Grant Brings AmeriCorps to Cal Poly and San Luis Obispo Community

SAN LUIS OBISPO – Cal Poly’s Community Center recently received a $274,000 grant from the California Service Corps. The grant brings Americorps back to the Central Coast, after a three year hiatus, with the new Central Coast Volunteer Corps.

The CCVC in cooperation with more than 20 local non-profit agencies hopes to expand programs in health and human services, youth services, senior services and public safety for San Luis Obispo County residents.

The Corps will provide Cal Poly students and local community members a variety of opportunities to engage in full and part-time service positions with local non-profit agencies while receiving a living allowance.

Corps members will be placed with a non-profit agency and required to report of work daily. They will help expand the capacity of agency programs through activities such as volunteer recruitment, grant writing and fund raising. Additionally, they will be required to help with community-wide projects such as National Days of Service and Hotline SLO’s 211 service.

Cal Poly graduate, Dan Pronsolino will oversee program start up. The Cal Poly Corporation and the Community Center will provide fiscal and programmatic oversight.

“Dan is the perfect role model for the Corps,” said Stephan Lamb, associate director of student life and leadership at Cal Poly. “With his experience as Vice President of the Interfaith Coalition and his experience as an Americorps member he brings with him a broad-based perspective on local service issues.”

Recent findings from the “Community Action Report 2003” indicate that San Luis Obispo County residents provide fewer volunteer hours than the state’s average, suggesting that an untapped reservoir of volunteers exists.

“We hope to correct this gap through the recruitment and management of volunteers,” said Pronsolino. “By partnering with CCVC, agencies can directly benefit from an expanded volunteer base that will help meet the needs of their organization and importantly the needs of the community.”

For more information about the Central Coast Volunteer Corps or to become a member, contact Pronsolino at 805-756-5883.

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