Because Cleveland’s poverty shouldn’t define their possibility.
The pandemic “will probably be the largest increase in educational inequity in a generation.”
– Thomas J. Kane, Harvard University Center for Education Policy
Created to continue the legacy of Betty Jefferson (1935-2021), the Betty Jefferson Memorial Fund of the Cleveland Foundation has a mission to support the education of Cleveland’s inner city, Black youth.
In 2020, Cleveland schools were closed for more than 100 days, but more than 65% of students did not have internet access.
Every dollar donated to the Betty Jefferson Memorial Fund will be used to support goal-achieving literacy and education programs for youth living in the City of Cleveland, where 50% of children live below poverty levels.
Before the pandemic, more than 20% of Cleveland’s young people drop out of high school (already more than four times the national average). The post-pandemic drop-out rate is predicted to increase substantially over the next four years. Without additional support, Cleveland’s Black youth will fall even further behind.
Betty Jefferson spent more than 30 years as an education advocate for Black youth in Cleveland.
In 1985, alone, Betty Jefferson was Chairwoman of the School Community Council (SCC) at Miles Standish Elementary School attended by her grandchildren: treasurer of the PTA at Miles Standish; chairwoman of the Glenville-Lincoln West Cluster, vice chairwoman of the District Community Council of SCC; a representative on the board of District Community Council; a committee member with the Federation of Community Planning; a committee member with the Cleveland State University College of Education; sponsor of Community Gardens and Missionary President of the Evening Star Missionary Baptist Church.
PHOTO: Betty speaks at a press conference in 1987. Stanley Tolliver stands beside her.
Thank You to Our Supporters
As of September 5, 2023
LEGACY CIRCLE
Mrs. JaNette and Mrs. Ann Barnett
Dr. Akram Boutros and Mrs. Suzanne Aral Boutrous
Mr. Carl and Mrs. Marlene Duffield
Ms. Denise Guerrero
Mr. Rick and Mrs. Karen Ouellette
Mr. Harry and Mrs. Nancy Poston
Mr. James and Mrs. Stacy Sowell
Ms. Jenn Brophy Wulff
CHAMPIONS
Dr. Teji Bal and Dr. Kristin Englund
Mr. Jeff Falkowski and Mrs. Erica Hay
Rev. Courtney Clayton Jenkins
Rev. Dr. J. Bennett Guess and Mr. Jim Therrien
Mr. Ronald and Mrs. Kimberly Jones
Mr. Paul Molesky and Mrs. Heather Lyle
Mr. Fred and Mrs. BeNita Martinez
ADVOCATES
Mrs. Deborah Anakoro
The Daniel J. Arkus Family
Mr. Caleb Barnett and Ms. Amy Marsh
Mr. Richard Bonaker
Ms. Sonia Bridges
Ms. Jacqueline Cuby
Mrs. Gina Cuffari
Mr. Leamon and Mrs. Brenda Farmer
Mrs. Tomeckia and Mrs. Shante Isaac
Ms. Wendy Kaysen
Rev. Dr. Frederick S. Knuckles
Mr. Scott and Mrs. Kathy Lyons
Mr. Daniel T. Murphy
Ms. LaDesha Norton
Mr. Brian Poston
South Euclid United Church of Christ
Mr. Bruce and Mrs. Theresa Wilkerson
Ms. Andrea Wooten
SUPPORTERS
Mr. Nick Barba and Ms. Mia Watson
Ms. Babette Bradley English
Mr. Marshall and Mrs. Yvette Bradley
Ms. Mary Brown
Ms. Amy Carpenter
Ms. Mary Chalich
Dr. Jerome Chelliah
Mr. Ron and Mrs. Jane Confer
Copy King, Inc.
Mr. Kevin L. Davis
Mr. Chris and Mrs. Amy Dieterle
Mrs. Sherree Dillions
Ms. Marsha E. Duncan
Ms. Gina Burley Durham
Mrs. Jane Flaherty and Mr. Loren Sonkin
Mrs. Amie Fox
Ms. Veronica Gadson
Mr. Thomas and Mrs. LaCresia Gaines
Mr. Paul Habig and Mr. Tim Robinson
Ms. Carol Jefferson
Ms. Lynda Jefferson
Mr. Jamil and Mrs. Staci Jones
Mr. Jason Jones
Mr. Michael and Mrs. Lydia Jones
Dr. Pamela Jones
Ms. Brenda Joyner
Mr. Rick and Mrs. Deb Lewis
Ms. Ruby Mack
Mr. Dean and Mrs. Gayle Marsh
Mr. Karl Martin
Mr. Patrick McGovern and Mrs. Mary Stewart-McGovern
Mr. Daron Mills
Mr. Doug and Mrs. Harriet Moose
Mrs. Nike Olabisi-Green
Mr. Joseph and Mrs. Caroline Oldsey
Ms. B. Mae Payne
Mr. Ben and Mrs. Nicole Perkins
Ms. Monique Reed-Hendricks
Mrs. Lavonda Rumph
Ms. Aseelah Shareef
Mr. Gerald and Mrs. Charlea Skillern
Mr. Barry Thompson and Ms. Raquel Rodriguez
Mr. Joe Vos
Mr. Ryton Wanton
Mr. Josh Whitsett
Mrs. Kimberly Winters
Ms. Marsha Woody
PARTNERS
Ms. Vicki Arrington
Mr. Ricky Barnett
Mr. Vincent Barone
Mr. Anthony and Mrs. Mariluz Bradford
Mr. Michael Bradley
Ms. Tosha Bradley
Ms. Mischelle Brown
Mr. Vernon Brown
Ms. Cassandra Bush
Mr. Montaque Bussey
Mrs. Sharon Clayton
Ms. Nichola Collins
Min. Anthony and Mrs. Tonya Copeland
Mr. Charles and Mrs. Betty Cowlin
Mr. Jordan C. Cuby
Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel
Ms. Melissa Davis
Ms. Barb Doran
Mr. Ray Douglas
Ms. Briana Ellis-Smith
Mrs. Mary Flenner
Ms. Ida Garrett
Ms. Ramona Givner
Ms. Dasia Gray
Mr. William and Mrs. Delthea Gray
Ms. Dede Hagler
Ms. Alisha Harris
Rev. Carla Jo Howlett
Mr. Anshawn M. Ivery
Ms. Toni Johnson
Ms. Francine Kennan
Mr. David and Mrs. Brittany Klausner
Mr. Scott R. Knapp
Ms. Vernique Lamar
Ms. Jennifer Lorenz
Mr. Ross Lyman
Mr. Henry Lyons
Ms. Robin Martin
Mr. Kevin McMalloy
Mr. Phillip and Mrs. Revlon McMartez
Mr. Kyle and Mrs. Sarah Merrill
Ms. Elaine Miller
Ms. Madison Miller
Mr. Keith and Mrs. Brenda Mroczka
Mr. Al Muto
Ms. Joyce Norton
Ms. Jacqulyne Payne
Ms. Almer Price
Ms. Nell Coleman Ragland
Mr. Michael Richwalsky
Mr. James Ricks
Ms. Eunice Riggins
Mr. Adrian Rogers
Mr. David Rowell
Mr. Davis and Mrs. Amy Shumaker
Ms. Nicole Sinclair
Rev. Delmarshae Sledge
Mr. Joshua Smith
Mrs. Ann Strong
Lady Bette J. Sullivan
Ms. Waitalena Thomas
Ms. Anita R. Tobin
Ms. Eda Valentin
Mr. Dwayne Ware
Mr. Charles White
Ms. Valerie Wimms
“Betty Jefferson is a volunteer with apparent inexhaustible energy...”
— The Cleveland Plain Dealer (May 3, 1985)