Welcome, Friends!

Friends of Breakthrough Schools is a non-profit development and advocacy organization. Friends of Breakthrough is responsible for closing the gap in public funding needed to provide quality education to thousands of children in Cleveland each year, as well as working with community, business, and political leaders to build city-wide support for high-quality public school options for all children in Cleveland.

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Get to Know Breakthrough

A Choice-Filled Life

Our latest video - was released at this year's Breakthrough BASH! Follow Josh back in time as he explores his time at Breakthrough Public Schools and reflects on the lessons that stuck with him into adulthood.

Join for Updates

Emerging Leaders

Are you a young professional looking to make an impact on Cleveland? 

Click here to learn about the Friends of Breakthrough Schools Emerging Leaders group leading the charge.  Get involved today!

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THANK YOU TO OUR 2023-2024
COMMUNITY PARTNER SPONSORS

Our students receive a high-quality education and thrive with the ongoing commitment and yearlong support of our community partners!

VIDEO GALLERY

Learn Today, Lead Tomorrow

Please enjoy this story of Parice as she goes from dreaming about launching rockets to actually doing it!

Belief, Passion, Courage, Commitment

Breakthrough students are up for any challenge! And, our educators provide the guidance and support needed to be successful in life.

Meet Our Alumni

Follow four class of 2017 students, 6th grade through college, in these short vignettes. 

Realizing Dreams

Dreams are being realized. Listen to the journey of Celeste, a Breakthrough alum, college graduate, and active Cleveland citizen!

Alumni Encouragement

Our Alumni are such a big help in motivating and encouraging our scholars!

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Semper Virens Legacy Society

The Semper Virens Legacy Society was established to recognize individuals who have made a long-term commitment to Breakthrough Schools and was created in concert with the recent formation of the Friends of Breakthrough Schools Legacy Fund of the Cleveland Foundation.

If you would like to learn more about legacy giving, which helps to ensure long-term financial stability through the preservation and investment of dollars for future benefit, click here or reach out to Susan Ertle.

Friends Board of Directors

Jeff Berlin
Chair

Dave Loomis
Secretary

Ed Bell
Treasurer

John LeMay
Vice Chair

Karen Long Cascio
Vice Chair

Tim Coughlin
Vice Chair

Megan Mayhugh
Vice Chair

Lauren Miller
Vice Chair

Larry Orwin
Vice Chair

Mary Herzak
At Large

Jeff Ahola

Jill Arena

Andrew Bennett

Rudy Bentlage

Matt Brewer

Molly Brown

Elle Carolan

James Carulas

Susan Chiancone

David Cook

Jeffrey Cristal

Michael Cristal

Tyler Dalton

Cosmoronde Danielly

Erin de la Mare

Mike de Windt

Lauryn Durham

Bill Fisher

Traci Forrester

Free Foutz

Wes Gillespie

Jim Huber

Celeste Kamasa Scott

Jim Kavalec

John King

William Koehler

Jim LeMay

Cecil Lipscomb

Charlie Lougheed

David Lowman

Michael Maroon

Dan Mascaro

Brock Milstein

Laura Mimura

Demari Muff

Craig Panzica

Jolyn Parker

Mario Pena

Michelle Perez

Peter Rome

Patti Schaar

Bryan Schauer

Seku Shabazz

Bob Sims

BJ Solaru

Sanjay Vyas

LIFETIME BOARD MEMBERS

Jeanette Grasselli Brown     l     David Gunning     l     Walter Kalberer     l     Michael Merriman     l     Bridget Moreno     l      John Sinnenberg

Contact Us

Friends of Breakthrough Office
(PLEASE NOTE NEW BLDG AND SUITE)

Phone: (216) 539-9349
3615 Superior Avenue
Building 44, Suite 4403D
Cleveland OH 44114

Friends of Breakthrough Team

John Zitzner, President
jzitzner@breakthroughschools.org
(216) 373-7801

Susan Ertle, Executive Director
sertle@breakthroughschools.org
(216) 373-7803

Timothy Mann, Senior Advancement Officer
tmann@breakthroughschools.org
(216) 373-2604

Karen Solomon, Senior Director of Annual Fund
ksolomon@breakthroughschools.org
(216) 373-2795

Kelly Berg, Senior Director of Engagement
kberg@breakthroughschools.org
(216) 373-2818

Colleen O'Brien, Director of Grants and Foundation Relations
cbrien@breakthroughschools.org
(216) 373-2688

Melodee McCrodden, Director of Annual Fund Operations and Stewardship
mmccrodden@breakthroughschools.org
(216) 373-8760

Kelly Clifford, Advancement Coordinator
kclifford@breakthroughschools.org
(216) 373-7411

Lisa Whitesell, Grants Administrator
lwhitesell@breakthroughschools.org

Alumni Success Team

Brianna Stephens, High School Programs Manager
bstephens@breakthroughschools.org

Brittany Hurd, Chief Alumni Success Officer
bhurd@breakthroughschools.org

Eric Baumgartner, Founder
ebaumgartner@breakthroughschools.org

Jillian Keller, Sr. Director of Postsecondary Success
jkeller@breakthroughschools.org

Kelly Berg, Sr. Director of Engagement
kberg@breakthroughschools.org

Nate Bartley, Director of Data & Salesforce Admin
nbartley@breakthroughschools.org

Jasmine Hawkins, High School Programs Manager
jhawkins@breakthroughschools.org

Jayda Wimbley, Alumni Success Coordinator
jwimbley@breakthroughschools.org

Jim Bennett, Senior Advisor
jbennett@breakthroughschools.org