Skip to main content

AmeriCorps Week 2017 Proclamation

State of Illinois Executive Department Proclamation

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

WHEREAS, since its creation in 1994, 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 promotes the ethic of service and volunteering; and

WHEREAS, each year AmeriCorps programs, including AmeriCorps*State and National, AmeriCorps*VISTA and AmeriCorps*NCCC, provide opportunities for 75,000 citizens across the nation, including more than 2,600 in Illinois, to give back in an intensive way to our communities, our state, and our country; and

WHEREAS, more than 1,000,000 men and women across the nation, including more than 39,000 from Illinois, have taken the AmeriCorps pledge to “get things done” since 1994; and

WHEREAS, those AmeriCorps Members have served a total of 1.4 billion hours nationwide, including more than 55 million served by residents from Illinois; which equates to almost $1.4 billion in impact for Illinois, by helping improve the lives of our state’s most vulnerable citizens, strengthening our educational system, protecting our environment, and contributing to our public safety, and;

WHEREAS, AmeriCorps members serve with more than 14,000 nonprofit, community, educational, and faith-based community groups nationwide; including more than 800 in Illinois; and

WHEREAS, last year AmeriCorps Members in Illinois recruited over 10,000 volunteers, tutored or mentored more than 38,000 disadvantaged children, provided more than 1.8 million hours of service valued at $47 million, and helped to leverage more than $9.1 million in cash and in-kind resources; and

WHEREAS, residents of Illinois have earned more than $131 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards to help pay for college or pay back student loans since 1994; and

WHEREAS, AmeriCorps members, after their terms of service end, remain engaged in our communities as volunteers, teachers, public servants, and nonprofit leaders in disproportionately high levels; and

WHEREAS, the Serve Illinois Commission on Volunteerism and Community Service and the federal Corporation for National and Community Service play a key role in determining where AmeriCorps resources should be directed to meet state and local needs; and

WHEREAS, AmeriCorps Week, March 4-11, 2017, is an opportune time for the people of Illinois to salute AmeriCorps members and alums for their service; thank AmeriCorps' community partners; and bring more Americans into service;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that I, Bruce Rauner, Governor of Illinois, do hereby proclaim March 4-11, 2017 as AmeriCorps Week in Illinois, and urge citizens to thank AmeriCorps members and alumni for their service and to find ways to give back to their communities at www.Serve.Illinois.gov.