Commonwealth Corps award helps Samaritans “Close the Gap”

Funds to support new staff positions for local suicide prevention agency

BOSTON, August 25, 2008. . .

The Samaritans, a suicide prevention organization serving the Greater Boston and Metrowest areas, has received a $103,968 award from the Commonwealth Corps program of the Massachusetts Service Alliance. The Samaritans have earmarked the funds for hiring two full-time and 10 part-time Commonwealth Corps members. With matching funds from Samaritans supporters, the award could reach $133,259.

Samaritans Executive Director Roberta Hurtig said, “These much-needed funds will help us close the gap that exists between the high demand for our services and our ability to meet that demand. Our helpline volunteers currently answer more than 90,000 calls a year from people who are troubled, isolated and possibly suicidal. The award greatly expands our capacity for answering calls and helping these people.”

The Samaritans will use the funds to offer stipends, including employee benefits, to Commonwealth Corps members for 10-month assignments in volunteer recruitment, training, grief counseling and development. New staff members are also in line to earn bonuses based on the successful achievement of their goals and assignments.

In addition to its 24/7 and Samariteens helpline, the Samaritans operates 100 suicide prevention workshops annually, attended by more than 5,000 individuals. It also delivers direct grief support services to individuals and communities that have been impacted by suicide.

About the Commonwealth Corps
The Commonwealth Corps program, launched by the Governor’s office in conjunction with Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA), engages state residents to help rebuild communities and address unmet community needs. The Corps provides opportunities for skills building and leadership development, while encouraging a lifelong civic vocation. Corps members provide direct service, enhance capacity, and recruit, organize and mobilize additional volunteers—building a grassroots movement of volunteers dedicated to community service.

About the Samaritans
The Samaritans is the premier suicide prevention organization, serving the Greater Boston and Metrowest areas. Over the past 34 years, Samaritans volunteers have answered more than 1.3 million phone calls to its 24/7 and Samariteens telephone hotlines. The agency has also trained more than 4,000 volunteers and instructed more than 100,000 individuals through its community education and outreach programs. Thousands of individuals and families have been helped through the Samaritans’ grief support groups.

For more information, contact the Samaritans offices at 617-536-2460 or 508-872-1780. The Samaritans 24 Hour Befriending Helpline can be reached at 617-247-0220, 508-875-4500 and 877-870-HOPE. The Samariteens helpline number is 800-252-TEEN (8336).

Contact Information

Roberta Hurtig
Samaritans
617-536-2460
rhurtig@samaritanshope.org

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