Announces New York State Commission on National and Community Service to Receive Nearly $2 Million in Stimulus Funding

Appoints First Daughter of New York to Serve as Chair of the State Youth Service Committee

2009 AmeriCorps Theme: Getting Green Done

Governor David A. Paterson and First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson today kicked-off the 2009 National AmeriCorps Week, an annual recruitment and recognition event designed to bring more Americans into service while saluting the efforts of AmeriCorps members and alumni for their powerful impact on society. Governor Paterson also announced that the federal government awarded the New York State Commission on National and Community Service nearly $2 million in stimulus funding, the first of two funding awards, which will help recruit new volunteers to existing AmeriCorps programs and help sustain service programs that are suffering in the current economic climate.

The theme of this year’s National AmeriCorps Week is “Getting Green Done,” and it runs from May 9-16. Governor Paterson is committed to clean air, clean water, healthy communities, fighting climate change and promoting renewable energy policies. He remains a vocal advocate for clean water investments and greening State government, and led New York’s historic participation and leadership role in addressing global warming with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. Governor Paterson adopted an ambitious but achievable “45 by 15” clean energy goal (45 percent of New York's electricity from renewable sources and efficiency improvements by 2015), setting New York on a path to become the global leader in the clean energy economy, creating green jobs, boosting the economy and protecting the environment.

“AmeriCorps has truly made a difference in the lives of so many people throughout New York State and across the country,” said Governor Paterson. “That is why I am so pleased that New York is hosting the annual National AmeriCorps Week kick-off event that I hope will encourage and inspire even more New Yorkers and Americans to engage in community service and volunteerism. I want to thank all of the partners who joined with us today to make this special event possible. I also want to highlight this year’s theme, “Getting Green Done.” My administration has made clean and renewable energy and fighting climate change a priority for the future of our great State.”

Governor Paterson and First Lady Paige Paterson also announced that New York State’s First Daughter, Ashley Dennis, will serve as Chair of the State Youth Service Committee to engage New York’s youth in service projects. As a college student, she will travel to other colleges and universities across New York State to encourage her peers to engage in volunteerism and service opportunities.

“Michelle and I are thrilled today to announce that our daughter Ashley will serve as Chair of the State Youth Service Committee to help encourage young adults to get involved in volunteerism. Here in New York, nearly three million volunteers contribute an annual average of over 366 million hours of service. I hope that in the coming months and years even more New Yorkers of all ages will offer their time to help others who are less fortunate,” added Governor Paterson.

First Lady Michelle Paige Paterson, who serves as the Honorary Chair of the New York State Commission on National and Community Service, said: “In the past year, we have made great progress on New York’s service agenda. Like many volunteers across our State, I feel privileged to have the opportunity to serve communities I feel passionately about. Across New York, volunteers are planting trees, cleaning streets, and saving energy. So many New Yorkers are working hard to preserve our natural environment for the next generation. I am so proud to have been a part of that progress, and I look forward to engaging more New Yorkers in volunteerism and continuing the great work that we have begun.”

In New York State, the Commission on National & Community Service provides leadership in the areas of service and civic engagement that call all New Yorkers to action in meaningful service opportunities to meet the critical needs of our State. Since becoming Governor, Governor Paterson has made community service and volunteerism a priority in his administration. In September, Governor Paterson appointed Susan Stern, Chair of the State Commission on National and Community Service, to his Cabinet. New York is second only to California to create a cabinet-level position that focuses on service and civic engagement. In addition, Governor Paterson and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger drafted a letter of support that twenty-one governors signed and sent to Congressional leadership urging them to pass national service legislation. Congress did pass the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act last month, which President Obama signed to expand national service and volunteer programs across the country. The Paterson administration applauds President Obama and the New York Congressional Delegation for its critical work to ensure the passage of this important Act. The Act will add 175,000 new volunteers to the AmeriCorps program nationwide.

For more information on New York State’s community service related efforts, visit New York State’s new website, www.newyorkersvolunteer.org which, among other services, provides a comprehensive link to match those looking to volunteer with opportunities across the State.

Susan Stern, Chair of the New York State Commission on National and Community Service, said: “It is an honor to work with the people of New York who recognize the current state of need and responded by volunteering their time and skills. Truly amazing work is being done by individuals in communities every day and I am pleased to see it recognized and celebrated. I look forward to continuing to expand the work that we are doing and I applaud AmeriCorps for its contributions to this State and the entire nation."

National AmeriCorps Week highlights the important work that AmeriCorps does year round. AmeriCorps members address critical needs in communities all across America. Members tutor and mentor disadvantaged youth, fight illiteracy, improve health services, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, manage or operate after-school programs, help communities respond to disasters and build organizational capacity.

On average, 75,000 Americans and more than 7,800 New Yorkers serve as AmeriCorps members each year through a network of partnerships with local and national nonprofit groups. Since 2004, more than 50,000 New Yorkers have served over 75 million hours as part of AmeriCorps, and earned over $162 million dollars in education awards.

Alan Solomont, Board Chair of the Corporation for National and Community Service, AmeriCorps’ parent agency, said: “We are thrilled to kick off AmeriCorps Week in New York by helping make the Big Apple more clean and green. We salute Governor Paterson and New Yorkers Volunteer for being such strong service leaders and for showing how service is a solution to our greatest challenges, particularly in a tough economy.”

Today’s event is co-sponsored by numerous organizations including Gentleman’s Quarterly (GQ). GQ Magazine is the leading men’s general-interest magazine with a monthly readership of 6.1 million readers. The magazine is published by Condé Nast Publications. Established in 2007 to commemorate GQ’s 50th anniversary, The Gentlemen’s Fund hopes to encourage individuals to become agents of change by contributing to charities that champion these causes. Visit www.gentlemensfund.com for more information.

Peter Hunsiger, Publisher of Gentleman’s Quarterly (GQ) Magazine, said: “It’s a wonderful day for New York when GQ readers and The Gentlemen’s Fund team up to help re-glorify this fabulous park. It adds up to a lot of fun and a lot of progress.”

Not-for-profit partners include: City Year New York, Harlem Children’s Zone, New York Restoration Project, ReLight New York City, Children for Children, Cornell Cooperative Extension, New York City Parks & Recreation and the American Institute of Architects.

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