WASHINGTON, D.C.  - United States Senator Elizabeth Warren and Edward J. Markey, and Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick today announced that the Commonwealth of Massachusetts has received $32,933,000 in AmeriCorps funding from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS).

These grants will put 6,775 AmeriCorps members on the ground to serve with 18 organizations.  AmeriCorps members will tackle some of the toughest problems in Massachusetts including early childhood education, job-readiness, and environmental conservation.

Twelve grants totaling $7.9 million are going to support organizations operating in Massachusetts only. Those include: Massachusetts Lands Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT), AmeriCorps Cape Cod, Citizen Schools Massachusetts, Boston Promise Corps, City Year Boston, JumpStart Massachusetts, YouthBuild Just-A-Start AmeriCorps Program, Massachusetts Promise Fellowship Program, Springfield College School Turnaround AmeriCorps, Tenacity Corps/Enabling Academic Engagement, Ambassadors in Mentoring, and New American Integration Program.

Another six grants are going to national organizations headquartered in Massachusetts that operate around the country. These grants total $12.4 million and will support AmeriCorps members serving through City Year, Citizen Schools, JumpStart, YouthBuild, and the Blueprint Schools Network.

"AmeriCorps is an outstanding program that gives young people a chance to serve our country and strengthen our communities," said Senator Elizabeth Warren. "I'm proud Massachusetts is a national leader in service, and I am very pleased these new grants will help thousands of committed AmeriCorps members continue their terrific work at nonprofits, schools, and other organizations across the Commonwealth and nation."

"The programs supported by AmeriCorps are the programs that support Americans, and I am proud that Massachusetts is home to some of the most committed and energetic AmeriCorps members in the country," said Senator Edward J. Markey. "These AmeriCorps grants will continue the Commonwealth's strong tradition of service and strengthen our communities' schools, nonprofits and critical organizations."

"These grants will put the skills of AmeriCorps volunteers to work in helping change lives, improving communities and making the Commonwealth a better place to live and work," said Governor Deval Patrick. "AmeriCorps is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and I look forward to another successful year of service and the extraordinary impact of our Commonwealth's programs."  

"AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation," said CNCS CEO Wendy Spencer. "Building on Massachusetts's strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members will improve lives and strengthen communities across the commonwealth of Massachusetts. As we mark the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, we salute AmeriCorps members for their dedication, and thank our outstanding partners who make their service possible."

The current year's AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive, due to the strong demand by organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. The 2014 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and continued a new initiative for governors and mayors.

AmeriCorps grants leverage significant outside support from the private sector, foundations, and other sources. This matching support helps to strengthen community impact and increase the return on taxpayer dollars. The grants announced today will leverage an additional $97,987, 676.

CNCS will provide an additional $17.9 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive an award of $5,645 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 25,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the AmeriCorps program. Since 1994, more than 830,000 Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service addressing critical challenges from poverty and hunger to disasters and the dropout crisis.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, the Social Innovation Fund, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads the President's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.