More than two dozen volunteer programs across Illinois are getting an $8.4 million boost from the federal government.

The money will help 29 programs with 1,200 volunteers under the AmeriCorps umbrella. They operate from Chicago to Peoria to Marion.

Gov. Pat Quinn's office said Tuesday that the programs offer such services as tutoring at-risk youth, preparing communities for emergencies and building connections between immigrants and non-immigrant neighbors.

Quinn says 2.8 million Illinois residents volunteer nearly 400 million hours each year.