KENNEWICK, Wash. – Nearly $400 million in federal grant funding for AmeriCorps nationwide has been cut, affecting almost 700 local middle school students according to United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties.
The termination, put in place on April 25, closed over 1,000 programs nationwide and ended the service of almost 30,000 AmeriCorps members.
Among the terminated programs was the Attendance Matters Mentoring Program, a program introduced in the 2021-22 school year by United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties that mentors critically absent middle school students.
“The sudden shutdown of AmeriCorps has an immediate impact on local at-risk kids who counted on the daily support and encouragement of their Attendance Matters AmeriCorps mentors,” said United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties CEO and President Dr. LoAnn Ayers. “We are working with school principals and volunteers to communicate with these kids to reduce the trauma of the loss.”
Several states are reportedly suing the Trump administration over the cuts to AmeriCorps, alleging that the agency was illegally demolished through the Department of Government Efficiency.
United Way of Benton & Franklin Counties is working to create alternative solutions to continue helping the impacted students through new partnerships and volunteering.
