Jumpstart Awarded $7.1 Million in AmeriCorps Funding

BOSTON (July 17, 2017) — Jumpstart announced this week that it has received a total of $7.1 million in AmeriCorps funding via National Direct and state commission grants from the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS), to support programs in California, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Washington, and the District of Columbia. Jumpstart has committed to matching these funds with $8.4 million this year in private funding from universities, individual donors, and foundations. 

These state and federal investments will enable 3,585 AmeriCorps members to serve in preschools in under-served communities across the country, where they will support the development of key early literacy, language, and social-emotional competencies that children need to succeed in kindergarten and beyond.

“Children from low-income communities enter kindergarten 60% behind their peers from more affluent communities, putting them at a disadvantage right from the start,” explains Naila Bolus, President & CEO of Jumpstart. “Our AmeriCorps members work to make sure these children have every opportunity to realize their potential. We have found that the relationships formed between our AmeriCorps members and their partner children, coupled with our research-based curriculum, are the key ingredients that support children’s growth and development.”

CNCS will also provide over $4.4 million in education awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants to help pay for college or vocational training, or to pay back student loans. In addition, Jumpstart AmeriCorps members receive valuable training in early education and child development during their 300 hours of service. This combination of training and practical experience helps to prepare future educators before they enter the workforce.

Jumpstart is currently recruiting for AmeriCorps members to start service this fall. AmeriCorps members who successfully complete their term of service are eligible to receive a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to help pay for college or pay back student loans. Those interested in serving can learn more by visiting jstart.org/apply.

Jumpstart AmeriCorps members are part of a network of more than 80,000 AmeriCorps members serving across the country in 21,600 locations annually. These members help communities tackle pressing problems while mobilizing millions of volunteers for the organizations they serve.

Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million men and women have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.4 billion hours of service, and have earned more than $3.3 billion in education awards, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student loan debt.

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Jumpstart is a national early education organization working toward the day every child in America enters kindergarten prepared to succeed. Jumpstart delivers a research-based and cost-effective program by training college students and community members to serve preschool-age children in low-income neighborhoods. Through a proven curriculum, these children develop the language, literacy, and social-emotional skills they need to be ready for kindergarten, setting them on a path for lifelong success. Jumpstart is also a proud member of the AmeriCorps national service network. Learn more at jstart.org and follow us on Twitter at @Jumpstartkids.

AmeriCorps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and the Volunteer Generation Fund, and leads volunteer initiatives for the nation. For more information, visit www.NationalService.gov.