On June 7, 2022, it was announced that, for the 14th consecutive year, Up2Us Sports has been awarded critical funding for our national service coach program from AmeriCorps, the federal agency for national service and volunteerism.

This AmeriCorps State and National funding will allow for up to 200 AmeriCorps members to join Up2Us Coach during the 2022-2023 service year. Members will be trained in our trauma-informed approach to coaching, which ensures they can perform a critical role in helping youth in underserved communities heal and thrive. This grant will support AmeriCorps members nationally. 

In addition. Up2Us Sports will receive funding at the state level through local state commissions with added support from CaliforniaVolunteers, Serve Illinois, Volunteer Louisiana, PennSERVE and Serve Washington. More information on state commission grants will be announced as it becomes available.

“Up2Us Sports is honored to be part of the national service movement with AmeriCorps. Together, we will continue to show that AmeriCorps members serving as youth sports coaches can make a significant and lasting impact in communities across the nation,” said Jack Callahan, Senior National Director of AmeriCorps Programs. “Each year, we see young people facing numerous health and social inequities that impact their physical and mental wellbeing and their life potential. Up2Us Sports coaches serve as some of the most trusted mentors out there and with the support of AmeriCorps, our team is able to expand our efforts and prove the impact that coaches have on the wellbeing of youth throughout the country."

AmeriCorps State and National engages more than 65,000 Americans in intensive service each year. Full-time AmeriCorps members in the AmeriCorps State and National program receive a modest living allowance, health care and childcare. At the successful completion of each service term, members earn a Segal AmeriCorps Education Award to repay qualified student loans and to pay current educational expenses at eligible institutions of higher education and training programs.

We are currently actively recruiting coaches interested in becoming a coach-mentor in their community, as well as organizations interested in hosting these coach-mentors. For more information about how to become a coach or how to host a coach with our AmeriCorps-funded national coaching program in your market, visit www.up2ussports.org/about-coach.

Read the official announcement from AmeriCorps here.