Volunteer Opportunities
Last update 10/22/08

Many retired teachers find that working for a worthy cause as a volunteer is extremely satisfying.  The following organizations have asked us for help in recruiting.
  The Retired Teachers Association of Chicago does not endorse any organization; potential volunteers must make their own judgments.

Because of the large number of requests we get for volunteer help we will only post the name of the organization, a link to their website, a SHORT description and a contact phone number.

Please e-mail requests for volunteer help to the webmaster.


A. C. E. S. - 773-535-6922 Eric Werge

AARP - 847-571-5514 Loretta Hilsher

AARP Illinois Center - 312-458-3604 Beverly Moore
Abraham Lincoln Centre - 773-451-3360 Hannah Katz (Chicago -  Bronzeville)

Adler Planetarium - 312-542-2411 Maria Christus (Chicago - Central)

AHS (Adult ESL and Literacy) - 773-293-8139 Robbin Kotajarvi (Chicago - Northside)

Alex Haley Academy - 773-371-3661 Karen Demots (Chicago - South)

American Heart Association - 312-476-6643 Traci Bruce (Chicago area)

American Lung Association of Chicago - 312-628-0234 Alexis Lewis (Chicago - Central)

American Red Cross (CPR & First aid)- 312-729-6227 Tina Green Rounds (Chicago - Central)

Anixter Center Literacy Program (Literacy Tutoring) - 773-929-8200x265 Sara Kohl (Chicago - North)
Aquinas Literacy Center (ESL) (Literacy Tutoring) - 773-927-0512 Alison Altmeyer (Chicago - Near South)
Blind Service Assn - 312-236-0808 Theresa Togtman (Chicago - Central)

Blue Gargoyle Community Services (Literacy Tutoring) - 773-955-4108x308 Ashley J. Hobbs (Chicago - Near South)

Boys/Girls Clubs - 312-285-5009 Desiree McIntosh (Chicago)

Brookfield Zoo - 708-485-0263x366 Regi Mezydlo (West)

Bucharest Christian Academy (Various positions) - +40-21-323-5887 Todd Long (Bucharest Romainia)

Burr Oak School-708-388-8010 Natashia Harris (South Suburbs)
Cabrini Connection (Mentor - Tutor) - 312-467-2889 Daniel Bassill (Chicago - Near North)

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Cook County (Child Advocacy Services) - 312-433-6987 LaDora Robinson-Locke (Cook County)

Catholic Charities (Tutor) - 312-655-7412 Albert Curtis Jr. (Cook and Lake Counties)

Centro Loyola - 312-226-7887 Daniel Loftus

Chicago Architectural Foundation - 312-922-3432x225 Barbara Hrbek (Chicago - Central)

Chicago Botanic Garden - 847-835-8281Linda Doede (Glenco)

Chicago Cultural Center - 312-744-7096 Marianne Wolf (Chicago - Central)

Chicago Distance Classic - 217-390-1163 Dani Chitwood (Chicago - Central)

Chicago Foundation for Education - 312-670-2033 Sarah Hoppe (Chicago - Central)

Chicago HOPES (Homeless support) - 773-553-2242 Arifa Boyer (Chicago)

Chicago Humanities Festival - 312-661-1028 Annie Tully (Chicago - Central)

The Chicago Lighthouse - 312-666-1331x3141 Dick Carlson (Chicago)

Chicago Lights (Tutoring) - 312-981-3560 Regina D. Grant (Chicago - Central)

Chicago Symphony Orchestra - 312-294-3160 (Chicago - Central)

Chicago Youth Centers (Mentors) - 312-762-5655 Michelle Gauthier (Chicago - Central)

ChildServe at Bryant Elementary School (Tutoring) - 773-867-7362 Jennifer Collins (Harvey)

Child Services - 773-693-0300 Greta Nielsen (Cook, Lake and DuPage Counties)

Child Services - 773-973-3662 Michelle Genarro (Chicago - Rogers Park)

Christopher House (Youth Tutoring/Literacy and Adult Education) - 773-472-1083x3067 Cortney DeArmound (Chicago - North)

Council for Jewish Elderly - 773-508-1064 Anne L. Simon

Count Me In! - 773-381-6024 William N. Black (Chicago - North)

Court’s Special Advocate (Child Advocy) - 312-433-6997 Imogene Harris (Cook County)

CPS Student Science Fair (Workers and Judges) - 773-553-6318 Angela Dumas (Chicago)

Cycle - 312-664-1194x14 Melinda Brand (Chicago - Near North)

DuPage Historical Museum - 630-682-6746 Mary Johnson (DuPage County)

DuSable Museum of African American History - 773-947-0600 x239 Kay McCrimon (Chicago - South)

Evanston NorthWestern Healthcare - 847-570-2840 Ronna Jacobson (Evanston)

Field Museum - 312-665-7505 Mary Ann Bloom (Chicago - Central)

Frank Lloyd Wright Preservation Trust - 708-848-1976 Kent Bartram (Chicago - South or Oak Park)

Forest Preserve District - 630-942-6169 Chris Linnell (Western Suburbs)

FreshStart (GED Tutors) - 708-205-1334 Donna Thomas (Southwest Suburbs)

Friends of the Parks - 312-922-3307 Laura Ronneberg (Chicago - Central)

Garfield Park Conservatory Alliance - 773-638-1766x24 Kirsten Akre (Chicago - West)

Gary Comer Youth Center - 773-358-4088 Reggie Tucker (Chicago - South)

George Armstrong School - 773-534-2150 Kim Bendig (Chicago - Northwest)

Ginkgo Organic Gardens - 773-404-7114 (Chicago - North)

Glenkirk (Programs for the Develpomentally Disabled) - 847-400-8569 Roberta M. Rekus (Northbrook)

Glessner House Museum - 312-326-1480 Clare Schaecher (Chicago - Near South)

Grandma, Please - 773-561-3500 Kathy Slover

Graue Mill - 630-920-9720 Sandy Brubaker (DuPage County)

Heartland Alliance Vista - 312-696-4500x4085 Carol McNeill (Chicago - Central)

Howard Area Community Center - (Adult Literacy and ESL Tutoring) - 773-262-6622 x264 Kristin Pomykala (Chicago - Rogers Park)

Ill. Action for Children (Children's Advocacy) - 312-986-9591 Rebecca Klipfel (Chicago - Central)

Ill. Holocaust Museum & Education Center - 847-491-0905x113 Hallie Rosen (Evanston)

Ill. Parents Anonymous (Parental Counseling) - 312-649-7301 Melinda Crosby

Ill. Volunteers of America (Advocacy) - 312-707-8707 Peggy Schweiger

Inner Voice Learning Center (Leadership Building) - 312-666-8110 Antoinette Toliver (Chicago - Near West)

International Visitors Center of Chicago - 312-254-1800x102 Lexy Sobel

JCB School - 773-467-3746 Amber Egelston  (Chicago)

Jesse White Tumblers (tutors) - 312 943-4846 Yvonne C. Jones (Chicago - Central)

Junior Achievement Chicago - 312-715-1300x269 Cherie Russ

Kids Voting - 312-332-3107 Ellen Solomon

KIPP Ascend Charter School (Tutors and Mentors) - 773-261-9972 Sheri Barrette (Chicago - West)
Kohl Childrens Museum - 847-256-6056 Charlene Podolsky (Glenview)
LaRabida Childrens Hospital - 773-256-5985 Judi Blakemore (Chicago - Jackson Park)

Lifelong Learning Institute at National-Lewis University - 224-233-2366 Joan Marks (North Suburbs)

League of Women Voters - 312-939-5935 Courtney Balok (Chicago - Central)

The Learning Center (Adult Tutoring) - 773-277-3111 Sr. Monice Kavanaugh (Chicago - Lawndale)

Lincoln Park Zoo - 312-742-2124 Ellen Izenson (Chicago - Near North)

Lira Arts (Polish) - 773-508-7040 Katharine McJimsey

Literacy Volunteers of DuPage - 630-416-6699 Tana Tatnall (DuPage County)

Little Brothers Friends of Elderly - 312-455-1000 Geri Mead (Chicago)
Loyola Museum of Art - 312-915-7604 Ann Meehan (Chicago - Near North)
Madison School (Read with Children) - 847-414-8920 Hillary Schab (Skokie)

McCormick Tribune Freedom Museum (Field Trip Guides) - 312-222-5963 Danielle Estler (Chicago)

Mercy Home for Boys and Girls (Mentor) - 312-738-7554 J. Brown/E. Dordek (Chicago - Central)

Metropolitan Family Services Midway Center - 773-884-2267 Dee Speich

MetroMentors - 630-784-4810 Gregory O'Donnell (Wheaton)

Midwest Palliative & Hospice CareCenter - 847-556-1982 Elizabeth Grantner (North Suburban)

Museum of Science & Industry - 773-753-2595 Penny Aulston (Chicago - Jackson Park)
Naperville Settlement - 630-420-6010 Diane Ernst (Naperville)

National Runaway Switchboard - 773-880-9860x218 Molly Billette ( Chicago - North)
North Shore Senior Center (Senior Advocy) - 847-784-6000 Paul J. Luzwick (Northfield)
Oakton Community College - 847-635-1434 Rita Stewart (Des Plaines and Skokie)
Oriental Institute, University of Chicago - 773-702-1845 Cathy D or Terry F (Chicago - Hyde Park)
Peace Corps - 312-353-4990 Chicago Regional Peace Corps Office
Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum - 773-755-5141 Jennifer Labows (Chicago - Lincoln Park)
PetCare Curriculum - 773-784-5605 Julie Smith

Polish Museum of America - 773-384-3352 (Chicago - Near Northwest)

Prairie Ave. House Museum - 312-326-1480 Michael Soet (Bronzeville)

Prologue Adult Education (Literacy Tutoring) - 773-728-7221 Christina Mang (Chicago - North)

Read to Learn (Literacy Tutors) - 847-718-7224 Lesley Goldberg (Northwest)

Recording for the Blind - 312-236-8715 Joanne C. Ruxin (Chicago, Orland Park and Naperville)

Red Cross - 312-729-6100 (Chicago Area)

Refugee Program (Summer-Language Tutoring) - 773-553-1930 Kaylee Sonnek (Chicago - North)

Retired/Senior Volunteers - 312-906-8600x214

Roseland Community Hospital - 773-995-3470 Jennifer Seldon (Chicago - Roseland)
Salvation Army Group Home - 312-455-8059x200 Frank Massolini (Chicago - Central)

School Childrens Aid Society - 773-247-1311 Margaret Paul

Science Fair (Judges) - 773-553-6318 Angela Dumas

Spring Valley Nature Center - 847-985-2100 Susan Findling (Schaumburg)
Substance Newspaper - 312-736-1702 C. Blumenthal 
Swedish-American Museum - 773-728-8111x28 Tina Harris (Chicago - North)
TEC Tutoring - 773-374-2363 Konora Maxwell
Travelers/Immigrants Aid - 312-629-4500x5011 Brian Harvey
Triton College (Literacy) - 708-456-0300x3407 Carol Di Fatta (River Grove)
University of Chicago Hospitals - 773-702-5673 Nancy Frazier (Chicago - Hyde Park)

The University of Illinois Extension-Science and Technology - 708-449-4320 Karen Meyer (South Suburbs)

WilPower (retirees helping retirees) - 847-501-2939 Minnie Morton (Northfield)

WITS (one-on-one early childhood reading) - 312-606-2032 Lindsey Giacherio (Chicago - Central)
Woman Made Gallery - 312-328-0038 Pamela Callahan (Chicago - Near Northwest)

Working In The Schools (Reading & Learning Proficiency) - 312-368-9487 Liz Murphy (Chicago)

Youth Service Project - 773-772-6270 Esther Prins (Chicago - Humboldt Park)



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