ServiceNation and ServeNext Announce Merger; Join Forces to Protect and Expand National Service

ServiceNation, the national campaign dedicated to increasing service opportunities and elevating service as a core ideal and problem-solving strategy in America, announced today that they are joining forces with the grassroots advocacy organization ServeNext.

“With service opportunities rapidly disappearing and funding for national service once again in jeopardy, 2012 is going to be a landmark year for the service movement.  That’s why now more than ever it’s critically important to be armed with the capabilities to respond and mobilize at a moment’s notice,” said Ken Harbarugh, executive director of ServiceNation.  “Since its inception, ServiceNation has been regarded as one of the preeminent national and bipartisan organizations working to raise awareness about the value service plays in our society.  This merger significantly bolsters our capabilities, ensuring that we are able to protect the progress we’ve made and expand our efforts at a time when our country is in need of more national service opportunities.  I’m excited about this development and look forward to having ServeNext as an official part of the ServiceNation campaign as we gear up to meet the challenges ahead.” 

ServeNext launched in 2006 in response to four consecutive years of congressional cuts to national service programs like AmeriCorps.  Since that time, the organization has become the field’s leader in grassroots advocacy geared at advancing service in America.  ServeNext led the on-the-ground mobilization efforts that secured historic support from nine presidential candidates, which helped paved the way for passage of the bipartisan Serve America Act in 2009.  Today, they have an expansive network of field organizers who push back on legislators working to dismantle the framework for national service and embolden congressional champions to do more to expand service.

“ServeNext has always envisioned a time when supporting national service is not a question for our elected leaders, but the expectation. To get there, we are building a national grassroots constituency that is powerful, proactive, and permanent,” said Zach Maurin, executive director of ServeNext.  “By joining forces with the ServiceNation campaign, we are one important step closer to making this vision a reality.”

ServeNext will be acquired by Be The Change, Inc., the parent organization of the ServiceNation campaign.  Moving forward, the activities and operations of both ServiceNation and ServeNext will occur under the ServiceNation banner.

For more information about ServiceNation, its initiatives, or the recently announced merger with ServeNext, please visit www.servicenation.org.

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ServiceNation is a national campaign to increase service opportunities and elevate service as a core ideal and problem solving strategy in America.  Reaching an estimated 100 million citizen through its 285 coalition members, ServiceNation played a leading role in drafting and enacting the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, which authorized the greatest expansion of national service in a generation.  The ServiceNation coalition is working to inspire a powerful culture of volunteerism in our country and envisions an America in which a commonly asked questions is ‘Where do you serve?’  For more information, visit www.servicenation.org.