Big Brothers Big Sisters: For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has been America’s preeminent national youth-serving organization. Our service is based on a one-to-one relationship between an adult volunteer and a child at risk. Volunteers serve as friends, mentors and role models, helping children (who are primarily from one-parent homes) gain greater self-confidence. “Bigs” encourage “Littles” to realize their potential and see themselves as having happy and successful futures.

The Big Brothers Big Sisters Kauffman Scholars Program, Inc. is a comprehensive, multi-year program designed to provide students who would not otherwise have a chance to go to college an opportunity at a full ride scholarship. These Scholars are all first generation college students and have many questions about choosing the right college, picking a career path and how to deal with all the pressures that go along with these important decisions. That is why Big Brothers Big Sisters is looking for adult volunteers to mentor these Scholars. "Bigs" are matched in a one-to-one friendship with a Scholar. They spend a couple hours each month together, just checking in with them. The program is flexible and "Bigs" and Scholars can do whatever it is that they like doing together - whether that is going out to dinner, watching a movie or just talking. Big Brothers Big Sisters tries to match according to personality, hobbies and interests and specifically in the Kauffman program this could mean volunteers could be matched with someone wanting to pursue the same field as they are in or someone who wants to attend the same alma mater as the volunteer.

YouthFriends: YouthFriends is a nationally recognized and rapidly growing school-based mentoring network involving more than 70 school districts across the states of Missouri and Kansas. YouthFriends connects students, teachers and schools with inspiring mentors and real-world learning experiences to promote success, encourage healthy behaviors and build stronger communities. You can be involved by mentoring kids in schools. It’s fun, flexible and makes a difference. One hour a week is all it takes to make a big difference in the life of a young person.

LULAC'S National Education Service Center (LNESC): LNESC has many valuable programs to assist the Hispanic community. Young Readers is LNESC’s main elementary school program to address the problem of low literacy levels in America’s Latino communities. LNESC has continued to refine its original program model as the nation’s Latino population grows. Over the years, Young Readers has evolved into a successful intervention for raising the reading levels of Latino children in 1st through 3rd grades while also drawing Latino parents into a literacy development framework that benefits their entire family. The Hispanic Leadership Opportunity Program is a leadership development program that introduces high school participants to the servant- leadership model. Throughout the yearlong program, students are exposed to career exploration activities, personal development curricula, community service and cultural awareness events. The final phase of the program allows participants to demonstrate their skills through the organization and execution of a local leadership conference for their peers. Participants are responsible for every part of the project from fundraising to recruiting speakers and attendees. The HEROS program focuses on character development and tutoring program for 4th through 8th grade students at James or King Elementary.

YMCA Young Achievers: Adult Achievers serve as professional role models for the Young Achievers program. The Young Achievers program encourages underserved high school youth to set and achieve high educational and professional goals, acknowledge adults who have achieved professional success, create channels for continuing community involvement by business and industry, and raise scholarship funds for program participants. Adult Achievers have the energy, dedication, and ability to give of themselves to teens. They inspire high school students to set and achieve high academic and career goals. They also instill in teens a sense of self confidence that not only can enable them to achieve such goals, but that will last for a lifetime.

Boys & Girls Club Power Hour: A comprehensive homework help and tutoring program, POWER HOUR is designed to raise the academic proficiency of Club members ages 6 to12.

Foster Grandparents: When you share your love, time, and experience, you have the power to help a child who needs you. If you’re 60 and want to share your experience and compassion, you have what it takes to be a Foster Grandparent.As a Foster Grandparent, you’re a role model, a mentor, and a friend. Serving at one of thousands of local organizations—including faith-based groups, Head Start Centers, schools, and other youth facilities—you help children learn to read, provide one-on-one tutoring, and guide children at a critical time in their lives. Put simply, you give the kind of comfort and love that sets a child on the path toward a successful future. Foster Grandparents serve up to 40 hours per week. Some volunteers may qualify to earn a tax-free, hourly stipend. With Foster Grandparents, you’ll receive pre-service orientation, training from the organization where you serve, and supplemental accident and liability insurance while on duty

Kansas City Urban Youth Center: The program focuses on homework help, literacy improvement, physical activity, and healthy eating for 1st - 12th grade students. They also have an all day summer program which focuses on many of these same things, but includes more summer activities and less focus on homework of course.

Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA): Volunteers act as advocates on behalf of the best interest of abused and neglected children. An important distinction is that CASAs are NOT mentors, but advocates. Program requires 30 hours of intense training ending with a swearing in at the family court.

Presbyterian Children's Services Family Mentor Program: Helping youth ages 8-17 develop a positive set of values, improve family relationships, and reduce problem behaviors by teaching alternative skills and coping patterns. PCS does a lot of work through Operation Breakthrough.

The Hope Center: Faith Based Organization focused on training high schoolers to be leaders. Our Leaders In Training Program is for kids who have been in our Outreach Bible Study for at least a year and going into at least the 4th grade. These kids then apply and are selected to be invited into the program. Leadership development program for the kids that we have identified as having leadership qualities and who are working hard to be leaders here at The Hope Center, in the neighborhood, at home as well as in school. When a kid reaches high school and is in our Leaders in Training High School program they get an advocate.