Twenty years ago, Bobbi Wolf made what many would consider a risky career move. At 57, she retired from her secure teaching position at Bala Cynwyd Middle School to chase a dream that seemed impossible: creating a performing arts center that would welcome every child, regardless of their abilities or circumstances. 

Today, Wolf Performing Arts Center serves over 1,000 students annually, proving that sometimes the biggest leaps of faith yield the most extraordinary results. As a devoted mother to her son, Matthew, and daughters Betsy and Samantha and now grandmother of four, Bobbi’s personal experiences as both educator and parent shaped her unwavering commitment to inclusion and acceptance in everything she built.

Bobbi Wolf is a 2025 Main Line Parent Women of Influence Award Winner

Main Line Parent’s Women of Influence Awards celebrate exceptional women making significant impacts in our community. Bobbi was nominated by a Wolf PAC parent, Stephanie Tomei, and selected based on her achievements and dedication to creating positive change in her community. Each Women of Influence Award Winner has committed to support Family Focus Media’s core values. Together, we are committed to foster a sense of belonging and empowerment for all for all families. All backgrounds, races, genders, and sexual orientations are welcome and safe with us.

Beyond the awards, our Women of Influence Luncheons and Speed Networking Night attendees come together as our Women of Influence Network, a community fostering connections, collaboration, and mutual support. 

The Curtain Opens on the Next Stage

Bobbi’s path to founding Wolf PAC wasn’t sparked by a single moment, but by years of working with children and theater in an educational setting. In addition to teaching students in the Gifted Program at Bala Cynwyd Middle School, she developed the after school theater program. 

“I did all I could with theater education in public school, but I wanted to do more.” Bobbi explains. “I wanted more children to grow from this opportunity because I saw firsthand what theatre can give children – self-confidence, creativity, acceptance, cooperation and respect.” 

The turning point came during a visit to another children’s performing arts center with her daughter, Betsy. On the drive home, Bobbi posed the question that would change everything: “Do you think we could start a place like that?” Their shared “yes” became the spark for Wolf PAC, which officially launched in 2005 after Bobbi’s early retirement from Lower Merion School District.

The Power of Personal Experience

Bobbi’s approach to inclusion stems from deeply personal roots. Her daughter Samantha, now 51, has multiple disabilities including cerebral palsy, a seizure disorder, and intellectual disabilities – challenges that profoundly shaped Bobbi’s perspective. “She made me into the fighter I am today. I know how to go after what I want,” Bobbi reflects. 

Early memories of taking Samantha shopping and watching children and adults “back away” from someone who was different fueled her determination to create spaces where differences are celebrated. “Instead of backing away from that difference, I wanted people to start accepting the difference and applauding the difference and know the value of every person.”

This philosophy became the heart of Wolf PAC’s mission, embodied in Bobbi’s guiding principle: “Children who create do not destroy.” This belief, she notes, applies to multiple levels—from preventing violence to combating the self-destruction she sees affecting too many young people today.

Building Community, One Child at a Time

What started as a small organization has grown beyond Bobbi’s wildest expectations. The most surprising development? Their summer camp program – something she initially resisted. “I remember saying we don’t need another summer program. “There are so many camps in this area. The last thing we need is another camp, but I was wrong!” she recalls.  Today, that same camp represents Wolf PAC’s largest program by enrollment and continues to grow with its professional staff, creative, inclusive programs, and flexible schedule.

The stories of transformation keep Bobbi connected to Wolf PAC’s mission. She remembers one shy little boy “madly in love with Peter Pan” who attended an early fundraising event at an ice cream shop. Too timid to even look at the older students, he’s now a college student majoring in theater and working as a camp counselor at Wolf PAC, having starred in show after show throughout his journey.

“It’s amazing the number of children who are graduates who are back at Wolf PAC,” Bobbi notes. “Even one is there full-time now.” The continuity extends to families — students from her original middle school teaching days now bring their own children to Wolf PAC programs.

Seamless Leadership Transition

In 2020, Bobbi made another bold decision. During a reflective moment on the beach, she realized it was time to step back. “I was down the shore on the beach early one morning alone with a seagull. We were looking at each other eye to eye and I said out loud, ‘You know what? It’s time.'”

Bobbi’s decision to hand over leadership to her daughter Betsy Wolf and former student Sarah Wittwer proved especially timely—just as COVID-19 struck. “Those two brilliant women knew how to go online and create Zoom programs,” Bobbi explains. “I was very careful with finances and left Wolf PAC in a healthy place. Even with the challenge of COVID, they were able to make it work.”

The transition feels natural to Bobbi, who compares her current role being a grandparent to Wolf PAC’s future with the next generation. “It was time to step back, let them grow and learn from all they do. It is not up to me to make the decisions. I trust them and am so very proud of this next generation of Wolf PAC leaders.” 

The Scholarship Mission

Community acceptance has been overwhelmingly positive, with only minor challenges. This strong support fuels Wolf PAC’s robust scholarship program, which awarded over $60,000 last year. Reflecting the organization’s values, some of the funding comes from the children themselves through their “Make-A-Change” camp initiative.

“All too many people believe that because of our location we don’t need scholarships. That is not true,” Bobbi emphasizes.”Our doors are open to children from surrounding counties including Montgomery, Delaware, Chester and Philadelphia.”

Multi-Generational Impact

Wolf PAC has become a true family affair. Four generations have worked together in the organization—Bobbi’s mother helped in the office before she passed away, followed by Bobbi, Betsy, and now Bobbi’s granddaughter who’s heading into eighth grade. “That’s very special. Family is most important. That’s why I believed in also getting parents involved to make this a real community, family-oriented organization.”

The family nature extends beyond blood relations. Bobbi describes starting Wolf PAC with a “friendship board, not a fundraising board” of trusted advisors who provided guidance on crucial decisions like choosing nonprofit status over for-profit structure.

Looking Forward

Despite Wolf PAC’s success, Bobbi has one remaining dream: “A place of our own – our own performing arts center. I want to be there to cut the ribbon.” Currently, the organization operates as “vagabonds,” renting performance spaces because their black box theatre can’t accommodate all their productions.

Her advice for other educators or community leaders considering starting a nonprofit reflects her pragmatic optimism: “Believe in yourself, believe in your cause. Think carefully about your mission and follow it.  Do what I always do and surround yourself with the best people.”

Looking back, Bobbi has one regret: ” I often wish I had started Wolf PAC sooner so I could have been active longer.” But she also recognizes the perfect timing—the need was there, the community was ready, and the support system was strong.

Creating Safe Spaces

In today’s challenging climate, Wolf PAC’s role as a safe haven feels more crucial than ever. “Wolf PAC is a safe place and creative people need that place,” Bobbi observes. Her hope for the organization’s future under Betsy and Sarah’s leadership centers on continuing this mission: To provide a safe, inclusive space for young people to express their authentic selves through learning and experiencing theatre. “I have confidence that acceptance and respect will always be at the heart of Wolf PAC’s mission.” 

The scholarship program remains close to her heart, knowing that financial barriers shouldn’t prevent any child from experiencing the transformative power of theatre. Students continue arriving who mirror her early experiences—shy children who find their voices, their confidence, and their people through the magic of creating together.

A Legacy of Acceptance

Bobbi Wolf’s influence reaches far beyond the hundreds of performances Wolf PAC has staged. By creating a space where children are celebrated for who they are rather than asked to conform, she’s fostered a generation of confident, creative individuals who carry those lessons into their communities.

Her willingness to take risks—leaving a stable teaching career, starting a nonprofit at 57, transitioning leadership during a pandemic—demonstrates the kind of courage that creates lasting change. The shy children who become confident performers, the families who find community, and the graduates who return as staff all stand as proof of  what happens when someone refuses to accept limitations and chooses to build something better.

Today, as Wolf PAC continues growing under new leadership, Bobbi’s legacy is secure. She didn’t just create a performing arts center; she built a movement proving that when we invest in children’s creativity and self-worth, we invest in a brighter future for everyone. In a world that often asks children to fit in, Bobbi Wolf created a place where they could simply belong—and that has made all the difference.

Follow @wolfperformingarts on Instagram.  |  Connect with Bobbi Wolf on LinkedIn.

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