| Save Service Update and Call to Action On February 19, in the early morning hours, the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that would shut down the Corporation for National and Community Service and eliminate AmeriCorps, Learn & Serve, Foster Grandparents, Senior Companions and the other service programs. Congress must now reach a budget compromise by March 18th. The question is: will the compromise include funding for the Corporation for National and Community Service? Supporters of service have done an outstanding job gathering support for the effort to save service. Over 2,500 nonprofit leaders signed-on to the first letter to Congress, and this week more than 200 private sector CEOs have done the same. In addition, 2600 responded to save service by making visits to local House and Senate offices on the first organized District Day on February 25. The fight continues! The leaders in the movement, America Forward, ServiceNation and Voices for National Service have begun to circulate a letter among our nation's Mayors in support of full funding for CNCS. They have received 37 signatories, all members of the Cities of Service coalition. The goal is to have at least 150 mayors signed on by COB this Friday, March 11th. Please outreach to Mayors that you have a relationship with or in cities where your program operates. Please send all responses to Katie Loughmiller at kloughmiller@bethechangeinc.org by 5:00pm EST on Friday, March 11th. (Note: they do NOT need electronic signatures — just an email from the mayor's office authorizing them to add their name to this letter. Please make sure the email specifies the mayor' full name and municipality.) Visit savetheservice.org for more information. Published: 03/09/11 |