CONTACT: Holly Trippett, Citizen Schools, hollytrippett@citizenschools.org, (617) 695-2300 x1161 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CITIZEN SCHOOLS RECEIVES NATIONAL AMERICORPS GRANT

Boston, Mass. – Citizen Schools has received a $3,000,000 AmeriCorps grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service to support 240 AmeriCorps members. In addition to the National AmeriCorps award, Citizen Schools also renewed a state AmeriCorps grant by the Massachusetts Service Alliance to support 21 members. The 261 members serve as “Teaching Fellows” to middle school students from low-income communities, directly impacting their futures. In their two years of service, AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows provide students with months of extra learning and academic support that translates into college readiness, career opportunities, and the ability to achieve their dreams.

Founded in Boston, Citizen Schools is a national organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities through academic mentoring and skill-building apprenticeships. This grant will allow Citizen Schools to expand opportunities for middle school students in under-resourced schools and communities. AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows supported by these grants will serve in 14 communities in seven states.

“AmeriCorps is an indispensable resource to help meet critical challenges facing the communities we serve,” said Eric Schwarz, Co-Founder and CEO of Citizen Schools. "We're thrilled that the Corporation for National and Community Service has recognized the value that AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows offer to students, schools, and communities. These AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows will meet pressing needs in Citizen Schools’ partner schools as they develop civic and leadership skills that can last a lifetime.”

"AmeriCorps members are improving the lives of millions of citizens and having a positive and lasting impact on the toughest challenges facing our communities,” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of CNCS. “While they serve others, AmeriCorps members also expand opportunity for themselves - gaining skills and experience to jumpstart their careers.  As we mark the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, we congratulate Citizen Schools for their strong application, and thank all AmeriCorps members for their dedication to service.”

The current year’s AmeriCorps grant cycle was highly competitive, due to the strong and growing demand by organizations seeking AmeriCorps resources. The 2014 competition prioritized investments in economic opportunity, education, veterans and military families, disaster services, and continued a new initiative for governors and mayors.

In addition to the grant funding, CNCS will make available over $4,000,000 in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows funded by these grants over three years. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps Teaching Fellows receive an award of $5,645 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans.

AmeriCorps engages more than 75,000 members in intensive service annually to serve through nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations at 25,000 locations across the country. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

2014 marks the 20th anniversary of the AmeriCorps program. Since 1994, more than 830,000 Americans have provided more than 1 billion hours of service addressing critical challenges from poverty and hunger to disasters and the dropout crisis.

About Citizen Schools

Citizen Schools is a national nonprofit organization that partners with middle schools to expand the learning day for children in low-income communities. Citizen Schools mobilizes a team of AmeriCorps educators and volunteer “Citizen Teachers” to teach real-world learning projects and provide academic support, in order to help all students discover and achieve their dreams. For more information, please visit http://www.citizenschools.org/.

About AmeriCorps

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than five million 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 .

###