The three are: John Foster-Bey, who was named to run the AmeriCorps*State and National program, David Caprara, who is the new director of AmeriCorps*VISTA; and Wendy Zenker, who will lead AmeriCorps*NCCC (National Civilian Community Corps). Working under AmeriCorps Director Rosie K. Mauk, the three will be responsible for running separate but related programs that engage more than 50,000 Americans each year in intensive service to meet community needs in education, the environment, public safety, homeland security, and other areas.

"Leslie Lenkowsky and I are very pleased to have David, John, and Wendy to lead our programs," said Mauk. "Their combined knowledge and experience will help us meet the President's goal of meeting our most pressing human needs through service and volunteerism."

Corporation Board Chair Stephen Goldsmith echoed those sentiments. "President Bush has called for service volunteers to play a critical role in strengthening faith and community groups that meet social needs, as well as emerging needs in homeland security. The Corporation is pleased to have David, John, and Wendy to help meet the President's goal of engaging more Americans to be citizens, not spectators."

Foster-Bey, who will run AmeriCorps' largest program, comes to the Corporation from the Washington-based Urban Institute, where he was a senior associate and director of the Program for Regional Economic Opportunity. An M.B.A. graduate of the Yale University School of Management, he has an extensive record in the field of philanthropy, having held top-level positions at the Northwest Area Foundation, the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, and the Ford Foundation. He also spent over a decade working in corporate finance, local government, and with non-profit youth programs. Foster-Bey has earned several awards, including the HUD Fellowship for Outstanding Minority Students in Public Administration.

Said Foster-Bey, "National and community service is vital to our nation's character. I look forward to working with the Corporation to strengthen our programs."

Caprara, the new director of AmeriCorps*VISTA, has spent most of his career in civic and urban policy, including a three-year stint as deputy assistant secretary at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development from 1989 to 1992. After that, he worked for Virginia's Governor George Allen as the executive director of the Governor's Commission on Citizen Empowerment, where he launched the Governor's welfare reform plan. Most recently, he was president of the American Family Coalition, where he developed programs with faith-based and community groups aimed at reducing welfare dependency, strengthening families, and developing increased economic opportunities for low-income citizens.

AmeriCorps*VISTA, works primarily with faith-based and community organizations in low-income neighborhoods to develop lasting solutions to poverty in the areas of housing, health care, literacy, community development, technology, crime prevention, and hunger. The 6,000 AmeriCorps*VISTA members nationwide assist these groups by creating and developing projects, recruiting volunteers, raising funds, and otherwise building organizations' administrative, technological, and financial capacity.

"I salute the spirit of service and idealism of AmeriCorps*VISTA members as they contribute to empowering the poor and renewing our most impoverished communities," said Caprara. "I look forward to helping build on AmeriCorps*VISTA's long record of success."

Zenker takes over the reins at AmeriCorps*NCCC, the Corporation's full-time residential program for men and women between the ages of 18 and 24. Zenker comes to the post having served with distinction for the past four years as the Corporation's Chief Operating Officer. A graduate of Radcliffe College, she has focused mostly on management reform issues during her 28 years of federal service. After 15 years with the Department of Education, Zenker joined the Office of Management and Budget, where she became a member of the Senior Executive Service and oversaw government-wide reform efforts in financial management and the Inspectors General community.

"I look forward to applying my skills and knowledge to grow an extraordinary program and to bring this intensive experience of service to more young men and women," said Zenker.

Established in 1993, the Corporation for National and Community Service engages two million Americans in service each year through three programs: AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Learn and Serve America. In exchange for a year of service, AmeriCorps members earn an education award that can be used to pay for college or to pay back student loans. About half the members also receive a small living allowance and health benefits.

The Corporation and its programs are part of USA Freedom Corps, a White House initiative to foster a culture of citizenship, service, and responsibility, and help all Americans answer the President's Call to Service. For more information, go to www.nationalservice.org.