The Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family is directing a considerable sum, specifically $5.3 million, towards 13 organizations across Arizona to bolster AmeriCorps programs tackling a range of pivotal community needs. In a release by the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family, this state-funded grant aims to enhance services ranging from education and job assistance to wildfire mitigation in diverse environments, including urban, rural, and tribal regions.
GOYFF Director Tonya Hamilton, underscoring the essence of community service, stated, "Service and volunteerism isn’t separate from reaching our priorities; it’s integral to achieving them," as mentioned by the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family. She further expressed gratitude for the selfless efforts of the volunteers dedicated to the betterment of Arizona’s neighborhoods; the grants are anticipated to expand the outreach of these initiatives statewide, thereby enriching the state's fabric of service and volunteerism.
Last year's accomplishments by AmeriCorps members underscore the impact such funding can have, with educational and social support provided to nearly 79,000 Arizona children and youth, the upkeep of over 1,800 acres of public lands and more than 200 miles of trails, the aid given to 600 seniors to live independently, and support extended to over 800 veterans and military families, as per the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family.
Complementing the State Formula grants, a separate announcement earlier in May 2024 revealed that these 13 organizations would also receive a slice of approximately $6.5 million from the National Competitive and Public Health AmeriCorps funding, this additional funding fortified critical services that not only improve lives but also foster stronger communities and the spirit of civic engagement through volunteerism, according to the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith and Family.
This infusion of federal funds handled by the GOYFF and sourced from the Corporation for National and Community Service, also known as AmeriCorps, is part of the national commitment following the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. The grants allocated are strictly regulated by this Act's authoritative clauses and the stipulations detailed in the associated regulations.
