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!
Meet Pitch In MVP Tricia
When Kerry and Sarah first started the Pitch In mentorship program, they wanted it to be different than most mentor programs. They decided that in order for their program to really be effective, there would
A Day In Paris
Last Friday Pitch In enjoyed our first field trip to Sofitel Hotel downtown for a themed "Day in Paris." The hotel did an exceptional job planning engaging activities for students including post card creations, macaroon
Pitch In Summer Program!
Pitch In summer programming is in full swing! Entering week 3 we have enjoyed many new camp games, crafts and peace circles. We also started working with a new partner, Connect Force every Tuesday to learn break dancing
Meet WFF Intern – Alex Boustany
As a rising junior at The Ohio State University, it was easy to consider local Chicagoan Alex Boustany (also known as Alex #2) for our summer 2016 internship position. With numerous leadership accolades already under
Pitch In Parties!
The last two weeks marked the end of our 1st year with our 4th graders, and the end of year 2 with Pitch In 5th graders! We had a great time celebrating with
Healthy You!
Pitch In explored topics on how to be our most healthy self this month and we had experts share their knowledge with us too! Learning about new produce, the nutrients they give us and the
Comparing & Contrasting
This month Pitch In students explored entities that are different but the same, what is the difference between two mentors? Gender, age, origin, hobbies, etc. Projects revolved around objects that appear to be the same
Activities in April
This April Pitch In students explored a variety of topics in 4th and 5th grade sessions. Pitch In 5th graders focused on rebooting their attitudes as we learned new techniques to resolve conflicts and how to
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.
