Eight AmeriCorps Members Assigned to United Way of the Midlands
Columbia, SC (September 8, 2020) – Last week, eight AmeriCorps members wearing black AmeriCorps South Carolina masks joined Americans across the country when they pledged to “get things done” for America as they joined United Way of the Midlands for the next year.
United Way of the Midlands was awarded a grant to help support eight AmeriCorps members who will support and enhance local early childhood literacy efforts through the Midlands Reading Consortium (MRC).
"We are looking forward to an exciting year with these AmeriCorps members joining our team,” said Sara Fawcett, United Way of Midlands President and CEO. “Their service will extend beyond the walls of the schools they serve. Their work will have a lasting impact in our community as well as on the members themselves helping children improve their reading.”
United Way’s Midlands Reading Consortium (MRC) is a program that works within elementary schools to enhance and supplement a love of reading in students pre-Kindergarten through third grade in school districts across Richland, Lexington, Newberry, Fairfield and Orangeburg. The program offers a library of services that include one-to-one tutoring, guest reading opportunities, parent engagement events and book donations to help students build their libraries at home,
Through the program, the eight AmeriCorps members will serve as MRC school liaisons in Richland and Lexington School Districts. They will work to serve students through coordinated tutoring efforts, parent engagement events and community outreach activities. United Way’s AmeriCorps members will be providing quality services that ultimately strengthen families and prepare children for a lifetime of success.
“This is going to be an awesome year,” said Kimberly Isaac-House, MRC program director. “We saw there was a need in our community to expand the program’s impact. We could not have made this expansion happen without the onboarding of the AmeriCorps members. Each of these members bring so much spirit to the work we do, and we are looking forward to the work they will do with our students.”
AmeriCorps members make a one-year commitment to serve a specific project at a nonprofit organization or public agency. In return for their service, AmeriCorps members receive a modest living allowance and health benefits during their service and an education award after they complete their service.
Photo caption: The AmeriCorps Midlands Reading Consortium School Liaisons took oath of service last week at United Way of Midlands. Left to right (front row) Emily Thompson, Kati Russ, Lexus Gittens, Deja Vaughn, (back row) Adnan Omer, Monica Hudgens, Rosa Otero-Creech and Graylen Grant.
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About United Way of the Midlands
United Way of the Midlands is the most organized, efficient and accountable system for investing in the community. With more than 70 Community Impact Partners, United Way works to identify and respond to the critical human service needs of Calhoun, Fairfield, Lexington, Newberry, Orangeburg and Richland counties. Funds are raised through workplace campaigns, grant writing and individual donations. For more information, please visit www.uway.org.