PROVIDENCE, RI - In an effort to help charitable organizations recruit more volunteers and address community challenges, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today announced a $74,999 grant to Serve Rhode Island (SRI), Rhode Island's center for volunteerism and national service, which connects people with community service opportunities throughout the state.

The grant is authorized through the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act to expand opportunities for more Americans to serve while enhancing the capacity of non-profits to have a sustained impact in local communities. The federal funding will support activities to identify effective approaches to increase the number of Rhode Islanders who volunteer, with a particular focus on those who are 55 plus years of age, strengthening the capacity of organizations to recruit and retain volunteers; and developing strategies to effectively use volunteers to solve local problems.

Serve Rhode Island will use the money to help recruit 3,000 new volunteers and upgrade a database of registered volunteers.

"This is a modest investment that will have a major return in value for the community. Each year thousands of Rhode Islanders volunteer and provide millions of dollars worth of service to address pressing needs. This grant will help Serve Rhode Island get more people engaged and get more volunteers connected with people and organizations that need their assistance," said Reed, a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Subcommittee on Retirement and Aging. "Senator Kennedy was a great leader and a true friend. Today, we continue working to advance the causes he held so dear, like improving access to healthcare and education and expanding AmeriCorps and other public service opportunities for young people. Ted is deeply missed, but his record of public service continues to inspire."

While the rate of volunteerism in the state dipped last year, over 195,000 Rhode Islanders volunteered across the state, including more than 4,300 seniors who contribute their time and talents in one of three Senior Corps programs.

"While we all know many friends and family who volunteer in our communities, the fact is, Rhode Islanders volunteer at a lower rate than our neighboring states. In fact, RI ranks 48th among all states in our percentage of residents 65 to 75 years old who volunteer. This is an unfortunate underutilization of the talent and knowledge possessed by so many of our seniors. Not only does the community not benefit from their service, but their lives are not being enhanced by beneficial opportunities to provide meaningful service. Our job is to turn that picture around," said Bernie Beaudreau, Director of Serve Rhode Island.

The grant will be administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that engages more than five million Americans in service through Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America and leads President Obama's national call to service initiative, United We Serve. For more information, visit NationalService.gov.