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 and mindsets 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.
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.
The Latest Pitch In News!
New Schools Announcement!
We are thrilled to announce that in the Fall of 2019 we will be bringing Pitch In to TWO new schools, Sumner Elementary School in North Lawndale and Moos Elementary School in Humboldt Park.🎉 New
#EverybodyIn
Pitch In 8th graders had such a fun day at the Friendly Confines! Our 5th and final trip to Wrigley Field was a blast, thanks to mentor Bill for having us once again.
Where we play!
Last month 4th grade Pitch In students became experts on local Chicago landmarks thanks to our friends from Wendella Boats and even tried their hand at recreating some of these cool places! We're so proud of the
Wendella visits Pitch In!
Our students at Yates Elementary got a small geography and history lesson thanks to Wendella Boats! We learned what the four stars on the Chicago flag represent and a trick remember the names of the Great
Who will be Pitch In’s next Mayor?
Election season is upon us, and our 6th graders at LCA teamed up to campaign to be Pitch In's Mayor! We're so proud of all of the candidates and the platforms they created. Check out
Show & Tell at Pitch In!
This month Pitch In 4th graders and their mentors are doing Show and Tell! Each week a different team will present their favorite sentimental possession and tell the class why it means so much to them. So far,
Breakin’ A Sweat at Energeewhizz
This past Monday was our 4th through 6th grader's last trip to Energeewhizz. They had a great workout by rotating to several different seven-minute stations. Some of these included jumping on stability balls, punching and
Paddleboarding on Montrose Beach
Last Friday 8th Grade Pitch In students had the privilege of going paddle boarding with the Chill Foundation and Kayak Chicago. We started the day with a brief lesson on how to paddle board and
