PIKES PEAK UNITED WAY'S MISSION IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE IN OUR COMMUNITY (EL PASO AND TELLER COUNTIES IN COLORADO). THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE CNCS FOCUS AREAS OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND EDUCATION. THE VISTA PROJECT WILL SEEK TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS AND IMPROVE PROGRAMMATIC AND MARKETING EFFORTS AROUND PROGRAMS THAT: 1. IMPROVE ELEMENTARY READING SKILLS; 2. IMPROVE HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES; 3. IMPROVE CAREER TRAINING AND JOB PLACEMENTS; 4. REDUCE HOMELESSNESS. PIKES PEAK UNITED WAY EXPECTS TO USE VISTA MEMBERS TO SERVE APPROXIMATELY 25,400 INDIVIDUALS. EIGHT VISTA MEMBERS AND ONE VISTA LEADER WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT BY PERFORMING ACTIVITIES SUCH AS VOLUNTEER AND DONOR PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT, MARKETING MATERIAL DEVELOPMENT, BEST PRACTICES RESEARCH, PROGRAM ANALYSIS AND PROGRAM CREATION OVER THE COURSE OF TWO TO THREE YEARS.