FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
AmeriCorps Alums Joins Service Year Alliance
Innovative agreement with sector partner Points of Light aimed at boosting service year field
WASHINGTON, DC (March 14, 2018) – Today, in an effort to boost the service year field and advance shared missions, Service Year Alliance officially acquired AmeriCorps Alums from Points of Light. AmeriCorps Alums, which had been an enterprise of Points of Light since 2005, is the only national network that connects the over one million alumni of all AmeriCorps programs to resources that support their lifetime of service.
“We are thrilled to advance our partnership with Service Year Alliance to support volunteerism and national service in this country,” said Natalye Paquin, President and CEO of Points of Light. “Growing our civic culture as a nation has been at the forefront of our mission for decades and Service Year Alliance is well-positioned in their current work to foster the growing network of talented and driven alumni of AmeriCorps who share this vision.”
“There is no one who better understands the power of national service to unite our country, advance our workforce, and transform lives than the over one million AmeriCorps alums who have experienced this first-hand,” said Shirley Sagawa, CEO of Service Year Alliance. “Bringing AmeriCorps Alums to Service Year Alliance is an inspired solution that will build upon and fuel the work we do every day. From inspiring millions of young Americans to serve to growing the service year field and expanding funding for national service — adding the established AmeriCorps Alums brand to our organization’s existing efforts advances the service year field in an unprecedented way.”
As part of this transition, Ben Duda, the Executive Director of AmeriCorps Alums has joined Service Year Alliance as the new Managing Director of Corps Members and Alumni. Duda brings his extensive knowledge of the sector and over a decade of experience — including three service years of his own — to the team. In this role, he will be charged with increasing the value that service year corps members and service year alumni gain from their service year experiences, especially as it relates to improving pathways from service years to careers and higher education opportunities.
“I am delighted to join Service Year Alliance and bring with me the spirit of civic action of each and every AmeriCorps alum who believes in our mission to make a year of service a common expectation and opportunity,” said Ben Duda, Managing Director of Corps Members and Alumni at Service Year Alliance. “Service Year Alliance is an ideal home for AmeriCorps Alums, and I look forward to continuing to grow the AmeriCorps Alums network in support of every young person who is serving, wishes to serve, and continues to make a difference in their next steps after service.”
Please contact Aly Ferguson at [email protected] with any media inquiries or to learn more about this acquisition.
About Service Year Alliance
Service Year Alliance is working to make a year of paid, full-time service — a service year — a common expectation and opportunity for all young Americans. A service year before, during, or after college gives young people the chance to transform their lives, make an impact in their community, and become the active citizens and leaders our nation needs. Expanding service years, with programs like AmeriCorps, the Peace Corps, and YouthBuild, has the power to revitalize cities, uplift and educate children at risk, and empower communities struggling with poverty. Learn more at ServiceYear.org.
About Points of Light
Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year. We bring the power of people to bear where it’s needed most. For more information, go to www.pointsoflight.org.
