PAVE AmeriCorps Receives $1Million in 2012-13 Funding
Eldon, MO – The Corporation for National and Community Service and the Missouri Community Service Commission have recently announced over $1,000,000 in 2012-2013 funding to support National Service programming through PAVE AmeriCorps. PAVE AmeriCorps is an Eldon School District initiative engaging National Service Members as tutors and VISTAs in 6 communities and over 4 Missouri counties.
AmeriCorps funding of approximately $212,000 awarded by the Missouri Community Service Commission will be utilized during the 2012-2013 school year for 17 full-time tutors in the Eldon School District. AmeriCorps Members provide academic interventions for at-risk students, mentoring support to students, and engage in community service projects.
VISTA funding of over $800,000 awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service will support up to 27 full-time VISTA Members and over 45 Summer Associates in Eldon and surrounding counties, and in the Joplin Area. VISTA Members build capacity of organizations and agencies to expand services or provide additional programming. Summer Associates provide short-term support over the summer to summer school, summer food service programs and community service projects.
Full-time VISTA Members are currently assigned to the following projects in Eldon: Eldon Farmers Market, Mustang Packs – the weekend food pack program in the Eldon School District, Lunch Buddies and other volunteer initiatives, Eldon Alumni and Veterans Project, Eldon Community Foundation, and Eldon Chamber of Commerce. VISTAs are also placed with Miller County Emergency Management department and the Community Foundation of the Lake.
In response to the terrible tornado tragedy in Joplin last year, PAVE AmeriCorps offered to place PAVE AmeriCorps VISTAs there to support recovery efforts. Currently VISTAs have been placed through the Bright Futures program in Joplin, Carthage and Carl Junction. Additional VISTA placements are planned in this community.
Matt Davis, Superintendent of Eldon Schools, expressed gratitude for the funding. ‘This summer, over 70 people are serving in PAVE AmeriCorps funded positions. We are grateful for the increasing support we receive to operate these programs. AmeriCorps funding allows us to provide extra help to students and to do things in our community that no one else has the resources to accomplish. We are happy to extend these opportunities to surrounding areas and especially to help out in a time of need in Joplin.’
Recruitment has begun to fill AmeriCorps tutor and VISTA slots. Additional support grant funding will allow for one full-time VISTA supervisor. For information on this National Service program, contact Daphney Partridge, Program Director at 573.392.8060 X517 or go to www. my.americorps.gov.