Breakthrough Woodland Hills
New Gym & Multipurpose Facility Expansion
In December 2024, Breakthrough Woodland Hills broke ground on a $2.9 million expansion to enhance student life and better serve our community.
And we are thrilled to announce that on January 29, 2026 – the air outside may have been chilly, but the energy inside was electric – we welcomed many guests (including State and City officials, partners from Marous Construction, donors, board members, faculty and staff, and the families of our Breakthrough Woodland Hills campus) and community members to celebrate the long-awaited opening of our new gym and multipurpose facility!
The festivities kicked off with a high-energy welcome from the Woodland Hills Lions cheerleading squad. The moment we had all been waiting for arrived - the ribbon was officially cut by Breakthrough CEO, Andrew McRae and Breakthrough Woodland Hills Campus Principal, Ron Brownrigg, ushering our guests into the beautiful new space.
Why we're excited
-
10,000 sq. ft. gym and multipurpose space
-
A dedicated cafeteria to improve meal service
-
Expanded office and storage space
-
A true home court for sports and school events
honoring a champion
This exciting project is a reality thanks to a remarkable fundraising effort—led in part by Friends of Breakthrough Board Member Larry Orwin, who took on the grueling Badwater 135 ultramarathon in Death Valley twice to raise support. Thanks to Larry and many generous donors, our scholars will soon have more space to learn, grow, and play.
thank you!
This milestone would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our community. Thank you for helping us provide our students and neighbors with this beautiful new addition to the Breakthrough Woodland Hills Campus - a place to play, gather, and grow!
Breakthrough Southeast
New Playground & Courtyard
In 2023, our Southeast campus opened a brand-new courtyard and playground designed to be safe, inclusive, and welcoming. The playground includes ADA-compliant features and a Buddy Bench—a space where friendships begin and every scholar feels they belong. This inviting outdoor area is a daily reminder of how learning extends beyond the classroom.
Literacy Tutoring Pilot
Amplify Learning
Last year, your donations helped launch the Amplify Literacy Tutoring Program, a pilot initiative designed to close reading gaps for scholars in grades 3–6.
Program highlights
-
Individual assessments to identify reading gaps
-
Research-aligned, small-group virtual tutoring
-
Focus on accelerated progress
The results were encouraging, with participating scholars making measurable gains. Because of you, we’re one step closer to ensuring every scholar becomes a confident, capable reader.
Nurturing Well-Rounded Scholars
Social-Emotional Learning & Support
Strong partnerships and a commitment to scholar well-being helped us implement impactful social-emotional learning (SEL) initiatives during the 2023–24 school year.
Key milestones
-
In-School Reflection (ISR) rooms at every campus, reducing out-of-school suspensions by 80% and in-school suspensions by 33%.
-
SEL classes available to all scholars, focused on emotional wellness, identity-affirmation, and life skills.
-
Expanded learning through our continued partnership with Open Doors Academy, including after-school enrichment and a 2024 summer camp focused on academic and social-emotional growth.
Scholars participating in these programs saw a 74% improvement in math and a 60% improvement in ELA from trimester one to trimester two.
Enhancing Classrooms, Empowering Educators
Teacher Support Fund
We launched a Teacher Support Fund exclusively for classroom teachers and principals to support the incredible educators at Breakthrough. This fund allows educators to access discretionary dollars for classroom enhancements not covered by regular budgets, helping them go the extra mile for their scholars.
Support Friends of Breakthrough
Help Us Help Cleveland Scholars & Teachers
Together, we're building more than just schools—we're building futures. Thank you for investing in our mission and the lives of our scholars.
As we continue our mission to support and uplift Cleveland's inner-city schools, we ask that you consider making a donation to Friends of Breakthrough. Every contribution, no matter the amount, makes a meaningful impact in helping us provide essential resources to our students and schools.