Cuomo congratulates 730 AmeriCorps members as they embark on a year of community service

New AmeriCorps members will provide intensive, results-driven service to meet education, environmental, health, economic, disaster and veteran needs

Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo has congratulated 730 AmeriCorps members as they begin their new year of community service throughout New York. The members, who were sworn in this week in Albany, will be dispatched to more than 40 different project sites throughout the state to assist veterans, schools and the environment through direct service.

"I am pleased to welcome all the new AmeriCorps members who will be serving communities across New York state," Cuomo said. "From raising literacy rates among our children to assisting our war heroes after they return home, these AmeriCorps members will help tackle different issues in our society and enhance the lives of New Yorkers in their homes, schools and workplaces. AmeriCorps programs have served our state for 20 years, and I look forward to their service continuing to make New York state a better place."

The new AmeriCorps members will work on a variety of issues vital to communities around the state, including veteran assistance, education, public health and the environment. Their service includes: assisting veterans and military families in navigating various programs and job referral services; helping to improve literacy rates for school-aged children; promoting healthy diets in schools; promoting environmental awareness and protection; and creating economic opportunities. Members will serve for one year and receive a small living stipend and up to a $5,550 education award, which can be applied to paying off student loans or toward tuition.

In 2013-14, there will be approximately 2,800 members serving at more than 40 AmeriCorps programs statewide. Locally, 135 full-time AmeriCorps members are serving the Western New York community through The Service Collaborative of WNY Inc.

AmeriCorps is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. In New York, more than 68,000 members have provided more than 110 million hours of service. The AmeriCorps projects are administered by the State Commission on National and Community Service. Created by Gov. Mario Cuomo by executive order in 1993, the commission has been responsible for administering AmeriCorps programs in New York since the beginning of the program.

The Service Collaborative of Western New York creates opportunities for all individuals to serve their communities, challenging them to turn their ideals into action and their passion into positive change. Through transformational service and civic responsibility, its members aim to design a sustainable future for this nation's communities.

To learn more about the national AmeriCorps program, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/programs/americorps.