AmeriCorps Applications Rise 50 Percent Since State of the Union Address; Bush Hits Road to Promote



AmeriCorps Applications Rise 50 Percent Since State of the Union Address; Bush Hits Road to Promote

AmeriCorps Applications Rise 50 Percent Since State of the Union Address; Bush Hits Road to Promote ...

Mar 4, 2002 - U.S. Newswire

WASHINGTON, March 4 /U.S. Newswire/ -- AmeriCorps has seen a 50 percent increase in online applications in the one month since President Bush called on Americans to devote two years to volunteer service in his State of the Union address.

Besides actual applications, more than 10,000 calls and emails have come from Americans inquiring about joining AmeriCorps since the January 29 speech. The AmeriCorps website, http:// www.americorps.org, has received 4 million hits and 217,000 unique visitors in the last month, a 95 percent increase above normal. Senior Corps, a national service program for older Americans also highlighted in the State of the Union, has seen a 131 percent increase in visitors on its web site http://www.seniorcorps.org.

Building on this momentum, the President in Minneapolis today will launch a sustained effort to encourage Americans to serve their communities by highlighting exemplary volunteers. By showcasing volunteers, the White House hopes to turn the tragedy of September 11 into an era of service for the nation.

"The President's call to fight evil by doing good has generated a strong response," said Leslie Lenkowsky, the CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which oversees AmeriCorps and Senior Corps. "We're most pleased by the increase in actual applications, not just inquiries. Our nation needs active citizens, and the President's use of the bully pulpit is working."

In his State of the Union, the President announced USA Freedom Corps, a comprehensive citizen service initiative to engage more citizens in service at home and abroad by strengthening AmeriCorps, Senior Corps and the Peace Corps, and by establishing a new Citizen Corps for homeland defense.

AmeriCorps engages 50,000 men and women each year in intensive service. Members tutor children, build and renovate homes, preserve parklands, respond to disasters, and meet other needs. Since 1994, nearly 250,000 Americans have joined the program. In return for a year of service, members receive an education award to pay for college or pay back student loans. President Bush is seeking to expand AmeriCorps by 25,000 members and Senior Corps by 100,000 volunteers next year.

More information is available at http://www.nationalservice.org.

Note to Editors: For B-roll and high-resolution photos of AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers conducting community service, call 202-606-5000, ext. 235.

http://www.usnewswire.com

When this story was posted in October 2004, this was on the front page of PCOL:

Kerry reaches out to Returned Volunteers The Kerry campaign wants the RPCV vote. Read our interview with Dave Magnani, Massachusetts State Senator and Founder of "RPCVs for Kerry," and his answers to our questions about Kerry's plan to triple the size of the Peace Corps, should the next PC Director be an RPCV, and Safety and Security issues. Then read the "RPCVs for Kerry" statement of support and statements by Dr. Robert Pastor, Ambassador Parker Borg, and Paul Oostburg Sanz made at the "RPCVs for Kerry" Press Conference. RPCV Carl Pope says the key to winning this election is not swaying undecided voters, but persuading those already willing to vote for your candidate to actually go to the polls. Take our poll and tell us what you are doing to support your candidate. Finally read our wrap-up of the eight RPCVs in Senate and House races around the country and where the candidates are in their races.

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