The spotlight shines on Public Allies Cincinnati, a program of BRIDGES, as the Entertainment Industry Foundation's "iParticipate" media campaign launches this week with community service as its primary theme. There is definitely a resurgence in the desire to give back and make a contribution -- citizens in our city and across this country are signing up to serve at unprecedented rates. Nationally, applications for AmeriCorps alone are already up 208% from last year.
The Public Allies Cincinnati program recruits diverse young adults, ages 18-30, and places them in 10-month paid apprenticeships with local non-profit organizations. Thanks to the increased funding through AmeriCorps, resulting from the recently passed Serve America Act, BRIDGES was able to hire 10 additional Public Allies this year, bringing the total to 40 Allies. Through the efforts and idealism of these young, civic-minded Allies working in our Greater Cincinnati community, we have witnessed first-hand the unquestioned value of their contributions to our local nonprofits and to the thousands of clients they serve.
The increased interest in service is a glimmer of hope during these dire economic times, while the opportunities for citizens to make a difference toward meeting our nation's most urgent challenges are also expanding. Last year, Public Allies Cincinnati accepted one of every four applicants. More than 90% of our partner organizations reported that Allies met or exceeded their service goals. Over 80% of Public Allies 2,800 graduates nationwide are continuing careers in nonprofit and public service.
In Cincinnati, Public Allies opened in May 1998 with a class of 24 Allies, while this year, there are 40 Allies in the program. Over the course of the last 10 years, the program has graduated 250 Public Allies. Following the life-changing work they do as Public Allies and Fellows, these young people often spend their careers making tremendous contributions in the public sector. If that's not a win-win, I don't know what is! For more information about Public Allies Cincinnati, visit
www.bridgescincinnati.org or call Un Jin Krantz at 513.381.4660, ext. 785.