Dan Mulhern Creates Volunteer History

AmeriCorps

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elyse Ver Berkmoes Walter
Communications Specialist
(517) 241-0063 – office
(269) 845-2227 – cell
verberkmoese@michigan.gov
www.michigan.gov/mcsc

First Gentleman Daniel G. Mulhern helped spread the work of volunteers into Michigan‘s communities by swearing into service more than 400 AmeriCorps members from across the state at the 2008 Michigan‘s AmeriCorps Member Celebration. The event, hosted by the Michigan Community Service Commission, helped prepare AmeriCorps members for their year of service and celebrated the courage of their commitment.
WHAT: The Member Celebration provided an opportunity for all current Michigan’s AmeriCorps members to come together for a day of training, networking, and motivation. The annual Celebration helps members gain a new perspective on the impact their AmeriCorps service has on communities throughout Michigan.

Mulhern Granholm

Through the day’s events, members understand they are part of a significant national movement. Members participate in professional development workshops on leadership, service project planning, and other topics relevant to national and community service. Members also hear dfrom keynote speaker Susannah Cowden.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:Michigan‘s AmeriCorps is often described as the domestic Peace Corps. Individuals, called members, take on the toughest challenges facing communities by serving within nonprofit organizations, schools, and other agencies throughout the state. They tutor and mentor children, help the homeless, feed the hungry, protect the environment, and more.

In a 2007 report released by the Michigan Community Service Commission, Michigan’s AmeriCorps members:
- Completed over 700,000 hours of service and training.
- Recruited nearly 24,000 volunteers who served more than 188,000 hours.
- Impacted over 120,000 students, citizens, and volunteers.

Michigan Community Service Commission builds a culture of service by providing vision and resources to strengthen communities

Communities

through volunteerism. In 2008-09, the MCSC is granting more than $5.3 million in federal funds to local communities for volunteer programs and activities. The MCSC is funding 18 AmeriCorps programs and 24 Learn and Serve programs. The Governor’s Service Awards, Mentor Michigan, and Volunteer Investment Grants are also premier programs of the MCSC. The MCSC is housed in the Michigan Department of Human Services, whose mission is to assist children, families, and vulnerable adults to be safe, stable, and self-supporting. The Corporation for National and Community Service grants the federal funding the MCSC administers. For more information visit www.michigan.gov/mcsc and www.cns.gov .

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