Community organization to use grant to keep tutors in Pasco schools

A longtime Pasco-based service organization will continue to work with students in math and reading through Pasco schools and Mid-Columbia Libraries for the next school year.

Regional Service Corps will receive nearly $275,000 from a state grant originating from the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal volunteering and service agency responsible for the national service program AmeriCorps.

The grant will keep 20 AmeriCorps members working and make them eligible for incentives helping them to pay off college loans, according to a news release from Sens. Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell.

“It’s a great way to celebrate our silver anniversary,” said Erik Ramey, senior program assistant, noting Regional Service Corps has been around for 25 years.

More than $24 million in grants was awarded to 20 organizations in the state. Most of that money went to Serve Washington, an appointed state service commission, which distributed the money to the Regional Service Corps and several other organizations.

Regional Service Corps was one of only two organizations east of the Cascades to receive funding. The Northwest Leadership Foundation, working in Spokane, received $156,092 from the state commission.

Ramey said the grant will pay for its members to work as tutors, primarily in a few Pasco elementary schools. They also do some work through the Mid-Columbia Libraries to get young children interested in reading.

“We’re right in the middle of recruitment right now,” he said.

This story was originally published July 5, 2016 at 4:38 PM with the headline "Community organization to use grant to keep tutors in Pasco schools."