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Illinois receives $4.4 million in AmeriCorps grant

Posted May 14, 2014 1:01 am

Associated Press

SPRINGFIELD - Illinois is set to receive millions in federal grant money for volunteer educational programs throughout the state.

Gov. Pat Quinn announced on Tuesday that AmeriCorps programs will receive $4.4 million from the Corporation for National and Community Service. The federal organization administers AmeriCorps. The grants help fund seven AmeriCorps programs with more than 1,000 volunteers.

The grants will go toward teaching, tutoring, and mentoring at-risk youth in Illinois. Most of the grant awards go to Chicago area AmeriCorps programs, including teaching programs in low-income neighborhoods.

But the Belleville program that partners with Southwestern Illinois College is also receiving about $400,000. Its members serve as tutors, summer camp counselors and computer coaches in the community.

Quinn says AmeriCorps is the foundation of the volunteer infrastructure in the state.

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