Last year, Jim Tosto, School Psychologist from Peekskill High School and Catherine Dimas of Hudson River Health Care developed a Mentoring Program for 9th Graders which utilized the services of the AmeriCorps volunteers that were assigned to HRHC. Now in its second year, PHS is lucky enough to have 5 new volunteer mentors.The volunteers are Michael Kulesza, Greg Vosits, Diana Hocker, Maeve Waters, Alex Voge. The team’s coordinator is Patty Dale.
AmeriCorps is a federally funded program which offers young people a variety of opportunities. Since 1994, nearly 500,000 AmeriCorps members have served with thousands of nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and faith-based organizations nationwide- from small community groups to nationally known organizations such as Habitat for Humanity, the Red Cross, and Boys and Girls Clubs of America. Members tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, clean parks and streams, and work to promote healthy lifestyles. In return for their service, AmeriCorps members receive a cash award that they can use to pay for college or pay back student loans. Many members also receive a stipend from the organization that they volunteer with.
If you are interested in learning more about Americorps, you can go to www.americorps.gov
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