The Windward Improv Troupe—or WIT, as it is known—is Windward School’s on campus Improv troupe. Members work in the classroom (it’s an elective) and on stage to learn the principles of improvisation, and then entertain guests at shows throughout the year.

Each month, the troupe holds one entirely improvised game show with $5 tickets. The tickets run out quickly as family members, students, and teachers of the Windward community race to get a seat at each show.

What is more important, however, is how the money raised from the tickets is used once the show is over.

The Windward improv troupe has designated several students to run the WIT charity board.

The board’s members—sophomores Mollie Gardner, Lexi Neiman, Juliet Sidoti, and a certain reporter for the Windwardian—carefully select a non-profit each month and give it the profits from that month’s WIT performance.

“Every single month, we meet and try to come up with a new topic that is relevant to current issues in our society,” explained Neiman.

“I love to perform for the audience, but it’s even better when I can use our profits to make others smile beyond the show.”

—Juliet Sidoti (’26)

For the November show, the team partnered with The Westside Food Bank. The West Side Food Bank’s contributions aid in children’s school performance, feeding veterans, prolonging the lives of senior citizens, helping the homeless, and allowing for low income families to dedicate more of their income to housing and medical care.

The WIT charity board wanted to reach out to the underprivileged during the holiday season and help families to have a meal on the table.

With each ticket purchased for the show, the troupe was able to provide 20 meals to the West Side Food Bank for families in need.

Earlier in the year, WIT donated their profits to the Children’s Hospital.

Costs of medical care for a surplus of children are immensely expensive. Donations to the hospital allow for children to have access to everything from diapers, to life-saving surgeries.

The WIT team has many ideas for the upcoming shows this year.

“For the April show, we want to use JDRF for our charity to raise money for their annual juvenile diabetes research walk,” said Sidoti. “The walk helps gather funds to aid scientists in finding a cure for the disease.”

“May is mental health month, so we wanted to find an organization that supports children and students suffering from mental health conditions,” she continued.

When asked what WIT’s nonprofit collaborations mean to her, Sidoti explained that it was about using the Windward community to help the less fortunate.

“For me, as well as the entire troupe, giving back through art makes me feel involved in the community and proud to support others around me,” she said. “I love to perform for the audience, but it’s even better when I can use our profits to make others smile beyond the show.”