Handson suburban chicago has served as the sponsoring agency of the rsvp of northern cook and northern dupage counties since 1992

An estimated 725 rsvp volunteers will serve. Of this number, 182 will be placed in outcome assignments. Some of their activities will include tutoring and mentoring elementary and middle aged students; acting as a pen PAL for local elementary school students; assisting with service learning activities for local high school students; providing transportation for older adults to medical appointments; repairing and painting the exterior of homes of eligible seniors, veterans or people with disabilities; and helping with tax preparation. The primary focus area of the project is education. At the end of the three year grant: (1) through tutoring and mentoring programs, 350 elementary and middle school students will demonstrate improved academic engagement; (2) through the pen PAL program, 40 students will demonstrate improved academic engagement; (3) 20 high school students will show improved academic engagement; (4) 67 individuals will receive transportation services resulting in their reporting increased social ties and perceived social support; (5) fifteen homes of an eligible senior, veteran, or person with disabilities will be painted or repaired; and (6) 793 eligible individuals will receive no charge tax preparation assistance, resulting in approximately $158,600 worth of savings in tax preparation fees. The cncs federal investment of $180,118 will be supplemented by non-federal resources of $77,193.