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.
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!
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!
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
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