Washington, D.C. – In recognition of her strong support for AmeriCorps, Senator Susan Collins (R-ME) received the Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award at the 20th Annual Friends of National Service Awards.

Voices for National Service, which turns 20 this year, is a diverse coalition of AmeriCorps programs, state service commissions and individual champions, who deliver critical services to Americans in communities across the country. Voices for National Service advocates for programs on the front lines of our communities, responding to the country’s most immediate and pressing challenges.

“AmeriCorps provides thousands of Americans the opportunity to make significant contributions in communities that might not otherwise have them. In Maine, approximately 2,700 members are responding to the state’s most immediate and critical needs at more than 200 locations across the state,” said Senator Collins. “From education to health care to conservation, volunteers across the nation are making a positive difference every day. I am grateful to have received this recognition and delighted to be joined by so many champions of AmeriCorps who selflessly dedicate their time and efforts to improving the world around them.”

The Edward M. Kennedy National Service Lifetime Leadership Award is the organization’s highest honor. The award recognizes life-long dedication to citizen service and outstanding leadership in advancing national service as a civic commitment and legislative priority. Previous recipients of the award include Senators John McCain, Barbara Mikulski, Orrin Hatch and Thad Cochran, and Representatives John Lewis, Rosa DeLauro and Doris Matsui, and General Colin Powell.

In 2022, the State of Maine had 2,710 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members serving at 260 service locations. Since 1994, more than 7,400 Maine residents have served approximately 11 million hours and earned educational grants totaling more than $26 million.