United Way of Wapello County Receives $72,644 in New Funding for RSVP Programs
Corporation for National and Community Service & Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service Approve Funding that will Restore RSVP Programming for Wapello, Monroe and Jefferson Counties
February 10, 2014 (OTTUMWA, IA) United Way of Wapello County today announced that they were awarded two grants totaling $58,100 to support senior volunteer activities from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) and $14,544 from the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (ICVS).
These funds were awarded as part of a competitive grant process for RSVP, one of three Senior Corps programs administered by CNCS. Established in 1971, RSVP connects volunteers age 55 and over with service opportunities in their communities that match their skills and availability. From weatherizing houses to increasing literacy skills in children, from enhancing the capacity of nonprofit organizations to reducing hunger, RSVP volunteers put their unique talents to work to make a difference.
Federal focus areas for the grant cycle will keep RSVP volunteers busy in the areas of Healthy Futures, Education, Economic Opportunities, Capacity Building and Other Community Priorities. Specifically, volunteers will be serving in food banks, helping to build and maintain community and neighborhood gardens, assisting with Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) and in a wide variety of volunteer placement stations that fall under the category of Other Community Priorities.
“Volunteers play a vital role in strengthening our community. The RSVP grant is an exciting opportunity for the Volunteer Center to engage skilled volunteers who will have a direct impact on the health and stability of our community,” said Ali Wilson, Volunteer Center Coordinator for United Way of Wapello County Volunteer Center. “The Volunteer Center was established with the Volunteer Generation Fund grant, and we are pleased to have been awarded these additional funds to expand and improve the work we have been doing in our community. We look forward to working with multiple organizations and people within these three counties to grow the number of RSVP volunteers serving in Wapello, Monroe and Jefferson Counties.”
“By working with students, providing job training, and helping veterans transition into civilian life, volunteers age 55 and over are helping to transform the lives of the people they serve, ” said Wendy Spencer, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service. “Our communities need the talents and skills of all Americans as we continue moving this nation forward. The dedication of RSVP volunteers shows that service benefits not only organizations, but those who serve as well.”
These grants are two of 175 RSVP awards provided to volunteer organizations across the country to support senior volunteer activities in areas including education and veterans and military families.
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About United Way of Wapello County and the United Way Volunteer Center
United Way works to advance the common good by focusing on the three building blocks for a good quality of life — education, income and health. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable, and when we have good health. The UWWC Volunteer Center’s core functions are to mobilize volunteers to impact identified community issues, encourage volunteering, connect people to volunteer opportunities, and to provide training and support for effective volunteering. United Way’s Volunteer Center recruits people and organizations from all across the community who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. For more information visit www.wapellocouw.org
United Way works to advance the common good by focusing on the three building blocks for a good quality of life — education, income and health. We all win when a child succeeds in school, when families are financially stable, and when we have good health. The UWWC Volunteer Center’s core functions are to mobilize volunteers to impact identified community issues, encourage volunteering, connect people to volunteer opportunities, and to provide training and support for effective volunteering. United Way’s Volunteer Center recruits people and organizations from all across the community who bring the passion, expertise and resources needed to get things done. For more information visit www.wapellocouw.org
About the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS)
Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation of National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than four million American of all ages and backgrounds in service each year through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Social Innovation Fund programs and leads President Obama’s call to service, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.
Senior Corps is a program of the Corporation of National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than four million American of all ages and backgrounds in service each year through its Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Social Innovation Fund programs and leads President Obama’s call to service, United We Serve. For more information, visit www.nationalservice.gov.
About the Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service (or Volunteer Iowa)
The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and its partner agencies work with organizations and individuals on three main fronts. The first is to help agencies develop quality programs that use service as a strategy to fulfill their missions and address Iowa’s greatest areas of need. The second is to help engage Iowans in their communities by promoting service and expanding the volunteer base. Finally, the third are of work is to connect individuals with appropriate service opportunities by building the volunteer infrastructure. More information is available at www.volunteeriowa.org
The Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service and its partner agencies work with organizations and individuals on three main fronts. The first is to help agencies develop quality programs that use service as a strategy to fulfill their missions and address Iowa’s greatest areas of need. The second is to help engage Iowans in their communities by promoting service and expanding the volunteer base. Finally, the third are of work is to connect individuals with appropriate service opportunities by building the volunteer infrastructure. More information is available at www.volunteeriowa.org
