Paying It Forward
Fifty years ago, the founding Pitches broke down barriers and democratized access to opportunities in the arts for women at Harvard, whose voices had long been marginalized. We are grateful for the groundbreaking leadership our founders demonstrated.
The Pitches of today look forward with a sense of shared responsibility to continue to pursue equity, accessibility, and inclusion over the next 50+ years.
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Our Mission, as we celebrate our 50th year, includes advancing our unwavering commitment to serving marginalized students and communities. We are developing innovative Confidence-Building curricula and master-classes to engage with young students of all genders and ages. We seek to support and inspirit our immediate communities and those we visit on our tours as they evolve through the complex and pressing issues of today.
Our Thesis: Creative expression fuels confidence-building and accomplishment in and outside the classroom, and across social, academic, business, cultural, and many other ecosystems.
Find out more about our upcoming and recent impact-driven events below.
Bread and Roses
In 2020, the United States marked the 100th Anniversary of Women’s suffrage with the 19th Amendment.
Recognized as trailblazers, the Pitches were invited by the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum to keynote the Library’s celebration of this critical advancement in our nation’s and civilization’s history.
At minute 10:57 of the above recording, the Pitches introduce the suffragette-inspired song “Bread and Roses”, reminding us all of the work that remains and the opportunity we have now and ahead of us to continue progress:
2020 is the 100th anniversary of the 19th Amendment, which means it's the 100th year that women get to vote in presidential elections. So to honor this anniversary, we wanted to include a separate anthem called Bread and Roses, which was based off of a 1912 speech given by suffragette Helen Todd.
In that speech Helen Todd expressed the ideal that she hoped suffrage would help achieve a world where all women had access to both necessities like food and shelter, which is bread in the metaphor, as well as experiences of beauty like art and music, which is roses, along with suffering. This was a phrase that was picked up by early 20th century labor movements as they fought for working people's rights.
So singing the song here before you today, we hope it can be a reflection on how far our country has come in the past 100 years working towards gender equality and women's political participation.
On the other hand, we also want it to serve as a reminder that we still have a long way to go in combating racism and sexism, xenophobia and poverty, and to work towards a world where all people, regardless of their background can have access to both Bread and Roses.
For nearly 50 years the Pitches have aligned ourselves to accelerate the outcomes of good work being realized both locally and globally through high-value initiatives like the Breast Cancer Research Foundation; Big Brothers Big Sisters; Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Annual Community Day; Meals on Wheels, and many others.
We are grateful for your thoughtful support of The Radcliffe Pitches.
— Grace Bida ‘26, President
Upcoming and Recent Community Engagement
This event is a joint fundraiser. Funds raised will support the Girls Gearing Up Leadership Academy that empowers and mentors young girls to take action in global issues confidently and sustainably. Funds will also support AWC Berlin's local 2025-2026 charity DonyA, a Wildwasser Berlin temporary residence group with 24-hour support for young women and girls in need of a safe home, many of whom are survivors of domestic violence. 100% of net proceeds will go to the two charities.
The Pitches were honored to sing with the Rosie's Place Chorus and celebrate their 50th anniversary at the annual “Funny Women... Serious Business” Boston luncheon in October 2024.
Rosie's Place was founded in 1974 as the first women’s shelter in the United States. Since then, it has provided tens of thousands of LGBTQIA+ women and their families with emergency shelter and meals, legal assistance, wellness care, housing and job searches, and the support needed to make a new start.
SAY! Somerville Arts for Youth
We performed with our friends, the Harvard Krokodiloes, the Harvard Din and Tonics, and the Yale Whiffenpoofs during our inaugural fundraiser concert for SAY! in October 2023.
SAY! believes the arts provide a unique opportunity for students with diverse talents, learning styles, strengths, and challenges to work together. The arts ask all students to expand their learning beyond traditional academic frameworks. Many students who may struggle with current curricular models flourish in arts education, and as their confidence rises, so does their academic performance.
Breast Cancer Research Foundation
The Radcliffe Pitches have been partnering with our peer a cappella groups the Harvard Fallen Angels and the ‘Cliffe Notes for two decades to raise money for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation. Every October, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, our groups come together to perform and fundraise for the cause.
The Melrose Emergency Fund
The Pitches hosted a benefit concert in 2018 for the Melrose Emergency Fund, which was originally established in 1996 after 25 families in Melrose, Massachusetts were displaced by two fires. The fund provides “relief and aid to resident families found in emergency need.” Since that time, the Melrose Emergency Fund has accepted and disbursed hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations to Melrose families, with a focus on basic needs such as food, rent, and utilities.
