OCTOBER 18, 2007

(614) 728-5177

(614) 406-5100 (On Site)

Ohio Governor Ted Strickland to Swear-in
AmeriCorps Members Friday, October 19

Columbus, OH — On Friday, October 19, Ohio Governor Ted Strickland will officially swear-in 500 (first-year) AmeriCorps members at The Ohio State University’s Fawcett Center.

AmeriCorps, which is federally funded by the Corporation for National and Community Service, is administered in Ohio by the Ohio Community Service Council. Since partnering with the Corporation in 1994, more than 7,000 members have performed 4.2 million hours of service and have assisted more than 400,000 Ohioans.

EVENT:          Ohio AmeriCorps Swearing-in Ceremony (500 members)
DATE:            Friday, October 19, 2007
TIME:             2:30 p.m.

PLACE:        Ohio State University
                      Fawcett Center, Main Auditorium
                      2400 Olentangy River Rd.
                      Columbus, OH 43210

"Ohio has a rich history of service and volunteerism,” said Governor Strickland. “The Ohio Community Service Council and the Corporation for National and Community Service have helped strengthen Ohio’s communities through service and volunteerism for the past 13 years.”

About Ohio AmeriCorps - Ohio AmeriCorps members have taken some of the toughest community service projects in our nation, committing one or two years to changing lives and building better communities in Ohio. Ohio’s 700+ AmeriCorps members will serve in one of 27 programs throughout Ohio for the 2007-2008 year. Now in its 14^th year, AmeriCorps involves more than 75,000 participants in 600+ programs across the nation. AmeriCorps members work with community-based organizations to address needs in…education, public safety, environment, disaster preparedness, and other human needs in local communities.

Often referred to as America’s domestic Peace Corps, AmeriCorps involves thousands of Americans age 17 and older who perform critical services in urban and rural areas. In exchange for one year of service, members receive an educational award that may be applied to education expenses encumbered prior to or after their term of service.

                                                           - more –

2-2-2

About the Ohio Community Service Council

The Ohio Community Service Council (OCSC) is a state agency whose mission is to strengthen Ohio’s communities through service and volunteerism. The Council was established by state statute in 1994 to administer grants under the federal AmeriCorps program and to promote volunteerism throughout the state. OCSC’s programmatic focus areas include: AmeriCorps, Ohio Citizen Corps, Make A Difference Day Ohio (the largest national day of volunteering on October 27, 2007 - co-chaired by Frances Strickland, First Lady of Ohio, and Jim Tressel, Head Football Coach, The Ohio State University), and Expanding the Infrastructure of Service in Ohio.

Council membership consists of 13 appointees by the Governor and 8 state agency/legislative representatives.

For more information about the Ohio Community Service Council, please visit www.serveohio.org

- # -