WITS proudly recognizes the following honorees from the 2009 Founders Day Award Reception.  Thank you for your continued dedication to WITS and our students!

Honoree Spotlights

Nancy Gray - Outstanding Volunteer

Nancy was first introduced to the harsh reality of Cabrini Green as a case worker back in 1949. After retiring in 1990, Nancy realized she wanted to remain involved with Chicago's youth. With her desire to spread compassion and empathy lead her to volunteer with WITS. Nancy began her volunteer experience as a reading buddy in the Head Start/Early Childhood classrooms in Cabrini Green public schools.

Dedicated to the WITS mission, Nancy not only volunteered in the classroom, but she also helped in the WITS office as well. She coordinated bus schedules, mobilized volunteers, and played a tremendous role in the grassroots years of the organization - all as a volunteer. Having participated in WITS programs since 1994, Nancy has watched the organization and its volunteer base steadily grow and expand reaching more children and new neighborhoods.

Having worked in several schools around Chicago, Nancy has spent the past two years at Jenner School. Unlike most volunteers, Nancy tutors in the classroom two days a week instead of one, so that she can "get as connected as possible to the kids."

When asked about her favorite WITS moment, Nancy replied with an honest smile, "There have been so many wonderful moments and I look forward to each day of volunteering. I particular like building a relationship with each student - I hug each one every day I tutor as they come into the room."

Tim Trotter - Outstanding Volunteer

Tim has played an instrumental role at WITS -in both a volunteer and organizational capacity. A WITS volunteer since 1997, Tim began by reading with students at Jenner School through his then employer, EVEREN Securities. Passionate about the WITS mission and wanting to do more for the cause, Tim helped form the organization's Junior Board in 2000 for young professionals who wanted to make a difference at WITS on a leadership level. Since its inception, the Junior Board has raised over $300,000 for the WITS mission; a tremendous accomplishment that would not have been possible without Tim's dedication.

Throughout his career path, Tim has remained resiliently involved with WITS programs. Moving to ABN AMRO/LaSalle Bank, Tim continued tutoring with WITS through the Power Lunch and Workplace Mentoring programs until 2007. In addition to volunteering during the week through his work, Tim has managed to remain an active volunteer in Saturday program as well. He has been reading on Saturday mornings at Walsh School since 2002 making this his seventh year in that program!

When asked what he enjoys most about volunteering with WITS, Tim explains "it's the one-on-one relationship with a student and seeing him/her develop into a better reader. Improving the reading skills of kids is very rewarding as it is really a building block of their future." He reflects, "Volunteering with WITS has made me more patient and a better listener. It has given me a deeper understanding of the power of learning and the doors it can open for children. It has also been great to see the WITS organization become what it is today!"

Dawn Meyers - Outstanding Volunteer

Dawn has been a Power Lunch tutor since Northern Trust became a partner six years ago. As a Northern Trust employee, Dawn saw the opportunity to volunteer during her work day and to combine two things she loves - reading and kids. She has been an active volunteer in Power Lunch program ever since.

While based out of the Naperville office, Dawn comes into the city on Wednesday just so that she can tutor at Peabody School. In her six years at Peabody, Dawn has gone above and beyond her expectations as a reading buddy - organizing class field trips, holiday parties, and making sure all her students receive gifts around the holidays.

When asked what she enjoys most about being a WITS volunteer, Dawn states, "Seeing the kids smiling faces. I can be having a touch day at work and they just wipe all that away. I love seeing the kids year-after-year and watching them grow up. I know this is a ‘tutoring' program for reading, but a lot of this is building relationships with the child." She summarizes her experience by explaining, "I was not blessed with children, so this has given me the opportunity to combine two things I love, reading and kids. I have gotten back 100x anything I have done for Peabody!"

Dawn also participates in the CPS sponsored Principal-For-A-Day program and has been the acting "Principal" at Peabody for four years now.

Kristen Strahorn - Outstanding Volunteer

Kristen joined the WITS volunteer force in 2002 through our Corporate Volunteer Programs. An employee of Credit Suisse, a WITS partner, Kristen participates in the Workplace Mentoring program where every Wednesday students from Manierre School come to her office for tutoring. Kristen not only participates as a tutor, but she has also coordinated the program for the Credit Suisse office since 2006 - spearheading educational field trips and planning holiday parties for her students and coworkers.

Having participated in WITS programs for seven years now, Kristen explains, "The very best thing about being a WITS volunteer is the way the students' faces light up when they receive positive and encouraging words. I love to watch as the students' confidence levels increase during that one hour they spend with their volunteer. Aside from that, the kids just make me laugh!"

An active philanthropist in Chicago and around the world, Kristen spends her free time as the Treasurer of the Women's Board of Art Therapy Connection and has traveled on international service missions to places like Mexico and Angola.
When asked why she participates in the WITS programs, Kristen responds, "I just find a lot of fulfillment in serving others. I have always had a heart for underserved children so that is generally where I direct my time and energy."

Founding Early Childhood Volunteers

Five years ago, WITS recognized the ever apparent need for early childhood education programs in our partnering Chicago Public Schools. Thus, with the help of generous donors, WITS established its newest program - the Early Childhood Program in 2005.

Beginning at Nash School, WITS recruited six dedicated volunteers from diverse backgrounds to take part in this pilot program. Not knowing what exactly they had signed up for, our volunteers entered the programs with smiles on their faces ready to learn and to make a difference. Now in its fourth year, the program has expanded into three more schools with plans for continued growth next fall.

Cindy Herst, a former preschool teacher, found her niche reading one-on-one with the early childhood students right from the beginning. Working with the children for an entire year gives Cindy the rewarding opportunity to see each one of her students blossom. In her spare time, Cindy also volunteers with the Chicago Lights program at Fourth Presbyterian Church where she has tutored the same student, now a sixth grader, for three years. Cindy explains "I was brought up in a family where volunteering was a way of life. So I believe in giving back to the community."

Gloria Taylor has dedicated her time to philanthropic causes around the Chicagoland area. She volunteers for several other organizations including the MS Society (4 years), the Freedom Museum (2 years), and the 1150 Board for her Condo Association (10 years). When asked what volunteering with WITS means to her, Gloria explains, "Volunteering with WITS gives me a sense of purpose as well as an opportunity to give back to all the children that we are privileged to work with in this meaningful reading program."

Jean Lubliner has been an early childhood volunteer for four years. As a WITS tutor, Jean thoroughly enjoys watching her students change and grow as the school year progresses. As she explains, the children are always somewhat reluctant at first, but they soon learn the routine and find joy in choosing their favorite books and having someone sit and share it just with them. "There are so many needs and needy people in today's world, and I'm happy to be able to give a little of my time to help address one of those needs," Jean shares. "I have always believed that literacy is important for being successful in life and that recreational reading is a great joy. I hope that the time I spend with WITS will help these children learn to love reading as I do."

For Grace Leen, working with students in Chicago Public Schools was not unfamiliar to her when she joined WITS four years ago. A previous volunteer for the Cabrini Green Tutoring Program, Grace has always welcomed the opportunity to help children at an early age learn and love to read. The daughter of a school teacher, Grace understands the importance of reading in a child's early development and enjoys tutoring with WITS because of her direct impact on society through a school system. An avid reader herself, Grace exclaims, "The interaction with the children every Wednesday makes my day!"

Elizabeth Hand dedicated 36 years to teaching primary education in Chicago Public Schools. After retiring, Elizabeth wanted to remain involved with her passion for education and found WITS tutoring program to be the perfect fit. A volunteer for Junior Achievement of Chicago and the Chicago Lights Tutoring program as well, Elizabeth remains an active humanitarian in Chicago. Elizabeth loves volunteering with WITS because as she states, "It gives me the opportunity to interact with young students and still keep my foot in the door of education."

Wili Tolentino has had a tremendous impact on the Early Childhood Program. As the first male in the program, Wili was instantly a favorite among all the boy students who still fight over reading with him. Wili's gentle demeanor and enthusiasm for reading has made him a wonderful role model for the students. An active participant in the community, Wili also volunteers at a local soup kitchen and a senior citizen visiting program.

JoAnne Robinson - Inspiring Teacher

JoAnne has been a shining supporter of the Saturday Tutoring Program since its inception in 2001. A first grade teacher at Walsh School, JoAnne took on the role as school coordinator and liaison for the program - giving up her weekend to help students succeed.

JoAnne gives up her Saturday mornings to help coordinate the program without any complaints because as she states, "The students are in need of more one-on-on reading time." She adds, "While the teachers do try to give our students one-on-one attention, sometimes they simply can't with 25 or more students in the classroom."
Thus JoAnne, or Ms. Robinson as the students refer to her, has graciously sacrificed her "day-off" for the past eight years to oversee the program. Under her leadership and with the help of the Junior Board, the Saturday Program has grown from a dozen to over seventy volunteers since its beginning. While she is not financially compensated for her weekend work, JoAnne remains humbly satisfied in seeing and witnessing first-hand the impact the program has on each of her students. She finds great joy in watching the relationships develop between the students and tutors each school year!

Lauren Thal - Exemplary Junior Board Member

Having joined the Saturday Tutoring Program and Junior Board two years ago, Lauren immediately gravitated to a leadership role. As Chair of the Events Committee for the 2009 Blackboard Affair (the Junior Board's annual fundraiser) Lauren helped organize one of WITS most successful Junior Board events in its history! Actively engaged with WITS, Lauren organizes social events for the Junior Board members and she will lead this summer's mural painting project at Walsh Elementary School, where she and seventy other volunteers participate in the Saturday Program.

"Besides being able to work with a passionate and dedicated group of WITS employees and volunteers, the best part of being a WITS volunteer is the opportunity to establish a 1:1 relationship with a student through the Saturday Tutoring Program," Lauren explains.

Lauren has been actively engaged in philanthropic work since she was a little. "Starting from frequent visits to the Ronald McDonald House in grade school to developing a marketing plan for a Chicago-based children's advocacy group while in graduate school to my current involvement with WITS, volunteering has always been a part of my life." In fact, Lauren first found out about WITS after volunteering in New York with Everybody Wins!, a sister program of WITS that runs the Power Lunch program in the Big Apple.

Charlie Trotter - Treasured Friend

Chef Trotter has been actively involved in the WITS mission since 2003 when he first donated the exquisite 8-course meal at a WITS wine dinner and auction. What began as an intimate dinner to raise funds for WITS programs became a yearly occurrence after the overwhelming success of the event. Year after year, Chef Trotter has donated his talent, a staff of twenty, and all the food for this spectacular dinner.

Since the first event in 2003, Chef Trotter's wine dinners have raised over half-a-million dollars for the WITS mission! With the funds raised at last year's event, over $250,000 in total, WITS was able to expand the early childhood program into two new schools and establish an endowment - an amazing milestone for the 18-year-old organization!

However, his unyielding generosity does not end there. Not only has he generously continued to donate the exquisite foods and service for this outstanding event, but he has personally donated rare wines from his cellar and 10-course dinners in private residences around the country - all auctioned to raise additional funds for the WITS cause.

"The pleasure and gratification associated with partnering with WITS is only exceeded by the benefit it brings to the students. Over the past years, I am truly pleased we have been able to raise so much for students that are so deserving," explains Chef Trotter.