Kerry & Sarah Wood Impact Chicagoland Students with Mentoring Program

Prior to retiring from the game of baseball as a Chicago Cub, Kerry Wood and his wife Sarah raised millions of dollars for children’s charities in Chicago. Through their nonprofit, Wood Family Foundation, their mission was to improve the lives of children in and around Chicago. Ten years later, and a name change to Pitch In, the organization is doing that and so much more by serving nearly 250 middle school students in 5 schools with afterschool mentoring programs and additionally impacting approximately 800 through in-school support.

Pitch In fosters high-quality mentoring relationships between supportive adults and students while providing exposure to a social-emotional learning curriculum. The goal of the program is to help ensure that students develop the mindsets, skills, and agency necessary to make the transition between middle and high school successfully. Schools partnered with Pitch In include

Sumner Math and Science Academy in North Lawndale (2019), Lawndale Community Academy in North Lawndale (2014), Bernhard Moos Elementary School in Humboldt Park (2019), Richard Yates Elementary School in Humboldt Park (2018) and the most recent addition, Benjamin E. Mays Elementary Academy in Englewood (2023).

"When our middle school students have Mentors who show up, even 1-2 times a month, we see them engage so much more in Pitch In and school,” explains Sarah Wood. “We would love to have more Mentors, from all walks of life, be a part of our program!"

In celebration of the mentoring program’s 10-year anniversary, the Woods and Pitch In team will host their annual Storybook Gala titled “Kindness Scales” on Friday, October 27th at 6:00 p.m. at Morgan Manufacturing (401 N Morgan Street) in Chicago.

Inspired by the New York Times bestselling book Rainbow Fish, the event will feature cocktails, a seated dinner, desserts, live auction and program where Dr. Janice Jackson will receive the inaugural "Sarah & Kerry Wood Pitching In For Chicago Kids" Award.

Dr. Jackson is a lifelong resident of Chicago with over 22 years of experience working in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). She is a nationally known and respected educator and leader in the field of public education and is the current CEO of Hope Chicago, a non-profit organization seeking to reduce economic and social inequity by funding post-secondary scholarships and non-tuition costs for Chicago Public School graduates and adult family members eager to return to school and update their skills.

"Dr. Jackson has been an inspiration to many of us working in Chicago Public Schools,” adds Laura Muriello Executive Director of Pitch In. “She has found new and innovative ways to impact Chicago's kids, and we can't think of a better recipient for this inaugural award."

Proceeds from the evening will support Pitch In, and its mentoring program which aims to grow to serve seven school sites and impacting nearly 300 students through the after-school model , and 1,120 students with their in-school support model.

For more information on Pitch In or for tickets for the Storybook Gala, please visit www.pitchinchicago.org. If interested in becoming a mentor, please contact Allison Shackelford, Director of Community Engagement, at allison@pitchinchicago.org.