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ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY News Release
July 24, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ASU launching new community service program to help nonprofit organizations

Nonprofit center adds “Public Allies” to its portfolio of resources

PHOENIX – The Arizona State University Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management will launch Public Allies Arizona in the Phoenix community this fall.

The three-year renewable grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service and in partnership with the Public Allies national office, will place 25 dedicated, service-minded young people in 10-month apprenticeships in nonprofit partner organizations. The value of the grant over the funding period is estimated at $900,000. To coincide with the opening of ASU's new Downtown Phoenix campus, the program will focus on Phoenix area nonprofits during its first year. Emphasis will also be placed on strengthening communities of color.

The young adults aged 18-30 selected for the program will receive training in professional and leadership skills. Once matched with a nonprofit organization, they will be responsible for projects designed to positively impact the community.

“All Allies are involved in projects where they work directly with those in need,” says Paul Schmidt, CEO of Public Allies. Nationwide, Allies have served more than 300,000 people and recruited more than 30,000 volunteers to help them impact the lives of children, families and communities through projects in youth development, public health, and community development. For example, Allies may help nonprofits expand volunteer opportunities, counsel juvenile offenders, facilitate empowerment programs for teenage girls, or work with the mentally ill.

“Having a dynamic young person placed with us would be a tremendous asset for our organization,” says Missie D'Aunoy, chief development officer of Habitat for Humanity, a nonprofit applying for a Public Allies placement.

Public Allies was founded in 1992 by a diverse group of young nonprofit leaders and activists who wanted to harness the energy of talented young people to tackle community issues. As an AmeriCorps program, Public Allies has expanded to 14 communities, including the new Phoenix site, operated by the ASU Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management.

"It's an honor for Phoenix to be selected as a new site, and a credit to ASU for bringing this caliber of program to our state," says Governor Janet Napolitano. "This program will be a great resource to Phoenix nonprofits."

“By providing an additional staff person, especially a young person with fresh ideas, nonprofits can find their human resources bolstered enough to take on a new program or reinvent an existing one,” explains Dr. Robert Ashcraft, director of ASU's Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management, which specializes in programs that build nonprofit capacity.

Nonprofit organizations in the Phoenix area that have direct service opportunities and are interested in having an Ally placed with them are encouraged to apply by the July 28th deadline. Organizations do not need to have a prior affiliation with ASU. Young adults 18-30 interested in becoming Allies must apply by August 16th. Applicants do not need to be ASU students. More information can be found at http://publicallies.asu.edu or by calling (602) 496-0500.

The Arizona State University 's Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management (CNLM) is recognized as a national leader in undergraduate and graduate nonprofit education. The Center exists to enhance the quality of life in communities through the advancement of nonprofit leadership practices. CNLM has several program offerings which have built the capacity of hundreds of nonprofit organizations and thousands of nonprofit professionals, board members, and volunteers by offering a selection of capacity building workshops, conferences, classes, and programs. See http://nonprofit.asu.edu.

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MEDIA CONTACT:
Jill Faver
Director, Capacity Building Initiatives
Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management
(602) 496-0189
jill.faver@asu.edu

 

Arizona State University
Center for Nonprofit Leadership and Management
School of Community Resources and Development
College of Public Programs
Phoenix, Arizona USA
www.asu.edu/copp/nonprofit/

Arizona State University College of Public Programs