News : Governor Branstad Proclaims May 14-21 'AmeriCorps Week' in Iowa

Governor Terry Branstad has proclaimed the week of May 14-21 as "AmeriCorps Week" in the state of Iowa. This recognition is part of a widespread effort by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service, the Corporation for National and Community Service, and the AmeriCorps Alum chapters in Des Moines and Davenport to promote the vital work done by AmeriCorps members in communities across Iowa. Please see the full text of the Proclamation at the end of this release.

"I am proud to recognize these AmeriCorps members for their commitment to be good stewards of our state and our country," stated Governor Branstad. "Their commitment to serve others will have a tremendous positive impact on lives and communities for years to come."

More than 930 AmeriCorps members are serving in Iowa this year, helping students learn to read, mentoring at-risk youth, providing health services, building homes for low-income families and helping nonprofits recruit volunteers and achieve their mission. Since the program began in 1994, over 6,900 members have served over 9 million hours in the state of Iowa.

To mark AmeriCorps Week, the governor's Proclamation will be read to kick off a number of events are happening around the state. For example, the Des Moines AmeriCorps Alums chapter will partner with community organizations like Habitat for Humanity and the King Irving Neighborhood Association to do an environmental service project at Gillette Park in Des Moines on Saturday, May 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The week's full calendar of activities is available online athttp://volunteeriowa.org/.

The impact AmeriCorps members have is reflected in numerous stories, like the one from Neil Rowe of the Green Iowa AmeriCorps program in Cedar Falls. "I led a crew to weatherize a house owned by a man named James. He worked two jobs but still didn't qualify for federal assistance. While we updated his home, he revealed that his wife was pregnant and wanted his house to be one the baby could grow up in. When I told him we wouldn't be charging for our services, he was so excited that he wanted to hug me. I've never seen anyone look so grateful in my life."

The majority of the AmeriCorps programs in Iowa are overseen by the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS), a state entity that serves to improve lives, strengthen communities and foster civic engagement through service and learning. ICVS promotes service and develops collaborative approaches that have helped Iowa become a national leader in service and volunteerism.

About AmeriCorps Week

AmeriCorps Week, May 14-21, is an annual recruitment and recognition event to demonstrate AmeriCorps' impact on critical issues, bring more Americans into service and thank the community partners who make AmeriCorps possible. AmeriCorps is a program of the Corporation for National and Community Service. For more information, visitwww.AmeriCorpsWeek.gov.

Proclamation

WHEREAS, service to others is a hallmark of the American character, and throughout our history citizens have stepped up to meet our challenges by volunteering in their communities; and

WHEREAS, the AmeriCorps national service program has proven to be a highly effective way to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in meeting a wide range of community needs and promote the ethic of service and volunteering since its creation in 1994; and

WHEREAS, each year AmeriCorps, including AmeriCorps VISTA and AmeriCorps NCCC, provides opportunities for 83,000 citizens across the nation to give back in an intensive way to our communities, our state, and our country; and

WHEREAS, more than 706,000 men and women across the nation, including 6,900 AmeriCorps members from Iowa, have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to "get things done for America" by becoming AmeriCorps members since 1994; and

WHEREAS, those AmeriCorps members have served a total of more than 860 million hours nationwide, including 9 million hours served by residents from Iowa, helping to improve the lives of our state's most vulnerable citizens, strengthen our educational system, protect our environment, and contribute to our public safety; and

WHEREAS, AmeriCorps Week is an opportune time for the people of Iowa to salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their service; thank AmeriCorps' community partners; and bring more Americans into service:

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Terry E. Branstad, Governor of the State of Iowa, do hereby proclaim May 14 through May 21, 2011, as

AmeriCorps Week

in the State of Iowa.