quality services that mobilize the community to create lasting changes as well as have a positive impact on youth adopting healthy lifestyles. 

Aimee Hall, Executive Director of Safe Homes of Augusta, a domestic violence intervention center, said, “We will utilize our Summer Associate to provide tutoring assistance, participate with children in various field trips and summer camps, as well as work with children and mothers to encourage good nutrition by meal planning and cooking.”  VISTA Associates will support summer youth programs at the Berry Center, Boys & Girls Club, MACH Academy, Safe Homes of Augusta, and Shiloh Comprehensive Community Center. 

United Way also announced they will receive an additional AmeriCorps*VISTA member as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.  Eight members will serve one year at no cost with local nonprofit agencies that are struggling to meet critical social needs resulting from our current economic crisis.  Agencies receiving an AmeriCorps*VISTA member include American Red Cross, Augusta Partnership for Children, Augusta Training Shop, Columbia County Cares, Goodwill Industries, Hope House, Senior Citizens Council and United Way of the CSRA.

La Verne Gold, President/CEO of United Way stated, “United Way is pleased to be selected as the local intermediary agency that operates the AmeriCorps*VISTA program.  In addition to funding from our annual campaign, United Way has coordinated nearly $500,000 in recovery and investment funding support to local non-profits.”

 Members will be sworn into service by the Corporation for National & Community Service on June 25 and immediately begin service in the CSRA.  They will be engaged in providing employment and jobs skills training, housing assistance, support for tutoring and family literacy programs, support for food banks, expanding nonprofit capacity, recruiting and managing volunteers, and other services that support economically distressed communities.  They will provide short and long term impacts to nonprofits and our community that enhance efforts in making lives better.