ACE News
Raising the Profile of Service Through AmeriCorps Awareness Week
June 2010
AmeriCorps is a national service program that enlists volunteers to address critical needs in communities all across America. At ACE, our AmeriCorps members volunteer a year of their lives, completing 1,700 hours of service as literacy tutors. Their service helps ACE ensure that children develop a strong foundation in literacy skills during their first years in school.
The City of Austin celebrated AmeriCorps by hosting a weeklong series of events to honor the importance of service to the Austin community.
The festivities celebrated those who serve while spreading the word about AmeriCorps to the local community. The week kicked off with a proclamation ceremony led by Austin Mayor Lee Leffingwell. The celebration continued with an ultimate frisbee game, trivia night, farmers' market, and a basketball game with the local Boys & Girls Club chapter.
The week culminated with the annual Austin AmeriCorps Awareness Day of Service on Saturday May 15th. The Day of Service included 10 service project sites, and ACE tutors participated at all of them. ACE tutor Anthony Green worked on a trash pick-up project at Waller Creek. "It was exciting to work with many of the other AmeriCorps programs in Austin and get something done in a unique way that helps the community as a whole," Green said.
Before the members took off to "paint the town AmeriCorps," State Representative and VISTA (a national service program) alum Elliott Naishtat led a rally at the Texas Capitol. Representative Naishtat spoke, and TV's Conan O'Brien made a surprise appearance to speak about the importance of service and praise our volunteers for what they do.
Great job to all ACE tutors who took part in the festivities! We are proud of your service to our community.
If you or somebody you know is interested in giving back to your community by serving as an AmeriCorps member, please visit www.americorps.gov.