TURNING POTENTIAL

INTO PERFORMANCE

2018 ANNUAL REPORT

 “When [ELA] went over first impressions I changed how I
entered places when I’m seeking employment. I even got some
job offers and I honestly think it’s because of this program.”
- East Tech High School Club LEAD participant

ELA TIMELINE
ELA receives 1st grant from First Transitions program launched; First year for
Piloted Club LEAD Cleveland Foundation to offer partnerships up by 58% since 2011; 2013 Chamber Leadership
2009 2011
in 3 schools programming to CMSD students started relationship with Nordson Academy program

First Camp LEAD First conference-style program

First year joining forces with The Race;
2008 program 2010 held in partnership with 2012 2014
First program launched outside Ohio
Cleveland Leadership Center
Dear Friends and Supporters of the Effective Leadership Academy,
Wow, what a year! When we first began serving students in 2008, we could have never envisioned that in just 10 years we would have
partnered with over 150 school and agency partners to reach more than 20,000 Greater Cleveland young people. But that is exactly
what happened!
In 2018 alone, we taught 3,124 students the leadership, life, and soft (success) skills that they desperately need to succeed as adults. We
worked with 17 new partners, including exciting new relationships with Lakewood City Schools and Parma Senior High School. ELA also
continued our important work in the re-entry space, preparing juvenile delinquents and ex-offenders to re-enter society by teaching them
how to regulate themselves, set and reach their goals, manage peer pressure and more.
We are so grateful for the support of our partners across the region. With revenue generated from fee-for-service contracts and
philanthropic donations, we expanded our small team and created some pivotal staff roles in the organization. This staffing growth laid
the foundation for the further growth we anticipate in the next several years. And perhaps most importantly, thanks to generous
support from our philanthropic donors, we did not turn away any student who wanted to participate in our
programs but could not afford the cost.
We celebrated our 10 year anniversary in November, surrounded by friends, supporters and champions who have
made our dreams a reality over the past decade. At this event, we recognized the work of Eric Gordon, CEO of the
Cleveland Metropolitan School District, for his visionary leadership in the area.
As we look ahead to the next 10 years, we are eager to continue working with northeast Ohio students, helping
them learn the 21st century leadership, social-emotional, and soft skills that they need to pursue successful futures.
We look forward to continued partnership with you to make that happen!
Sincerely,

Flo Brett, RGN, DPSN, DMS

Founder and Executive Director

Began working with Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry; Won Chick-fil-A True
2015 Inspiration Award; Started partnership with Cleveland Clinic to offer Louis 2017 20,000+ student alumni
2018
Stokes Workforce Readiness Internship Leadership Boot Camp
150+ partners
Statewide grant collaboration with Community Flo accepted into Goldman Sachs 10K Small 30+ sponsors
Connectors; Club LEAD wins Ohio Department of 2016 Businesses; Flo wins Social Venture Partners
And an extremely bright future...
Education Positive Youth Development Award Cleveland bigBANG! Fast Pitch Competition
 MISSION & VISION
Effective Leadership Academy (ELA) is a non-profit delivering an
award-winning social-emotional leadership and success skills curriculum
to 5th-12th graders (and beyond) across Greater Cleveland.

ELA’s mission is to help young people develop

their most valuable asset -- themselves.

ELA’s vision is to provide a transformational experience that provide

youth the tools, support and networks to navigate their individual
circumstances, chart their own life course, and ultimately inspire them to
contribute to our society in personally meaningful ways.
 ORGANIZATIONAL VALUES
At ELA, personal growth is our daily priority and we embrace the following
values, both ideologically and in practice:
GAINING KNOWLEDGE
ELA encourages students and staff to gain knowledge about the self (using an inside-out approach), about
others in our professional environment, and about the national educational landscape.
RELATIONSHIPS
ELA promotes the process of networking, getting to know people both formally and informally,
building respect, tolerance, integrity, and relationships with others.
OPEN-MINDED
ELA helps our staff and students stretch themselves outside their comfort zone and try new
things with a creative mindset.
WALK THE WALK
ELA encourages our students and staff to be avid learners and embrace change
to improve and become their very best selves.

THINK OUTSIDE THE BOX

ELA helps students to embrace diversity, to value differences in others,
and to use the strengths of varied backgrounds to solve complex issues.
HONESTY
ELA is committed to maintain the highest level of integrity in its
administrative, service, and outreach activities.
“I liked that [ELA] got me to
be all the things we learned
in our tool-kit.
I’m more open-minded,
creative, I know myself
better, and so much more.

I loved interacting with all of

you leaders!”

- 2018 Parma LEADS participant

IN JUST 10 YEARS...

150+
More than

20,000 school & community

students impacted partners

50% 30+
of ELA participants attended philanthropic
a program financed by & corporate
philanthropic support
donors

1:12 student to facilitator ratio

AWARD-WINNING NON-PROFIT
2015 Ohio Department of Education
Positive Youth Development Award for
2016 Chick-fil-A True Inspiration Award Midwest Region Winner
2016-2018 Ohio Business Best Workplaces in Ohio Award
2017 Warrensville Heights Area Chamber of Commerce
Community Impact Award
Messages from St. Dominic’s Transitions, South Amherst Middle Transitions & Brady Middle ELA Retreat for the Competencies
ELA helps students spread
encouraging messages across
their schools by giving them the
opportunity to create inspiring
“Walls of Support”
and “Positivity Rocks.”
These activities give students the
chance to self-reflect and write
down a positive message that is
put on display for their peers.
Feel free to fill out your own
supportive message in the sticky
note below, then pull out this
centerfold and put it somewhere
you need it most.

CONTACT ELA TODAY

216.292.8775 | info@effectivela.org | effectivela.org

™ ™
5TH GRADE >>> 6TH >>> 7TH >>> 8TH >>> 9TH >>> 10TH >>> 11TH >>> 12TH
• Flexible, eight-session
academic year
program.
• Helps students apply
critical 21st Century
skills to confront
challenges & navigate
stressful situations.
• Uses interactive
activities, debriefing
& analysis to help
students thrive.
Ohio Department of
Education (ODE) 2015
Positive Youth Development
Award Recipient
PROGRAMS
• Intensive, one-week
summer day camp.
• High-energy outdoor &
indoor activities.
• Helps students
develop critical
thinking, creativity,
communication &
collaboration skills.
• Held at schools &
community facilities
across Greater
Cleveland.
Four (4) years of
leadership training
before high school begins
TM
• For students entering
a new grade.
• Helps students
navigate new
environments, realize
importance of first
impressions, identify
learning styles &
negotiate for win-win
outcomes.
• Decreases anxiety
about school
procedures & social
interactions.
Bridge program to
help students navigate
a successful path from
one grade to the next
{YOUR SCHOOL NAME}
S
• Program that turns a
community into a SIGNATURE PROGRAM
classroom by
• Addresses
partnering with local
enhanced leadership
chambers of commerce,
training for students
area municipalities,
in key leadership
elected officials and
positions within a high
business leaders.
school environment.
• 5-day, hands-on, • Nine (9) hour program
action-based program - three, 3-hour sessions.
with a central theme,
expert panel and • Prefixed with your
custom designed school name.
curriculum and (Ex: Strongsville LEADS)
activities for each day.
Youth community Best option for
leadership conference groups of 50-100
in high-demand across students; HS & MS
northeast Ohio options available*
 REVENUE SOURCES
}
2018 BY THE NUMBERS
DONATIONS/
OTHER
13% SCHOOLS & EXPENDITURES
MANAGEMENT/
COMMUNITY GENERAL
FUNDRAISING
FOUNDATION
GRANTS
PARTNERS
6% 3%
33% 54% EXPENDITURES
PROGRAM DELIVERY
MANAGEMENT/GENERAL
$510,020
$33,755
FUNDRAISING $19,062
TOTAL $562,837

REVENUE PROGRAM DELIVERY *Net Income is from Foundation Grants

awarded for use in expanding the ELA team
SCHOOLS & COMMUNITY PARTNERS $359,675

91%
in 2019.
FOUNDATION GRANTS $222,325
DONATIONS/OTHER $88,817
TOTAL $670,817*
(8% OVER 2017 -- $622,410)

91¢ of every dollar goes directly towards empowering youth.

“I think your program is very
important because it really makes
our students think. I can’t tell you
the number of times my students
have referenced your program
in regards to crossroads, making
better choices, etc. For the few
that have completed your program
multiple times, I was shocked at
how they remember items or topics
before you could even present it. I
really find that your program offers
coping skills for some of our youth.”
Kelly Hrabak
Educator, Downtown Education Center CMSD
Partnership with Cuyahoga County Office of Reentry
 STUDENT STORY
School of One @ John Marshall-Hawthorne
Alicia transferred into the School of One program at
John Marshall mid-way through the Club LEAD sessions,
and immediately was an active participant. Although she
wasn’t present for our first three classes, she chose to
have a learner mindset about how this program could
have a positive impact on her life. Alicia shared that
she had been kicked out of her high school, but rather
than “playing victim” she connected this challenging
experience with an opportunity to ‘embrace change’ and
‘keep an open mind’ as we teach in our program.
On the final day of the program, she chose to share with
the group that she was grateful for this program because
it allowed her to realize that she was the one in control of
her next steps and how she reacted to situations beyond
her control. Even though Alicia wasn’t able to be with us
for the entire duration of the program, we are confident
the tools she gained in her leadership toolkit will support
her as she navigates her way to personal success.
Photo Credit: 6th Grade South Amherst Middle Students - 2018 ELA Transitions
 THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR DONORS
$50,000 and above $2,500-$4,999 Melanie Twomey Eric Gordon
Ned Grossman & Shelly Lazarus Flora Brett
Cleveland Foundation Burton D. Morgan Foundation
Onix Networking Gary Kelm
Nordson Corporation Foundation Cargill Foundation
S. K. Wellman Gerrick Doss
Cuyahoga Community College
$10,000-$49,999 Sandy Brinn Gina Camiola
HSB Architects
TEGNA Foundation Glenn & Susan Gable
Abington Foundation Huntington Bank
Theresa Bidwell Infinity Construction
AT&T Foundation Jonathan Berns
Village of North Randall Karen Hillbrand
George M. & Pamela S. Humphrey Fund Shelly Lazarus Katherine Jennings
Keller Williams Greater Cleveland Siegel Jennings
$250-$999 Kevin & Lynn Berner
- Amanda Pohlman Team Kevin Hughes
ORG Portfolio Management (In-Kind) $1,000-$2,499 Al Grajzl Lorain County Board of Health
Reinberger Foundation ABB Group Andre Russell Lorain County Chamber of
Thomas H. White Foundation Catch Meaning Fund - Hawken Bill Elliott Commerce
Cleveland Clinic South Pointe Hospital Blair Barnhart-Hinkle Matt Ostrander
$5,000-$9,999 Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation Brandon Carrus Melissa Durkee
Helen & Louis Stolier Carolyn Zawacki Mike Biedenbach
Eaton Charitable Fund
George Gund Foundation Hyland Software Cecilia Redner Patricia Bennett
Martha Holden Jennings Foundation James & Barbara Sheffler Cleveland Clinic Patrick Russo
Nordson Corporation Jeff Hagman Damian Morgan Patrick Stolarski
Omnova Solutions Foundation Joyce Penhallurick Daniel LoPresti Richard First
Kevin & Joyce Shaw Marianne Conway Elizabeth Morris Sean & Lisa Richardson
Emily Brett & Jon Volta Sherwin-Williams
South University Moving Ahead Services LLC
Sue Zawacki Nathan Bell
Warrensville Heights Area Network for Good
Chamber of Commerce Nia Darby
Patrice Blakemore
Robert & Debbie Gibbons
< $250
Sibling Revelry Brewing
Alyse Nevil Tim Rosenberger
Amonica Davis Tracey Petrakis
Any Thyme Any Plate Vicki Reed
Brian Kostra
Brian Siftar
Brianna Kadbebo
Bryan Seitz
Elaine Brown
Ella Fong
Gigi Patsch
Herbert & Debra Orlansky
James Carr
Joan Hyland
Joe Swiderski
Katherine Bussert
Lee Schloss
Mark Stypcznski
Michael Salkind
Michele Hampton
 4480 Richmond Road, Warrensville Heights, OH 44128 | 216.292.8775 | info@effectivela.org | effectivela.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Matthew Ostrander Shelly Lazarus
President Educational Consultant
Huntington Bank,
Commercial Relationship Manager Joyce Penhallurick
Principal,
Damian Morgan Yopko Penhallurick
Co-Vice President
Partner, Amanda Pohlman
Gibson Consulting G-4, LLC Realtor
Keller Williams Greater Cleveland
Patrick Russo - Amanda Pohlman Team
Co-Vice President
CEO, Pat Stolarski
PROJiTECH Director, Global Services
Hyland
Gina Camiola
Secretary
Talent Programs Manager, STAFF
Eaton Corporation
Flo Brett
Andre Russell Founder & Executive Director
Treasurer
Partner & COO, Mike Biedenbach
Sports & Spine Physical Therapy, Inc. Finance Director

Jonathan Berns Faith Boone

Principal Marketing Director
ORG Portfolio Management
Sara Kelly
Theresa Bidwell Curriculum Director
Senior Account Representative
Presidio Cathy Papp
Program Coordinator
Sandy Brinn
Community Volunteer Susan Romano
Office Administrator
Brandon Carrus
McKinsey & Company, Torey Stroud
Senior Partner Lead Facilitator Effective Leadership Academy (ELA) is a 501(c)(3) youth leadership and personal growth
Mim Conway Melanie Twomey nonprofit organization that helps young people turn potential into performance. ELA
Executive Director, Regional Director, Mid-Atlantic promotes positive leadership by teaching students to think outside the box, have an open
Dream On Foundation mind and embrace change. ELA also works with students on professional skills such as
Sue Zawacki
Gregory Costabile making a good first impression, communicating effectively and learning how to network.
Director of Operations
Equity Partner/Shareholder, ELA is the “missing ingredient” in the educational arena.
Buckley King LPA For more information or to donate, visit effectivela.org.