The announcement was made today at a Washington, D.C., police station by Governor Tom Ridge, White House Director of Homeland Security; John Bridgeland, Director of the USA Freedom Corps; Leslie Lenkowsky, CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and Washington, D.C., Mayor Anthony Williams.

The Corporation for National and Community Service is awarding a total of $10.3 million in competitive grants to 43 non-profit and public organizations in 26 states and the District of Columbia. These groups will support recruitment of volunteers for local efforts to develop disaster response plans, expand Neighborhood Watch and Community Emergency Response Teams, establish Medical Reserve Corps, train youth to cope with disasters, disseminate information on bioterrorism, and assist ham radio operators and volunteer pilots in responding to disasters.

"Many Americans have asked what they can do to help fight the war against terror. Volunteer programs across the country provide excellent ways to get involved," Ridge said. "The homeland will be secure when our hometowns are secure. The President's new National Strategy for Homeland Security makes it clear that the work of keeping our homeland secure does not rest solely with government. Citizens can and must play an active role in protecting their communities."

"Every American can help make our communities more secure - by helping a neighbor, serving at a hospital, or volunteering at a police station," said Bridgeland. "President Bush has called on all Americans to dedicate at least 4,000 hours to service over the course of their lives, and the grants announced today will help more Americans to achieve the goal."

"The September 11 attacks and the possibility of future terrorist acts have created new challenges in the area of homeland security," said Lenkowsky. "We want to help tap the nation's volunteer and national service resources through grants to these outstanding programs."

Lenkowsky noted the Corporation's longstanding work in public safety, public health and disaster relief. For the past eight years, AmeriCorps members and Senior Corps volunteers have worked closely with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the American Red Cross to respond to dozens of federally declared disasters, including providing support to families of the victims of the September 11 attacks. Many of the grant recipients will use their grants to support local programs that are part of the President's Citizen Corps initiative housed at FEMA, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Department of Justice.

The homeland security grants, funded by Congress, will go to national and local nonprofits such as the American Red Cross and the National Association of Community Health Centers as well as cities, counties and state commissions on service. The grants are in the following three categories:

• Special Volunteer Programs: $5 million to 17 organizations to support 27,800 volunteers.
• AmeriCorps: $4.3 million to 16 organizations to support 356 members and 7,024 volunteers.
• RSVP: $1 million to 10 organizations to support 2,691 Senior Corps volunteers.

See full list of grantees or choose your state below.