National Service News: Thanking Our Nation's Teachers

We're sharing our appreciation for your help with education! [] Having trouble viewing this email? [View it as a Web page](. [National service members, like this AmeriCorps teacher, serve in thousands of schools across the nation.]( Thanking Our Nation's Teachers All of us can name one teacher who influenced the course of our lives. With that in mind, the Corporation for National and Community Service proudly joins the annual Teacher Appreciation Week celebration. Our teachers accept a great responsibility when they enter the profession, understanding that the lessons they share today will mold the minds of tomorrow's leaders. Each one brings a toolbox of skills that open doors to learning, and their wisdom, creativity, compassion, and selfless guidance deserves our gratitude. CNCS recognizes the importance of education, so we dedicate about half of our federal appropriation to these initiatives to improve the lives of students all along the cradle-to-career continuum. We have [AmeriCorps]( members whose service as school instructors or mentors inspire them to enter the teaching profession as educators and administrators. Other AmeriCorps members and [Senior Corps]( volunteers serve to improve early education and ensure that more children can keep pace with their peers to stay on track with their studies. Our national service programs also serve in middle and secondary schools to mentor students either in danger of dropping out or to help them navigate the pathway to college. As a bonus, the more than 1 million AmeriCorps alumni of the program have [earned more than $3.3 billion in education awards]( to help them further their education or repay student loans after completing their national service terms. (You can [learn more about CNCS education initiatives on our Focus Area page]( There's no doubt that the success of our education programs will have an outsized impact on the future of our nation. And there's no question that our teachers will make a difference in the lives of the nation's students who will lead it. Join us in saying "thanks" to our country's teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week. In Service, CNCS Office of External Affairs The Impact of National Service --------------------------------------------------------------- New State-by-State Impact Reports and Graphics Available Today we launched 60 new graphics that will help you tell the story of national service in your state or territory. We hope that by [using these graphics]( and sharing them broadly, more people will understand the value of AmeriCorps and Senior Corps in your state. We also have new and enhanced [National Service State Reports]( live on our website! Through the [National Service in Your State portal]( the public can now view comprehensive information about CNCS resources that were invested in each state during the past 12 months. [Learn more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Cassie Newton, 97, is presented with her smock as a 35-year volunteer with Foster Grandparents. (Photo by Sean Bradley/Morning Sun)]( Honored After 35 Years of Service to Isabella County Commission on Aging (Senior Corps)]( For 35 years, Cassie Newton helped children when they needed it. As a foster grandparent volunteer with the Isabella County Commission on Aging from 1982 to 2017, the 97-year-old Mt. Pleasant resident assisted children of all ages and grade levels with their homework, or just watched them when their parents were away, for example. Newton’s selflessness was recognized with the Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Award by the commission as part of an annual banquet recognizing volunteers. Also, her smock that she wore as a volunteer was framed for her. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [First Lady Melania Trump meets students at Orchard Lake Middle School during a visit to West Bloomfield Township, MI.]( [First Lady Melania Trump Announces 'Be Best' Campaign]( First Lady Melania Trump today announced BE BEST, an awareness campaign focusing on some of the major issues facing children today. The goal is to encourage children to BE BEST in their individual paths in life, and teach them about the importance of social, emotional, and physical health. The campaign will also work to promote the people, organizations, and programs that are helping children overcome the issues they face growing up. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [AmeriCorps NCCC members help restore an historic orchard.]( [A Unique, Historic Orchard Returns to Life at Old Fort Lewis (AmeriCorps)]( In just a few years, a century-old apple orchard that had been neglected and fallen into disrepair has been made whole again at the Old Fort Lewis campus near Hesperus. “It’s honestly the most thought-out orchard I’ve ever been to in my life,” said Jude Schuenemeyer of the Montezuma Orchard Restoration Project. “And to think it could have been plowed over years ago, and we would have lost all that history.” In the last few years, a plan to restore the 4-acre orchard to its former glory truly took hold. About 60 to 70 trees exist from the original planting. This past spring, however, efforts from Fort Lewis College and crews from the National Civilian Community Corps planted another 100 trees, grafted from the original trees. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Volunteering can be a fountain of youth for seniors.]( [Volunteerism as a Fountain of Youth (Senior Corps)]( Giving back to others isn’t just good for the community—it’s good for your health, too. In fact, volunteering at any age improves your physical and mental health exponentially. Not only do volunteers have lower mortality rates and less depression, but when you volunteer later in life, it contributes to living longer and can even decrease the risk of dementia. By volunteering just two hours a week, older adults can reduce early level disability. It’s never been easier for seniors to engage in volunteerism. The longstanding programs of Senior Corps—part of the Corporation for National and Community Service—tap into older Americans’ skills and passions in myriad ways. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [AmeriCorps alum Zach Brookman was recently awarded for his volunteer service in Illinois.]( [Rend Lake College Grad Recognized for Making a Difference (AmeriCorps)]( Rend Lake College graduate Zachary Brookman is no stranger to going above and beyond to help others. During his time as a Warrior baseball player, Brookman knew the importance of team work and dedication. Now, he’s applying those fundamentals to work off the field, and catching the eye of some very important people. Brookman has dedicated so much of his time and energy to helping others that he recently received the Governor’s Volunteer Service Award, an annual award presented by the Governor’s Office which recognizes “volunteers … that make a difference in Illinois and highlights the importance of volunteerism and community service.” In addition to playing baseball at RLC, Brookman also became involved with AmeriCorps, and it is through that organization that he found his path to volunteering. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- Share It: National Service in Your State [National service programs serve in 50,000 locations across the nation. Find yours at cncs.gov]( ]( Each week, we provide a social media shareable to use on your networks. This week, we want to highlight the impact our AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers are making across the nation -- and you can help. Share this graphic that shows how we "get things done" in more than 50,000 service locations, and [visit our portal to share updated impact graphics for your state]( on your social media networks. --------------------------------------------------------------- National Service in the News [Kauai Flood Relief Efforts Ongoing (AmeriCorps)]( The Garden Island, Hawaii It’s been nearly a month, since historic rainfall caused catastrophic flooding on Kauai, destroying homes and cars, killing livestock and initially leaving three North Shore communities isolated. Since the flooding, Kauai residents and relief organizations such as Malama Kauai, The Red Cross, The Salvation Army, as well as off-island non-profit organizations and individuals, have stepped up to assist those in need. Help is ongoing for those in need, said Donovan Cabebe, AmeriCorps project manager with Malama Kauai. “We’re asking folks who have a need, to contact their area liaison. Services are available to anyone who might need them in those affected areas,” he said. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Ca$h Coalition Marks Record Tax Prep Season (Senior Corps)]( The County, Maine The Aroostook CA$H Coalition, led by United Way of Aroostook and supported by more than 14 non- and for-profit partners, recently held an appreciation dinner at the Sargent Family Community Center in Presque Isle to thank the more than 40 volunteers who made the recent tax filing season a little less stressful and a lot more cost-effective for more than 800 Aroostook County citizens. This year’s program began in November 2017 with training for the volunteers, and ended April 13 when the three county sites closed. The program utilized volunteer schedulers, greeters, IRS-certified tax preparers and opportunity guides. The largest pool of volunteers came from The County Federal Credit Union and Aroostook Retired Senior Volunteer Program. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [EPA Selects Delaware’s West End Neighborhood House for $200,000 Brownfields Job Training Grant (AmeriCorps)]( Environmental Protection Agency press release the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that the West End Neighborhood House in Wilmington, Del., was selected to receive a $200,000 Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training grant to train 60 students for environmental careers. The non-profit AmeriCorps program is one of 17 organizations nationwide that were selected to receive a total of approximately $3.3 million in Brownfields job training funds to help residents learn the skills needed to secure employment in the environmental field. These grants help prepare people for green jobs that reduce environmental contamination and provide more sustainable futures for the communities most affected by solid and hazardous waste contamination. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Vermont]( Helps Plot Migration Patterns]( Save [Amphibian]( The Times Argus, Vermont At a time when amphibian populations are in serious decline in Vermont and around the globe, several efforts have been made in our own state to make migrations safer for these animals. In Monkton, for example, and underpass was built in 2016 along a stretch of road known to see high numbers of amphibian crossings. It’s saved the lives of hundreds of frogs and salamanders each spring since it’s installation. “Ten percent mortality over time can kill off entire populations,” said Zac Cota, an AmeriCorps teacher and naturalist who specializes in amphibians and reptiles at North Branch Nature Center in Montpelier. At hot spots, where these animals are known to cross roads in high numbers, the mortality rate can be much higher, even 40 percent, meaning some local populations will die off very quickly. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Yadkin Valley RSVP Volunteers Honored (Senior Corps)]( The Mount Airy News, North Carolina The Yadkin Valley Economic Development District Inc. (YVEDDI) Senior Services team recently assisted the Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) and Missy Whitaker, RSVP manager, in recognizing 172 volunteers registered through RSVP who provide a number of services to the people in the community. According to YVEDDI, the 172 volunteers provided more than 22,000 hours of service with an economic value of more than $500,000 over the past year. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Runnin’ Down the Road (Senior Corps)]( Newton Daily News, Iowa Richard Bullock might be retired, but he’s still spinning his wheels. The Kellogg native and retired furniture maker volunteers as a driver for Jasper County Ride, a program which helps local veterans get to their doctor’s appointments. The program is a division of the Iowa State University Extension Office’s Retired Senior Volunteer Program, or RSVP, which helps create volunteers opportunities for seniors living in Jasper County. Over the past three years, Bullock has been racking up the miles, transporting veterans back and forth to doctor’s office visits across central Iowa. While he isn’t sure how many miles have ticked off on the Dodge’s odometer, he usually averages more than 1,500 miles a month. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [City Year Event Features a Mix of Inspiration and Sadness (AmeriCorps)]( The Hollywood Reporter, California The Sony Studios backlot was turned in a spring fair on Saturday night as A-listers turned out in force to support City Year, an organization that provides tutoring, mentorship and other services to thousands of at-risk youths around the country. Jennifer Garner, Octavia Spencer, Josh Brolin and Jeffrey Katzenberg were just a few of the bold-faced names that lent their support to City Year, an organization that provides tutoring, mentorship and other services to thousands of at-risk youths around the country, on Saturday night. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [Herrin House of Hope Encourages Seniors to Volunteer (Senior Corps)]( WSIL-TV, Illinois The Herrin House of Hope is the latest organization to collaborate with the "Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Southern Illinois" through the Egyptian Area Agency on Aging. "We are always looking for volunteers 55 and older to help serve within their communities," said Diane Choinski, RSVP Program Coordinator. Federal funding allows seniors in the 12 most southern counties of Illinois to volunteer but also get something back in return. "If we can get them out just one hour or up to 40 hours a week, their mental and physical health improves immensely," said Choinski. [Read more]( --------------------------------------------------------------- [AmeriCorps]( | [Senior Corps]( | [Volunteer Generation Fund]( [NationalService.gov]( | [Manage Preferences]( [twitter link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( link]( --------------------------------------------------------------- This email was sent to {EMAIL} using GovDelivery Communications Cloud on behalf of: Corporation for National & Community Service · 250 E. Street SW · Washington, DC 20525 · (202) 606- 5000 · (800) 833-3722 [GovDelivery logo](