Grants & Initiatives
Institutionalizing Service-Learning
As part of a three-year Learn and Serve America grant, the Pennsylvania and New York Campus Compact consortium will be supporting PHENND to in turn support area campuses to “institutionalize service-learning” on their campuses. Through a competitive, peer-reviewed RFP process, eight local higher eds were selected in December 2006 for projects that will begin in January 2007. The institutions represent varying levels of service-learning programming from “beginner” to “advanced.” PHENND will provide modest grants, which will be matched by each institution, to support infrastrucutre development and will also provide training and technical assistance.
Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania AmeriCorps Program
Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania AmeriCorps Program is an AmeriCorps Education Award Only program (Ed Award). This means that participating students enroll as AmeriCorps members on a part-time basis and receive a partial Education Award at the end of their term. Students who complete 450 hours of service in one year earn an award of $1,250.00. The award can be used to pay for any legitimate educational expense at their current undergraduate institution or to pay for future educational expenses.
Financial Outreach Initiative/Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
The Financial Outreach Initiative began during the 2002-2003 academic year. The project mission is to organize, implement, and sustain a multi-university project concerned with various forms of asset development for low-income communities in the Philadelphia region.
Program in Systemic School Reform
The School District of Philadelphia is ramping up the quality and academic rigor associated with the “Senior Project” and PHENND is trying to match each participating school with a university partner. These partners will provide project mentors and other resources to help the schools and students succeed.