Rep. Matsui Announces $21,000 in Federal Funding to Engage Sacramento Seniors in Tutoring Programs for Local Students
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, June 24, 2010
CONTACT: MARA LEE
(202) 225-7163
Rep. Matsui Announces $21,000 in Federal Funding to Engage Sacramento Seniors in Tutoring Programs for Local Students
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The grant was awarded by the Corporation for National and Community Service under its Senior Corps Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) to engage seniors in service projects that address problems facing local communities. The grant is one of 48 awarded nationally to support existing RSVP programs. Specifically, the RSVP Programs of National Significance grants were awarded to current RSVP grantees to mobilize an additional 4,000 senior volunteers nationwide to help mentor children, support independent living for seniors, promote energy efficiency and meet other critical community needs.
"Now more than ever, our community needs the skills and experience of our senior volunteers," said Congresswoman Matsui. "Seniors are critical in helping to address the challenges facing our local communities. These grants will expand opportunities for more seniors to help give back to their communities and to help those who are struggling."
Locally, the County of Sacramento's Department of Human Assistance will be partnering with Sacramento City Unified School District (SCUSD) Foster Youth, SCUSD Healthy Start, Reading Partners, Caregiver's Choice, and the City of Sacramento's START Program to support an additional 70 volunteers. Together, the RSVP volunteers will serve at ten schools with urgent tutoring and mentoring needs.
"I want to thank Mary Parker, program director for RSVP, for making RSVP such a successful program," said Paul G. Lake, Acting Director Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance. "She has exemplified our departments dedication to providing services to families in our community. This funding will allow RSVP to expand services to children who need additional support. We appreciate the support from Congresswoman Doris Matsui and all our elected officials in our region."
Prior to serving, volunteers will participate in an orientation and training focused on discovering the volunteer's skills and strengths. Participating school sites will help with training and matching the volunteer's skills with children in need of academic assistance. Twenty percent of the volunteers will be involved in recruiting other volunteers to assist with this program and meet other critical community needs.
Additionally, the grants will provide training for seniors on their direct service roles and methods to recruit more volunteers to help build the capacity of local organizations. Authorized under the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which Rep. Matsui co-sponsored and supported in the House, the grants will expand and better target federal resources toward the nation's toughest challenges.
"As a Co-Chair of the National Service Caucus in Congress, it is a pleasure to call attention to the tremendous work of those involved in service at every level and in every AmeriCorps program, including Senior Corps," added Rep. Matsui. "And I am happy to announce that the $21,000 awarded today will enable an additional 70 volunteers to take place in this important program locally, and provide tutoring and mentorships to Sacramento children in need."
Senior Corps taps the skills, talents, and experience of nearly 500,000 Americans age 55 and over to meet a wide range of community challenges through three programs andmdash; RSVP, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program. The Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America. For more information about CNCS, please visit NationalService.gov. For more information on Senior Corps, please visit their website at SeniorCorps.gov/. And if you are interested in volunteering for this program here in Sacramento, please call (916) 875-3631.
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