SALT LAKE CITY — Utah residents are ranked #5 among mid-size cities that enroll in Americorps, according to new data released today by the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), the federal agency that administers the AmeriCorps program and leads the nation’s national service and volunteer programs.
Utah has produced 15,000 Americorps member who have given more than 14 million hours of service since Americorps formed more than 20 years ago, a press release stated.
“AmeriCorps members make a powerful impact on the toughest challenges facing our nation,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service in a press release. “Building on Utah’s strong tradition of neighbor helping neighbor, AmeriCorps members from the Beehive State will improve lives and strengthen communities across the nation. I salute the AmeriCorps members from Utah for their dedication and thank our outstanding partners who make their service possible.”
Utah also has the highest volunteer rate in the nation, with 46 percent of residents volunteering their time each year, according to the annual Volunteering and Civic Life In America report.
According to a press release, AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 21,000 locations across the country. These members tackle some of the most pressing challenges facing America: educating millions of students for jobs of the 21st century; supporting individuals, families, and neighborhoods on the road to economic recovery; supporting veterans and military families; helping communities rebuild after natural disasters; improving at-risk ecosystems; and providing healthy futures.
AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of 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.
