Tuesday, December 1, 2026
Giving Tuesday
Invest in the education of children in foster care for a brighter future. Every gift goes toward free weekly tutoring for a child in foster care.
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Prefer to mail a check? The WHIT Program, PO Box 928, San Angelo, TX 76902.
Weekly Hands-on Independent Tutoring
Children in foster care start out behind. We catch them up.
Free, weekly, one-on-one tutoring in reading and math for children in foster care across Texas.
University students across Texas
One hour a week can change a child’s future.
You don’t need to be a teacher. WHIT trains, screens and supports every volunteer tutor.
Serving children in foster care across Texas
Free tutoring that helps children in foster care catch up in school
Moving between homes and schools can interrupt learning at the exact time a child needs consistency most. WHIT matches each student with a trained volunteer tutor who shows up every week until the student reaches grade level.
- 700+children served to dateChildren in foster care served since WHIT began in 2021.
- 400+volunteer tutorsMatt Miiller and Rebekah Beltran oversee more than 400 volunteer tutors across Texas.
- 32colleges & universitiesColleges and universities connected with WHIT across Texas.
- $0cost to familiesTutoring is free to children in foster care and their families.
Our growth
From 28 children to more than 700
WHIT served 28 children in foster care in its first school year, 2021-22. Four years later, we have served more than 700 children in foster care across Texas.
Every new student needs a tutor who shows up each week. That is why we keep recruiting campuses across the state.
Four steps
How WHIT works
Simple, consistent and free to every family we serve.
Volunteer
Anyone over the age of 18 can volunteer to become a tutor.
Train
Volunteers are trained in tutoring, confidentiality, and spotting abuse and neglect.
Screen and match
After a background check, we match the tutor with a student who is behind in school.
Tutor weekly
Tutor and student meet every week, in reading and math, until the student reaches grade level.
Why it matters
The education gap is real
Students in foster care fall behind every group of Texas students, including students who are homeless.
Foster youth have the lowest graduation rate of any group tracked in Texas, and one in four drops out.
After foster care
Without support, the odds are stacked against them
- 50%of homeless people have been in foster care
- 40%of young people formerly in foster care will be homeless within two years
- 80%of prisoners have been in foster care
- 70%of girls in foster care are pregnant by 21
- 50%of young people formerly in foster care will be unemployed at 26
An education changes those odds. WHIT gives each student a tutor and a steady adult in their corner, every week, until they reach grade level.
Watch
See WHIT in action
We work with Child Protective Services to identify children in foster care who need help with reading and math. Children in foster care have the lowest high school graduation rate of any group tracked by the state of Texas, lower than low-income children, immigrant learners and even homeless children.
WHIT gives each student someone who shows up, helps them learn and encourages them to keep going.
Get involved
One student. One tutor. Real impact.
Whether you know a child who needs help or you are ready to volunteer, here is your next step.
Refer a student
For CPS caseworkers, judges, and CASA volunteers working with a child who is behind in school.
Start a referral →
Become a tutor
One hour a week. Training, screening and support included.
Why tutor →
Give
WHIT uses zero tax dollars and no government funding. Private gifts and grants keep tutoring free for every foster family.
Donate →
The heart behind WHIT
A legacy of caring for others
The WHIT Program is named for Whitney Thompson, the late daughter of founder Jennifer Lisson. Whitney inspired others with her love of people and her compassion for those less fortunate.
The program was established in her memory in 2021 with 28 children and 28 volunteer tutors. Today it is a statewide effort helping hundreds of children in foster care overcome educational challenges and build confidence.
In their own words
Tutoring changes more than a grade
Foster parents, students, tutors and caseworkers have seen what a consistent, caring tutor can do.
Campus Champions
University students are showing up across Texas
Our Campus Champions leaderboard counts WHIT tutors by college. Angelo State leads the way, with tutors from 26 colleges and universities and counting.
- 42Angelo State University
- 26Texas A&M University
- 25Texas Tech University
Latest news
Jennifer Lisson honored with a national Angels in Adoption award
WHIT founder and president Jennifer Lisson received the 2026 Angels in Adoption award through the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute, following a nomination by Congressman August Pfluger. She was also appointed to the Texas Department of Family and Protective Services Services and Support Subcommittee.
Growing across Texas
Thank you to our connected universities
The connected universities help connect college students with children in foster care who need academic support.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What is The WHIT Program?
The WHIT Program is a Texas nonprofit that provides free, weekly, one-on-one tutoring in reading and math to children in foster care. Trained volunteer tutors, most of them university students, are matched with a child who is behind in school and meet with that child every week until the child reaches grade level.
Why do children in foster care need tutoring?
Children in foster care start out behind. Moving between homes and schools can interrupt learning, and children in foster care have the lowest high school graduation rate of any group tracked by the state of Texas, lower than low-income children, immigrant learners and even homeless children. Only 62% of Texas foster youth graduate from high school, compared with 91% of students overall, and one in four drops out. Consistent weekly tutoring helps a child catch up and stay on track.
How many children in foster care does WHIT serve?
In the 2025-26 school year The WHIT Program is serving more than 700 children in foster care, up from 28 in 2021-22, 60 in 2022-23, 170 in 2023-24 and 320 in 2024-25.
Does a child have to live in a foster home to get a tutor?
No. A student involved with CPS can be referred even if the child is still living with their natural parents.
How much does tutoring cost foster families?
Nothing. WHIT tutoring is free to children in foster care and their families.
What are the requirements to become a tutor?
Every volunteer completes a background check, fingerprint screening (only necessary if you have been a Texas resident for less than 2 years) and WHIT tutor training before being matched with a student.
How can I donate to The WHIT Program?
Give online through PayPal on our Donate page, or mail a check to The WHIT Program, PO Box 928, San Angelo, TX 76902.
Help a child in foster care catch up
Refer a student, give one hour a week as a tutor, or make free tutoring possible with a gift.