Our Belief + Mission
Despite the curveballs that life circumstances may throw, everyone deserves a chance to reach their full potential.
The Wood Family Foundation facilitates collaborative relationships between school partners and families that provide
support and opportunities to empower students to succeed in middle school, high school, and beyond.
The Wood Family Foundation’s premiere program, Pitch In, is an after-school model that employs high-quality
mentoring relationships and exposure to unique experiences to ensure that our 4th-8th grade students develop the
academic and social-emotional skills, mindsets, and agency necessary to transition to high school successfully.
Beyond the after-school component of our model, Pitch In deeply engages with our partner schools to
improve the culture of the middle grades (4th-8th grade), adding school-day capacity that aligns to principals’
visions for their school communities, providing access to an abundance of resources, and focusing not only on
our students, but also on their families.
We currently serve Humboldt Park and North Lawndale, and aspire to reach Austin, Englewood, and Roseland in the near future.
The Latest Pitch In News!
Pitch In Week 3
Building brands and learning about continents, what an exciting week 3 for our Pitch In mentees. This week, the 5th graders continued to focus on the "It's a Big World," theme. Last lesson, we
Pitch In Week 2!
Week 2 our new class of Pitch In 4th graders continued to learn the Pitch In routine and worked on establishing some short term and long term goals with their mentors. Students also created a
Pitch In Back In Action!
This week #WFF was extremely excited to reunite with our returning Pitch In students, now in the 5th grade, and our new class of 4th graders! We had a great first meeting with both groups
LCA Baseball Clinic
WFF was delighted to host our second baseball clinic at LCA this past weekend! LCA 3rd, 4th and 5th graders joined us for a sunny day at the park to learn baseball fundamentals from the
Music brings us together in celebration
Music brings us together in celebration Lorem ipsum dolor sit ets amet, consectetur adipiscing elit sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation
Brookfield Zoo Field Trip!
Pitch In students went on their final summer field trip to the Brookfield Zoo this past Saturday and boy did we end with a bang! The Brookfield Zoo truly spoiled us with behind the scenes experiences, an awesome lunch and a carousel ride! While at the zoo students also had the chance to feed giraffes, parakeets and see the incredible dolphin show!
Pitch In Students Attend Ray McElroy’s Pro Youth Football Camp
Pitch In students were so excited to join Ray McElroy’s Football camp this past week. Students enjoyed 3 full days of football training with former professional athletes! We are so proud of how hard our students played, practiced and pushed through the July heat!
Mummies at the Field Museum!
Pitch In students enjoyed a day at The Field Museum for our second summer field trip! Thanks to Mr. Anthony we learned all about ancient Egypt Gods and how to wrap mummies! Afterwards students had lunch by the lake overlooking the beautiful view of our city skyline!
Together We Win
Over the past 2 years I have developed extremely special relationships with my mentees. Not only have I formed many new friendships, but I also have began to appreciate what I have as a result of being a mentor. Pitch In has become one of my homes away from home, as I have grown to feel like everyone involved is one big welcoming family.
Pitch In has given my grandson the confidence to lead others and speak in front of groups of people.
Jaylon has made new friends, bonded with his peers and become more independent since joining Pitch In.
I was really blessed and impressed that Kerry and Sarah were both so down to earth, and working in the trenches with all the volunteers. Ever since then, I try to help out and support WFF whenever I can, and mentoring for Pitch In is one way I can help.
I am so grateful to have spent my first school year with our amazing 4th grade students. I look forward to continuing to serve as a resource and positive influence in their lives as they move on to apply for high school. The Pitch In program is full of unbelievably bright, energetic and creative kids—paired with caring, fun, hardworking mentors and staff.
