FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2021- DENVER — The Colorado COVID-19 Containment Response Corps (CCRC) was recognized virtually last week at the 2021 America’s Service Commissions (ASC) Innovation and Leadership Awards with the Outstanding Service Program award. Governor Polis and Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera provided remarks for the event.
The CCRC was created in May 2020 as an innovative public-private partnership between the State of Colorado, nonprofit organizations, private funders, and AmeriCorps to help contain the spread of COVID-19. The program provided extra support to Local Public Health Agencies responding to COVID-19, allowing information to be shared quickly to help contain the spread of the virus within Colorado. Over 900 AmeriCorps Members and AmeriCorps Seniors volunteers expanded Colorado’s case investigation, contact tracing, test result notification, and isolation and quarantine monitoring efforts. Together, these members provided COVID-19 support services to 60,000 Coloradans.
“Many Coloradans found the resources needed to thrive, families affected by this pandemic have hope for the future, and countless others across the state have been safeguarded from contracting the deadly virus because of the services provided by the members of the CCRC. We’re powering the Colorado Comeback because of the work done on the ground by these individuals and partners,” said Governor Jared Polis. “I’m thankful for each and every AmeriCorps member, private partner, nonprofit organization, and staff who helped make this program a success.”
Partners of the program include:
- Office of Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera/Serve Colorado
- Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment,
- Community Resource Center,
- Conservation Legacy,
- Cultivate,
- Volunteers of America - Colorado,
- Gary Community Investments,
- AmeriCorps Mountain Region Office, and
- AmeriCorps NCCC.
“I am so inspired by the dedication of the AmeriCorps members who have served their neighbors and our state,” said Lieutenant Governor Dianne Primavera. “As our communities continue to recover from the pandemic, I encourage others to learn about the ways they can get involved.
Members remain on the ground assisting the state with vaccine outreach and data collection needs in both rural and urban areas.
America’s Service Commissions (ASC) Innovation and Leadership Awards are held each year to recognize the accomplishments of state service commission staff, commissioners, service programs and their champions throughout the United States and its territories. Honorees were selected by a panel of external reviewers through a competitive national process.
Guided by the Governor's Commission for Community Service, Serve Colorado administers the AmeriCorps program in Colorado and promotes community service throughout the state to build a culture of citizenship, service, and individual responsibility. Serve Colorado empowers community-based organizations to meet locally identified needs and statewide challenges through service and volunteerism. To learn more about Serve Colorado’s programs and serving with AmeriCorps, visit servecolorado.colorado.gov.