As part of Bank of America’s “Making an Impact” initiative, they develop strong partnerships with nonprofit organizations focused on issues fundamental to economic mobility in low- and moderate-income communities.
71% of Chicago Public Schools (CPS) students come from low-income families. Implications of socioeconomic status have a direct effect on reading outcomes, students’ access to resources, experiences, language exposure, and academic outcomes. One way to positively affect economic mobility in Chicago is to improve reading outcomes. Strong reading skills are a key driver of socioeconomic mobility. They not only boost academic achievement—a powerful predictor of future economic and social mobility—but also equip individuals with the skills needed to secure better jobs and achieve higher lifetime earnings.
The WITS Mission and Program Model
WITS believes that literacy is the foundation on which all other learning develops. Our mission is to empower Chicago elementary students to discover themselves through reading while developing foundational literacy skills.
WITS is the largest provider of literacy enrichment programming and corporate partnerships in Chicago Public Schools (CPS). We deliver free programs to support both students and teachers. Our unique model offers companies like Bank of America weekly, literacy-based mentorship programs. By pairing students with dedicated mentors on a weekly basis, WITS ensures consistent, personalized support that transforms students’ attitudes towards reading and positively impacts both academic success and emotional well-being. By the end of the 2024-25 school year, 62% of WITS students had met or exceeded the national standard for reading level proficiency in their grade level. That is nearly double the rate of 37% for all students at schools with WITS programs.
How Our Missions Align
Bank of America addresses economic mobility and social progress by driving meaningful and sustainable progress to help address society’s biggest challenges by aligning its resources, including philanthropy and volunteer work.
Bank of America has partnered with WITS for almost 25 years, most recently partnering with John A. Walsh Elementary School in the WITS Mid-Day Mentoring (MDM) program. WITS MDM program pairs 2nd—4th grade students with corporate mentors for one-on-one, 45-minute reading sessions at CPS elementary schools. This program promotes fluency and comprehension skills and encourages students to love reading. A student’s love of reading plays a significant role in the development of their reading habits and reading skills. Reading for pleasure has significant academic benefits, including stronger comprehension, grammar, vocabulary, and writing ability. 91% of WITS students report that they enjoy reading for fun, up from 73% at the beginning of the school year. Without Bank of America’s support, WITS would not be able to achieve these impactful outcomes.
WITS is committed to our relationship with Bank of America and providing engaging mentorship programs that benefit their employees and support CPS students. 94% of MDM mentors say that participating in WITS provides them with a sense of fulfillment and purpose.
I have been participating in the WITS Mid-Day Mentoring program for the past 4 years. Besides helping students develop a love for reading throughout the school year, I especially enjoy watching my students develop the self-confidence to share their personality. – Mita Dixit, Bank of America Mentor and WITS Associates Board Member
Become a WITS Corporate Partner
In today’s competitive business landscape, corporations seek ways to engage and retain their employees. One of the most effective ways to do this is through a well-designed corporate engagement program. WITS is committed to cultivating long-term relationships with our corporate partners and providing engaging programming that benefits them and creates opportunities for all students in Chicago to be literate. WITS has over 30 years of experience partnering with Chicago corporations like Bank of America. There are many benefits to partnering with WITS:
- Turn-key programs that engage employees, leading to higher retention rates and employee satisfaction.
- A dedicated program coordinator to facilitate meaningful, research-supported programming.
- A streamlined way to give Chicago students and teachers access to age-appropriate, culturally specific books they currently lack access to.
- Exposure opportunities that highlight your company’s commitment to the city of Chicago.
If you are interested in becoming a WITS Corporate partner, please fill out our inquiry form.
