United Way introduces a team of 8 AmeriCorps VIP members to the community

RANCHO CUCAMONGA, CA (October 26, 2009) – The volunteer initiative of Inland Empire United Way, HandsOn Inland Empire, introduces a team of eight AmeriCorps VIP members placed at host sites throughout the community to develop volunteer programs and harness the desire to serve and directly impact communities in need.

The AmeriCorps Volunteer Infrastructure Project (VIP) is designed to address the significant challenges faced by California communities due to the recent economic downturn, and Inland Empire United Way’s volunteer initiative, HandsOn Inland Empire, is one of eight hubs in California hosting AmeriCorps members as part of the AmeriCorps VIP.

The eight host sites include: Boys and Girls Club of Fontana; Desert Communities United Way; Desert Manna Ministries; Inland Empire United Way’s Education & Health Initiative, KidSmart; Inland Valley Hope Partners; Pacific Lifeline; Reach Out West End; and United Way of the Inland Valleys. These non-profits will focus specifically on providing services to children and their families.

“This program is really going to enable nonprofit organizations to leverage these AmeriCorps members to build volunteer programs that will empower volunteers, as well as build up their host site’s ability to touch the community in new and innovative ways,” said Shalini Lall-Mulholland, Operations Manager of Inland Empire United Way’s Volunteer Initiative, HandsOn Inland Empire.

AmeriCorps VIP members are making a difference in the community and the lives of local youth, and receive a monthly stipend, educational scholarship, loan deferment, free training, and gain valuable experience.

About Inland Empire United Way
Inland Empire United Way (IEUW) is a nonprofit organization that works in partnership with local community leaders, businesses, government agencies, other nonprofits, and individuals to build a stronger, healthier community. By focusing on Education, Health, Financial Stability, and Volunteerism, as well as 2-1-1 San Bernardino County, long-lasting and positive changes are made in the lives of children, families, and individuals. The IEUW service area covers portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside counties. LIVE UNITED is a call to action for everyone to become part of the change. For more information about Inland Empire United Way, please visit our website at www.ieuw.org.

About AmeriCorps
AmeriCorps engages 75,000 people each year in intensive, results-driven service to help communities tackle our toughest problems of education, poverty, illiteracy, and disasters. Since 1994, more than 574,000 AmeriCorps members have given 718 million hours of service to their country. The Recovery Act signed by President Obama will support 13,000 new AmeriCorps members serving in economically distressed areas, and the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act would, among other provisions, set AmeriCorps on a path to grow from 75,000 to 250,000 members by 2017.

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