Since 2016, Chicago Athletic Association has exemplified the WITS values of consistency, community, and empowerment through their financial and mentorship investment in WITS. WITS is thankful for Chicago Athletic Association’s robust partnership, participation in our program, and support of our mission. We are proud to present them with the Alter and Stone Award at the WITS Blackboard Affair, “Planting Seeds for Literacy.” The Alter and Stone Award celebrates WITS founders Joanne Alter and Marion Stone and recognizes those who have dedicated time, energy, and passion to help students work toward academic success.
For the past eight years, Chicago Athletic Association (CAA) has partnered with third grade students from Drake Elementary, located in the Bronzeville neighborhood next to Dearborn Homes, for the WITS Mid-Day Mentoring program. Once a week, CAA mentors are transported from the loop to Drake Elementary, where they meet with their students for forty-five minutes, enjoying shared reading, conversation, and relationship-building activities. Students are always actively engaged in program activities, enjoy reading with their mentors, and have overwhelmingly reported that spending time with their mentors was their favorite part of the program. Similarly, CAA mentors have created a strong bond with their students and enjoyed their time in the program.
“Chicago Athletic Association has had over 140 team members from nearly every department mentor more than 75 third graders. When looking for a community partner, we chose WITS because we love Chicago and want to do our part to make it the best city in the world. We believe equity and opportunity are critical to this mission, and literacy is one of the paths to deliver this.”
Patrick Hatton, Vice President of Field Operations for Hyatt Lifestyle Hotels & Vice President of the WITS Board of Directors
WITS is comprised of over thirty Chicago elementary schools, a network of hundreds of students, teachers, and volunteers, and over thirty Chicago corporations. At WITS, we are committed to cultivating long-term relationships with our partners and providing engaging programming that benefits our corporate partners and creates opportunities for all Chicago students to be literate.
Thank you, Chicago Athletic Association, for eight strong years of community-building through literacy-based mentorship. We are excited to celebrate Chicago Athletic Association and their commitment to WITS by honoring them as the 2024 Blackboard Affair Alter & Stone Awardee.
