Press Release

U.S. Representative Ami Bera, M.D. (CA-06) today announced that the United Way California Capital Region in Rancho Cordova has received a federal award valued at $449,649 per year to support an AmeriCorps volunteer project aimed at addressing community needs including housing and education. The award, made available through AmeriCorps Volunteers In Service to America (VISTA) program, will support 18 year-round and 9 summer volunteer service positions in the Sacramento region.

The VISTA program is designed to ease the staffing burden on non-profits doing valuable community work through capacity building and sustainability. Through this award, seven year-round VISTA members will serve with the United Way California Capital Region and support their programs and initiatives while United Way will also place 11 year-round and 9 summer VISTA members at local non-profits. Each VISTA member receives a living allowance and will receive an end of service award.

“I’m thrilled to announce that the United Way California Capital Region has been selected to receive this funding, which will play a critical role in addressing housing stability, education, and more in our region,” Representative Ami Bera. “I’m especially excited to see the passion and hard work from the volunteers that this award will help support. AmeriCorps volunteers are some of the most dedicated and selfless members of our society, and I look forward to seeing the positive impact they make on the Sacramento community.”

“We share Congressman Ami Bera’s excitement to be able to support 27 volunteers who will positively shape the Sacramento region through their hard work and passion for service,” United Way California Capital Region president and CEO Dr. Dawnté Early said. “We know that these VISTA members will help continue to strengthen the greater Sacramento community and their placement at United Way and other local nonprofits will help make Sacramento a healthier, stronger and more compassionate place to live.”

AmeriCorps, the federal agency for service and volunteering, brings people together to tackle the country’s most pressing challenges through national service and volunteering. Every year, tens of thousands AmeriCorps members serve through 21,000+ schools, nonprofits, community and faith-based organizations and state, tribal and local governments across the country. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million Americans have served in AmeriCorps, providing more than 1.6 billion hours of service and earned more than $4 billion in education scholarships.

To learn more about these open VISTA positions in the Sacramento area, or for local non-profits who would like to be considered for a VISTA volunteer placement, contact United Way California Capital Region Director of Community Impact Diana Vo at diana.vo@uwccr.org.