Since the advent of the Internet, the digital divide has been widening between technology haves and those without computer equipment and/or online access.

To help close the divide, the Corporation for National Service has announced a $12.5 million initiative that will include recruiting 750 new AmeriCorps members. The money will be split up, with $10 million going towards funding AmeriCorps programs and the other $2.5 million used to support learning activities among middle and high school students.

Along with the $12.5 million, online giant Yahoo! is donating $1 million in public service advertising aimed at recruiting new AmeriCorps members to help with the project. The ads will run throughout Yahoo! and will have a permanent spot on the Yahoo! Careers sections.

AmeriCorps also has garnered the support of several leading technology companies and nonprofits to help wire schools to the Internet, train teachers how to use technology in the classroom and provide tech training to children and adults.

Two of AmeriCorps' projects are already helping close the technology gap in schools. New York-based Project F.I.R.S.T. and Washington, D.C.-based PowerUP are doing their respective parts to help solve the problem.

Project F.I.R.S.T.'s efforts include AmeriCorps members recycling and installing computers, wiring schools to the Internet and training teachers. PowerUP is assigning up to 400 members to work with children in schools and community technology centers nationwide.

The Corporation for National Service manages AmeriCorps, the National Senior Service Corps and other "service-learning" programs.

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