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News & Events
Shop and Dine for Breakthrough!
Breakthrough is partnering with two local companies, Trolley Car Diner and Whole Foods Plymouth Meeting to raise money to support academic enrichment for our students and internships for our teachers. See details for each below!
Whole Foods - Nickels for Nonprofits
July 19 - September 26
Beginning July 19th, shoppers who bring their own bags to Whole Foods Plymouth Meeting will be given a nickel credit per bag that they can donate back to Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia!
Just look for the donation box on your way out and choose Breakthrough!
Breakthrough will be a recipient agency from July 19th through September 26th, so shop often, and don't forget your bags!
Trolley Car Diner - Helping Hands Fundraiser
July 26 - August 1
Enjoy a great meal and friendly atmosphere at the Trolley Car Diner and Deli between July 26th and August 1st (Monday - Friday 7AM - 9PM; Saturday and Sunday 3PM - 9PM), and 15% of the cost of your meal will be donated to Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia!
All you need to do is eat, drink, and present this special coupon when paying the cashier. Enjoy entrees, appetizers, milkshakes and ice cream!! The more you spend, the more money that will go to Breakthrough!
2010 Summer Visiting Days
At Breakthrough, we love to show off the great work of our students and teachers, so please visit us -- and bring your friends, colleagues and loved ones!
Breakthrough Visiting Days are one-hour events that give donors, friends, community members, and teachers an inside look at Breakthrough. Stop by this summer for an opportunity to visit our classrooms and meet our students, student teachers, board and staff.
Thursday, July 8
Friends Select School
High School Leaders Academy
1651 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Auditorium - First Floor
9:15 - 10:15 AM
Metered parking is available on the streets surrounding the school. There is also a parking lot located at 16th and Vine Streets for a $10 flat rate.
Thursday, July 15
Germantown Friends School
Middle School Program
31 W. Coulter St.
Meeting House
9:00 - 10:00 AM
Wednesday, July 28
Saint Joseph's University
Middle School Program
Maguire Campus
9:15 - 10:15 AM
Please let us know at least two days in advance if you plan to attend.
215-951-2398
development@breakthroughphilly.org
Celebration!
Friday evening, August 6th
Germantown Friends School and St. Joseph's University.
(check back for exact times)
Celebration is the culminating event for Breakthrough's summer middle
school program. After and intense six weeks of academic classes (and two
hours of homework each night!) our students get the chance to show off
what they've learned to an audience of family, friends and staff through
skits, songs and other performances!
Please join us - all are welcome!
Matt Greenawalt
Named Outstanding Educator of the Year
On June 3rd Matt Greenawalt, Breakthrough Philadelphia teacher alumnus, will receive the Outstanding Educator of the Year 2010 award at the Harvard Club. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City will present the award. Matt is an amazing math teacher at MS 118 in the Bronx, and is team chess coordinator of a trophy-winning group of students who competed against thousands of top players at the National Junior High Championships in Minneapolis earlier this year.
Breakthrough Welcomes New Executive Director!
We are thrilled to announce that Dana Barron joined Breakthrough of Greater Philadelphia as Executive Director on June 1, 2009.
Dana has dedicated her career to the creation of policies and programs that lessen social, educational, and gender inequalities. Most recently, Dana worked as the Special Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education at the Pennsylvania Department of Education. In that capacity, Dana developed and directed the Multiple Pathways to Academic Success (MPAS) project, a statewide cross-systems initiative to improve academic outcomes among disadvantaged Pennsylvania students.
She is a seasoned manager, bringing with her an impressive combination of leadership, public speaking, fundraising, fiscal management and relationship-building skills. Prior to joining MPAS, she ran research institutes at Temple and Penn focused on bridging research and policy. At Penn she also taught courses in history, policy, social work, and women’s studies. Dana has consulted with a number of public and non-profit organizations, including the Education Law Center, the Juvenile Law Center, Women’s Way, the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, the University Community Collaborative of Philadelphia, the Health Federation of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Foundation. She co-chaired the Nutter administration’s transition team on human services. She has also lectured on urban poverty, racial and gender inequality, women and work, and education.
Dana earned her A.B. in History and Literature from Harvard University, and moved to Philadelphia to earn her Ph.D. in History from the University of Pennsylvania. She lives in Mount Airy with her husband and two children (soon to be third and sixth graders at Germantown Friends School).
The board and staff of Breakthrough are confident that Dana brings the passion, experience, and vision needed to lead the organization into a new era of growth. We are extremely excited to have her on board, and are confident you will find her as competent, personable, and passionate as we have.
December 2008 
Two Breakthrough Students from Camden
Featured in AL DíA, Philadelphia's Leading Latino Newspaper
Ninos de Camden rompiendo barreras
Michelle Panchana y Kimberly Villa "entraron" a la universidad cuando tenían 11 años.
Read the full article
October 2008
Breakthrough's 2nd Annual Breakfast with Breakthrough Champions featured
in the Chestnut Hill Local
On Wednesday, October 22nd, Breakthrough celebrated another successful year at its annual Breakfast with Breakthrough Champions. Held at the Philadelphia Cricket Club, 115 guests gathered to hear testimonies from our students and teachers and to show their support for the organization and their commitment to improving educational outcomes for Philadelphia's youth.
August 2008
Breakthrough Leaders Academy Student wins First Prize in Business Boot Camp
After completing the newly developed Breakthrough Leaders Academy (BLA), Rashaun attended an intensive five-day business and entrepreneurship training program at the Enterprise Center and took home first prize for his shoe design company. He was awarded $500 to help start and manage his business, and a year-long apprenticeship with the Enterprise Center. Rashaun was the youngest student in the program.
Rashaun's thoughts on Breakthrough?
"Because of Breakthrough, I have more opportunities and more doors open than before. What Breakthrough has done is allowed me to use my mind in all sorts of new and positive ways...I love Breakthrough and have decided to stay very dedicated to it, from volunteer work, to continuing on to do the high school Breakthrough program. I must give back. Breakthrough holds some of the greatest memories and experiences of my teenage life."