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United Way of Lake County Celebrates AmeriCorps Week 2011 AmeriCorps Members Share their Service Stories

For Immediate Release

Local Contact: Deanna Olmem
United Way of Lake County
Reading Success AmeriCorps Member
Deanna.olmem@uwlakeco.org
847-775-1059

National Contact: KaCey Venning
HandsOn Network
Manager, AmeriCorps Member Development
Kvenning@handsonnetwork.org
404-979-2919

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United Way of Lake County Celebrates AmeriCorps Week 2011
AmeriCorps Members Share their Service Stories

April 25, 2011 (Lake County, IL)– AmeriCorp members, hosted by United Way of Lake County (UWLC), are planning several free events during the weeks surrounding the national AmeriCorps Week, allowing community residents to learn about AmeriCorps programs.

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AmeriCorps, which has been in existence for nearly two decades, works with existing organizations to help them reach more people and better achieve their mission. To date, 637,000 men and women have joined AmeriCorps, and they have given more than 770 million hours of service to their country. Last year alone, the nation’s 75,000 AmeriCorps members recruited 2.4 million community volunteers to serve alongside them in some 3,300 nonprofit, faith-based, and community organizations across the country.

“We are proud to be part of AmeriCorps and grateful for the AmeriCorps members who are getting things done,” said Lynn Wilson, Director of National Service at HandsOn Network, the national office that sub-grants AmeriCorps members to United Way of Lake County.

“AmeriCorps members have made a tremendous local impact, allowing United Way of Lake County to extend our efforts by coordinating with a vast pool of community volunteers to work alongside them,” states Kristi Long, President and CEO of United Way of Lake County.

To commemorate AmeriCorps Week, AmeriCorps members with United Way of Lake County will be at the following locations throughout the month of May:

Cinco De Mayo at College of Lake County’s Lakeshore Campus Courtyard
33 North Genessee Street, Waukegan
Date: Thursday May 5, 2011 Time: 12:00 PM-2:00 PM
AmeriCorps Members will be at the College of Lake County's Cinco de Mayo Celebration to talk to the community about AmeriCorps. Join us for this cultural celebration of Mexico's Independence filled with inspiration, food, and fun.

The University Center of Lake County
1 North Genessee Street,Waukegan
Date: Tuesday May 10, 2011 Time: 9:00 AM-12:00 PM
AmeriCorps Members will be at the University Center of Lake County to speak to students, staff, and the community about the impact AmeriCorps members have in Lake County.

Both events are free and open to the public. Although registration is not required, it is strongly encouraged. To register, please visit http://www.americorpsalumsevents.org/

About HandsOn Network
HandsOn Network, the volunteer-focused arm of Points of Light Institute, is the largest volunteer network in the nation and includes more than 250 HandsOn Action Centers in 16 countries. HandsOn includes a powerful network of more than 70,000 corporate, faith and nonprofit organizations that are answering the call to serve and creating meaningful change in their communities. Annually, the network delivers approximately 30 million hours of volunteer service valued at about $600 million. For more information, please visit www.HandsOnNetwork.org.

About HandsOn Corps
The HandsOn Corps AmeriCorps program engages National Direct and VISTA members in service to mobilize local communities around critical issues and challenges. HandsOn Corps AmeriCorps members identify, train and manage volunteer leaders who will then develop and manage high quality, impact-driven projects, engaging others and further enabling the work of grassroots nonprofit organizations. The HandsOn Corps model provides vital infrastructure and brings more skilled leaders into service focusing around 3 critical national issues: Education, Economy, and Environment.

About United Way of Lake County
United Way of Lake County (UWLC) is preparing our children to succeed in a changing world by focusing on education and building safe and stable families. We are focusing on three key educational programs: Success By 6 Program—prepare for kindergarten; Reading Success Program—read at grade level; and the Stay in School Program—graduate high school. UWLC is overcoming reading and educational barriers by reaching children, from preschool through high school, through these key programs. The overall effect and benefits are multiplied by the strong collaboration with agencies and our community partners. For more information, please visit liveunitedlakecounty.org

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