UNITED WAY AMERICORPS

Via United Way Americorps, BGSU students, alumni, and other individuals can participate in national service right here in Northwest Ohio.

UWA is a program of United Way of Greater Toledo which coordinates AmeriCorps members for a variety of organizations dedicated to serving the needs of our communities. All UWA activities are aimed at "getting things done" wherever we serve.

BGSU's Office of Service-Learning is a key partner in the program and assist in connecting BGSU students to the program.

Description:
Often referred to as the domestic Peace Corps, AmeriCorps is a network of national service programs that engage more than 70,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet critical needs in education, public safety, health, and the environment. AmeriCorps members serve through more than 2,100 nonprofit public agencies, and faith-based organizations. They tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school programs, and help communities respond to disasters. Created in 1993, AmeriCorps is part of the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees Senior Corps and Learn and Serve America. Together these programs engage more than 2 million Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service each year.

History:
In 2004, Dr. Jane Rosser, Director of the Office of Service-Learning worked with Wood County partners to apply for an AmeriCorps planning grant which was fully funded. AmeriCorps funds flowed from the Corporation for National and Community Service via the Ohio Community Service Council. BGSU /Office of Service-Learning hosted the United Way Americorps program from 2004-2007.

In August 2007, United Way Americorps transitioned to be hosted by the United Way in Wood County as part of a collaborative partnership between BGSU and the United Way of Greater Toledo to address the key impact areas.

BGSU remains a key partner in United Way Americorps with members serving as part of the BGSU Service Corps (funded by the BGSU Bookstore) which focuses on student civic engagement, service-learning, and community partnerships.

United Way Americorps Web Site: http://www.volunteersolutions.org/toledo/org/10250315143.html