For Immediate Release
July 18, 2022
Media Contact:
Joyia Emard, Joyia.Emard@CaliforniaVolunteers.ca.gov, 916-806-2115
New State Budget Expands Efforts to Unite Californians in Service
California Volunteers, Office of the Governor receives $122 million investment to expand service opportunities for Californians
California Volunteers will deploy up to 20,000 paid service members throughout the state—a force three times the size of the Peace Corps
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Reaffirming the State’s commitment to unite Californians in service, the Legislature and Governor Gavin Newsom have provided an additional $122 million for service opportunities in the 2022-2023 State Budget.
“This budget is a statement about California’s values and our resolve to connect and uplift communities while investing in our people power,” said Josh Fryday, California Chief Service Officer. “This is a win for our state, our communities and all Californians.”
Highlights of the funding include:
- #CalforniansForAll College Corps, providing paid service opportunities for college students: $73.1 million each in Fiscal Years 2024-25 and 2025-26.
- Summer Youth Jobs Corps, partnering with cities for paid service opportunities for youth: $25 million in Fiscal Year 2022-23.
- Building Neighbor-to-Neighbor Networks, connecting neighborhoods to help and support each other: $10 million each in Fiscal Years 2022-23 through 2025-26.
- Foster Grandparents and Senior Companions, new programs: $10 million one-time funding in Fiscal Year 2022-23
- California Climate Action Corps, providing paid service opportunities to combat climate change: $3.86 million each in Fiscal Years 2024-25 and 2025-26.
With these additional funds, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor will oversee service and volunteer programs to provide more opportunities for Californians to serve their communities.
In the next two years, California Volunteers will deploy up to 20,000 paid service members throughout the state—a force three times the size of the Peace Corps—to serve in communities. Service members will plant trees, create community gardens, recycle food, work on wildfire prevention activities and educate on climate change. They will also tutor and mentor, support food security efforts, work in disaster management, and utilize the skills and talents of older Californians to help others.
For those unable to commit to a year of service, there are hundreds of volunteer opportunities throughout the state posted on the California Volunteers website.
Visit californiavolunteers.ca.gov to learn more about paid service opportunities, or search for volunteer opportunities.
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Led by California Chief Service Officer Josh Fryday, California Volunteers, Office of the Governor empowers Californians to take action to improve their communities. #CaliforniansForAll is a California Volunteers service initiative launched in response to COVID-19 to establish a volunteer corps to support the state’s response to emergencies and disasters.
