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ASU Lodestar Center receives over $1 million in support of Public Allies Arizona; engaging 43 program participants in the 2015-2016 year
Phoenix, Ariz. (September 11, 2015) – The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation recently received a grant from the Corporation for National and Community Service through the Public Allies National Office (PANO) in the amount of $488,007 that allows its Public Allies Arizona (PAAZ) program to have recruited and engage 43 new participants this program year. Public Allies Arizona, about to begin its tenth year at Arizona State University, is part of an AmeriCorps strategy that, through funding in part through PANO, recruits, places and develops leadership skills in dedicated, service-minded young individuals who engage in paid 10-month apprenticeships throughout local nonprofit partner organizations. Allies are diverse and passionate individuals interested in social change and making a positive impact in their community.
“The success of Public Allies Arizona is a testimony to our model of leadership that has been proven time and time again to make all the difference” said Dr. Robert F. Ashcraft, executive director of the ASU Lodestar Center and professor of nonprofit studies in ASU’s School of Community Resources and Development. “The notion that leadership is an action one takes, not a position few hold, is exemplified by our Allies every day as they improve the quality of life in communities in most demonstrable of ways,” he added.
In addition to the federal grant received, an additional $595,000 in local funding is contributed through Public Allies Arizona Partner Organizations – bringing the total investments this year is over $1.8 million in support of this leadership development program. As one of the largest Public Allies sites in the country, the impact on the local Phoenix metropolitan-area community through capacity-building programs such as Public Allies Arizona is profound.
“Public Allies Arizona has been a wonderful asset to the Phoenix community over the past 10 years, driving forward so much of the work our nonprofit community has been doing to support those in need. The Allies are not only working to build the program capacity but are doing it while developing their own leadership and professional skills,” said Irma Q. Leyendecker, the Director of Public Allies Arizona at the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy & Nonprofit Innovation. “We are truly excited about the next 10 years of supporting the Phoenix nonprofit community, while building the new leadership to sustain it,” she added.
This year, Public Allies Arizona starts their tenth program year as strong as ever. During the 2014-2015 year, Allies served 61,300+ hours and created 210 new collaborations and developed formal partnerships on behalf of their Partner Organizations representing new opportunities for information sharing, partnerships, and collaborative projects. Additionally, Allies implemented 11 community service projects, impacting hundreds of individuals and earned $229,200 in Eli Segal Education Awards to be used to offset the cost of attending college.
“Being an Ally provided me the opportunity to turn thoughts into action," said Randall J. Tranowski, a Public Ally Arizona alumnus and current Ally supervisor and School-Community Coordinator for Pioneer Preparatory School: A Challenge Foundation Academy. “Additionally, it challenged me to prove my worth to Pioneer (and myself!), where I was not only fortunate to secure a full-time position after the program, but to also supervise, mentor, and coach our new Ally for the 2015-2016 program year,” he added.
Over $4.6 million in external grant dollars have been awarded to the ASU Lodestar Center in support of Public Allies Arizona since the program's launch in 2006. When accounting for the value of in-kind support, as well as funds invested by the nonprofits to have an Ally placed within their agencies, the total financial investment is almost $4.9 million and more than $9.5 million over the past nine years.
For additional information regarding any of the ASU Lodestar Center’s programs, visit lodestar.asu.edu. If you have questions, please call 602.496.0500 or email nonprofit@asu.edu.
ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation
The ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation is recognized as a national leader in undergraduate and graduate nonprofit education, research and technical assistance. The ASU Lodestar Center exists to enhance the quality of life in communities through the advancement of nonprofit leadership practices and provides knowledge and tools to build the capacity of nonprofit organizations, professionals, board members, donors and volunteers by offering a selection of capacity building workshops, conferences, classes, and programs. For more information, please visit https://lodestar.asu.edu.
Public Allies Arizona
Public Allies Arizona, now beginning its tenth year at Arizona State University, is an AmeriCorps national youth leadership organization that places service-minded young people in apprenticeships in nonprofit organizations throughout the community. It identifies talented young adults from diverse backgrounds and advances their leadership through a 10-month program of full-time, paid apprenticeships in nonprofit organizations, leadership trainings, and team service projects. For more information, please visit https://lodestar.asu.edu/pa.