THE ADDISON L. WITT FOUNDATION
FOR THEATRE AND THE ARTS
Created in loving memory of Addison L. Witt, the Foundation provides scholarships for Mercy High School Seniors pursuing a degree in theatre or the arts, while helping people understand the signs and risks of pulmonary embolism.
The Addison L. Witt Foundation will provide one $5,000 scholarship to a graduating Mercy High School student pursuing a degree in theatre or the arts, or who can show dedication to the Mercy Performing Arts Department.
THE STORY BEHIND THE FOUNDATION
Addison’s story is one of creativity, possibility, and a deep love for theatre and the arts. During her time at Mercy High School, she found meaning not only in the stories brought to life onstage, but also in the imagination, collaboration, and dedication behind every production.
In the wake of an unimaginable loss, Addison’s family and community came together to honor her in a way that reflects who she is and what she loved. The Addison L. Witt Foundation for Theatre and the Arts carries her passion forward by helping Mercy High School Seniors continue their education and pursue dreams of their own.
Pulmonary embolism awareness is also an important part of Addison’s story. By helping others better understand its signs and risks, the Foundation hopes to bring greater awareness, encourage earlier action, and help protect other families.
Through every student supported and every person reached, Addison’s love of theatre and the arts continues to create possibility.
Our Mission
Every student who dares to dream deserves the opportunity to follow it. We honor Addison by helping Mercy students take the next step toward a future in theatre and the performing arts.
We provide scholarships for Mercy High School Seniors pursuing college degrees in theatre or the arts.
Financial support helps students continue developing their talents, exploring their interests, and building the futures they imagine.
We raise awareness about pulmonary embolism to educate people about its risks, its warning signs, and when to seek immediate help.
MAY 21, 2027 NORTHVILLE HILLS GOLF CLUB
Join us for the first annual Playbill: Driving for Degrees golf outing, a day of golf, connection and giving in honor of Addison. Every swing helps support scholarships for young artists and advance pulmonary embolism awareness.
More information coming soon. Contact addisonwittfoundation@gmail.com to get involved or for sponsorship information.
PULMONARY EMBOLISM AWARENESS
Pulmonary embolism is an important part of Addison’s story and of the work the Foundation carries forward in her memory.
A pulmonary embolism occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs. Recognizing possible warning signs and seeking immediate medical attention can save a life.
Sudden or unexplained shortness of breath can be a warning sign.
Chest pain or discomfort that becomes worse with a deep breath or cough should not be ignored.
Sharing clear information so more people recognize the warning signs and understand when to seek help.
Creating conversations that turn awareness into action and help families advocate for themselves and others.
FOUNDATION LEADERSHIP
President
Secretary
Treasurer
Director
Director
Director
Director
in addison’s words
FAQs
Scholarships are intended for graduating Mercy High School Seniors who plan to pursue a degree in theatre or the arts, or a student who can show dedication to the Mercy Performing Arts Department during their tenure at Mercy. Complete eligibility requirements and application details will be shared for each scholarship cycle.
Donations primarily support student scholarships, along with future educational programs, events and initiatives that further the Foundation’s mission. Every contribution helps create new opportunities for young artists.
You can support the Foundation by making a donation, attending an event, becoming a sponsor, sharing its mission or joining the email list for future updates and opportunities.
Join the Foundation’s email list and follow along on Facebook and Instagram for scholarship announcements, upcoming events, Foundation news and ways to get involved.
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Your support helps create opportunities for students in theatre and the arts while advancing pulmonary embolism awareness.
Addison’s creativity, compassion and love of storytelling came through clearly in her own words. This essay offers a glimpse into how deeply theatre shaped the way she saw the world.
Most people read The Outsiders for the hot guys, but for me, the attractiveness was within the personality and experiences of the characters. Ponyboy Curtis always stuck out to me. He was the youngest, the most hyper-observant in the group, had a glass half-full mindset, and I came to realize, I had all the same things. I’m not only the youngest of five children, but I’m also the only girl. Ponyboy understands all of his friends’ minds and how they work. He knows he is still young enough to change his thoughts and how he sees the world. That spoke volumes to me. I’m grateful for Ponyboy because he exemplifies that it’s normal to not fit in everywhere you go. He proves that as long as you have a support group, you can tackle any obstacle. Through elementary and middle school, I had always felt like an outsider. I seemed to constantly analyze everyone around me, but no one would even look at me. The long, dark-haired girl was always the girl who bullied me the most. Everyone idolized her, so she felt she could bully those who didn’t. She would push me, make back-handed comments like “I love how your glasses cover your eyebrows,” and then all her friends would laugh. She made up a “fake” person and would tell everyone about how weird she was, how ugly she was, and how loud she was. I came to find out years later, she was talking about me.The dark-haired girl and her friends were my Socs, they never even tried to see the good parts of me. I wanted to transfer every year I was there. After reading The Outsiders, I wanted to see the dark-haired girl and her friends how Ponyboy saw the Socs. He realized that they have issues too, and everyone is just trying to get by. I took this perception of life and applied it into my life. I saw them as people who were struggling, too. I found out the dark-haired girl had lots of issues with her parents, and I started to see her as a girl who was battling with family issues, and couldn’t help but push that onto others, even if it was just me. While Pony’s escapism is the movies, mine ended up being the story and the entire world of The Outsiders.
As I moved throughout the rest of middle school, I found myself indulging in the world any chance I could get, any time I was feeling down, there I was, right back in the story. Relating to Ponyboy helped me to find myself and pivoted my view of life to glass half-full, instead of always being glass half-empty. As I went to high school, I noticed life wasn’t all that bad. I escaped the “weird girl” box my middle school classmates had put me into, just like Ponyboy curbed the systematic separation of his hometown. I was finally seen as just a normal girl, and not someone who no one wanted to hang out with. Through The Outsiders, I found all the parts of myself I could appreciate. My hyper-observant mind is something to celebrate. My hair, my eyes, my caring personality, my ability to see others as more than just how they present themselves. I found that life truly wasn’t as bad as I was making it out to be. High school aided me in finding those true friends, my greasers, and getting to that “other side” I didn’t know existed. Finding those friends that supported me and loved me for who I was highlighted the importance of having a support group around you, especially in those tough times. Everyone was more mature and cared less about me, since they were too busy caring about themselves.
Through relating to Ponyboy and experiencing the world of The Outsiders, I started to indulge myself in more books, finding ways to relate myself to the characters in new literature. Everything I’d read, I would find a way to insert myself into that story. I had only ever read books because I had to, but I noticed relating myself to the characters was a form of escapism I didn’t know I needed. The immense gratitude I felt towards Ponyboy motivated me to seek out reading as more of a hobby than just a thing I had to do for school. I read Hearstopper and found my struggle with bullying through Charlie. I read The Summer I Turned Pretty and found my escaping from the “weird girl” box and becoming a normal girl in high school through Belly. The gratitude I felt for Ponyboy has served me through the rest of my life by motivating me to go out and find those friends who supported me, experiencing true friends, having an overall better quality of life, and actually enjoying school for the first time in my life.
