The programs listed below are funded and supported by Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth.  Lend-A-Hand provides grant funding and in-kind support through our Ticket for Kids program. 

All programs need a steady influx of volunteers.  If you choose to devote the time, you may find the rewards of volunteering immeasurable.

           --Patrick M. Collins, Keynote Speaker at the

If you are interested in volunteering with one of our supported programs, you may contact the program directly or contact Lawyers Lend-A-Hand to Youth.

ALLIANCE FOR COMMUNITY PEACE (ACP) is a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring that involves matching students ages 5-17 with mentors who provide support, guidance counseling and who attend community related agency field trips.

BETHEL NEW LIFE's Mentoring the Future of Garfield Park is a program designed to provide intervention support and services to children whose parents are incarcerated. The program responds to the potential detrimental effects that a parent's incarceration typically has on a child.

BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF METROPOLITAN CHICAGO seeks dependable adults who can provide friendship, emotional support and guidance in its mentoring program serving children ages 7-13, primarily from single-family homes.

BLACK ON BLACK LOVE INC. began in 2003 as a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring with a mission to match Chicago Public Schools male students (ages 9-19) with positive, proactive male role models. The program's goals are to improve male academic performance, retention and graduation rates. Hours vary between morning and after school hours.

BOYS HOPE GIRLS HOPE has been in existence since 1979 serving youths ages 13-18  through both mentoring and tutoring. Mentors meet with their scholars from the time they enter the program until they graduate. They communicate with them via phone and email as well as one to two in-person meetings a month. The mentors help the students with college applications and financial aid paperwork. Mentors and scholars build strong relationships that continue well after the student has graduated from the program.

BRIDGE YOUTH & FAMILY SERVICES through its mentoring program helps young people to develop strengths by making choices toward achieving social and emotional health.

CABRINI CONNECTIONS offers a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring engaging workplace adults to help youths living in economically and educationally disadvantaged neighborhoods experience a life-changing difference through participation in structured activities.

CABRINI GREEN TUTORING PROGRAM offers a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring to help economically disadvantaged students succeed in elementary school and beyond. They pair students with volunteer adult tutors and provide the students with educational and life skill resources.

CHANGING LIFE EDUCATION INITIATIVE INC. offers a tutoring/mentoring (life coaching) program that assists students with their social and academic achievement. Tutoring and mentoring are available to students ages 6-21. The program takes place at Apostolic Faith Church, 3823 S. Indiana, Tuesday-Thursday, 3:30-7 p.m.

CHICAGO LIGHTS TUTORING provides a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring for 400 1st-12th graders. Participants are offered a nutritious meal, life-skills lessons, access to a computer lab and library, job training classes, art projects and the attention of a caring adult. Sessions run from 5-7:30 p.m., Monday-Thursday.

CHICAGO SCHOLARS works with high-need, diverse and first generation students to help them identify a set of good-fit colleges based on their aspirations and abilities. They offer students a highly structured five year programming model that includes pre-college preparatory workshops, mentoring, social networking events, scholarship awards, internships and career exploration programs on their journeys toward post-secondary success.

CHICAGO YOUTH PROGRAMS (CYP) provides a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring to students in grades 1-9 twice a week. CYP stresses the importance of academics and exposes youth to college campus culture.

CHRISTOPHER HOUSE focuses on math and literacy development by matching children from grades 1-12 with volunteers in a program that is a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring.

CIRCLE URBAN MINISTRIES is a school-based, faith-based mentoring program serving 4th-8th grade students in the Austin community. Students and mentors meet weekly to build a friendship aimed at ensuring each young person's resilience and success.

CITY YEAR CHICAGO addresses course work failure in English. City Year Chicago's members provide literacy tutoring to students at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

CLUSTER TUTORING PROGRAM provides the Austin community a safe place for children to grow and learn. They match volunteers with K-12th grade students by offering a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring.

The DANIEL MURPHY SCHOLARSHIP FUND mentor program provides DMSF Scholars (ages 13-18) a committed adult to serve as a role model devoted to the student's personal growth and development. Mentors stay in regular communication with their Scholar, meeting for social activities and providing the adult guidance which many Scholars lack in their homes.

ERIE NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE seeks volunteers for its "Tutoring to Educate on Aims and Motivation (TEAM)" program which matches volunteers with 8th-12th grade students to focus on a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring that helps students transition to high school and college.

FAMILY MATTERS works with elementary, middle and high school students by providing a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring to the North Howard neighborhood in Chicago's East Rogers Park. The program is aimed at providing strong adult role models, resource connections, college preparation and enhanced self-esteem. After-school tutoring is provided at Gale Elementary School and evening sessions are offered at the Family Matters site.

GADS HILL CENTER provides a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring for middle school students from Orozco Academy (11-14 years old). The students meet with their mentors once a week for two hours at Gads Hill Center. The mentoring sessions happen Monday-Thursday, any time between 3:00 and 8:00 p.m.

HERMOSA COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION pairs students ages 6-17 with adult tutors and mentors to participate in self-development workshops and a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring. Youth and volunteers meet weekly on Tuesdays and Thursday evenings, participate in scheduled outings and showcase an annual play.

HORIZONS FOR YOUTH creates opportunities for children from low-income families to conceive and achieve their dreams through its mix of academic tutoring and mentoring. Elementary and high school students are both enriched and are helped in realizing their potential through participating in bi-monthly meetings and monthly outings.

HOWARD AREA COMMUNITY CENTER operates an after school reading program 4 days a week. 2nd to 4th grade students meet with their own tutor twice a week from October-May.

INSPIRED YOUTH offers a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring for children in the Uptown/Edgewater community. Students in K-12th grades meet at the Bezazian Library and Margate Park in the evenings and on weekends with adult tutors and mentors for homework help in arithmetic, reading and writing.

KELLY HALL YMCA is a 1-on-1 mentoring program which responds to the needs of 6-18 year olds growing up in a high risk environment. Mentors work with the parents to provide tutoring, support, new experiences and companionship.

LIFE DIRECTIONS is a pure mentoring program designed to serve at-risk 8th graders by helping them discover values that will direct their future choices through the encouragement of peer mentors.

LINK UNLIMITED is a 44 year old mentoring and college preparatory organization serving youths 13-19 years old. LINK Unlimited has successfully transitioned over 1,650 economically disadvantaged African American youths to college by providing 1-on-1 mentoring and academic support throughout the high school years.

McGAW YMCA recruits adult role models for its Project Soar mentoring program, that serves middle school students by fostering positive and stable relationships to enrich the lives of Evanston youth.

The MIDTOWN EDUCATIONAL FOUNDATION provides 1-on-1 tutoring for inner-city boys and girls in the 4th-6th grades. The mix of academic tutoring and mentoring helps students set personal and academic goals and helps them to develop a plan of action to achieve those goals.

MINDS MATTER provides a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring by helping high school students achieve academic excellence and expand educational horizons. Tutors/mentors help students with college preparation by navigating the financial aid process, improving grades and developing goals.

The PARTNERSHIP to EDUCATE & ADVANCE KIDS (PEAK) provides opportunities for at-risk youth to achieve academic and personal success through a quality, values-based education and the guidance of caring adults. High school students develop marketable skills through effective communication, have an opportunity to give through community service, and develop on-going relationships with a caring adult mentor, tutor or coach through a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring.

PASSAGES ALTERNATIVE LIVING PROGRAMS INC. operates both group and individual mentoring programs. The 1-on-1mentoring program serves children of incarcerated parents and Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) wards.

PENEDO CHARITABLE ORGANIZATION'S program is designed to support not only the long-term achievement but also the social and emotional growth of its students. Each year, the program enrolls ten at-risk 6th grade girls and guides them through a tutoring and mentoring program that provides sustained intervention and resources throughout their middle school, high school, and post-secondary education.

SOUTH SUBURBAN AREA PROJECT provides a mix of academic tutoring and mentoring Monday-Thursday from 2:30-5:30 p.m., with additional activities on selected weekends with a focus on homework assistance and reading and math skills enhancement. A secondary component of their mentoring is to assist youth with making positive life skills choices. The primary age group focuses on elementary school ages 6-14 with some involvement of youth 15-18. Their program sites are Jitle Park, Grant Elementary School and Washington Elementary School.

UCAN's Mentor and Volunteer Program pairs the talents and interest of responsible men and women with youth in the care of the Department of Children and Family Services. The program helps young people build positive relationships with adults and broadens a child's social and cultural experiences.

WOMEN OF VALOR MINISTRY equips and empowers at risk girls between 12-16 years old and helps them to pursue and attain their personal, social, educational and professional goals through 1-on-1 mentoring.

WORKING IN THE SCHOOLS (WITS) is a tutoring and mentoring organization involving community members and local businesses. WITS provides volunteers to support the education and development of children in the Chicago Public Schools.

Y.O.U. (YOUTH ORGANIZATION UMBRELLA) targets youths, ages 11-18 who are at risk of gang involvement, delinquency and violence by offering them positive youth development services and structured mentoring opportunities.

For other volunteer opportunities, you may want to research the following resources: