Since it's first event in 2004, the Cleveland Chapter has funded 55 individuals and organizations, continually had a positive impact on our community, and have gained our strength through the long list of volunteers who have given selflessly of their time and talents.

Until 2012, our annual fundraising event, the Black & White Ball, which has established the Cleveland Chapter as one of the most successful chapters across the country, was the focus of our philanthropic efforts.  Since 2012, the chapter has gone in the direction of holding a handful of smaller events, with the goal of raising as much money and funding for as many recipients as we have in previous years.

Since moving in this new direction, we have held March Madness events, held at Dive Bar in downtown Cleveland, a guest bartending Happy Hour at the prestigious Key Club, Chili Cook-offs at Wilber's, and RippleFest at West 78th Street Art Studios.  These events have gotten the Cleveland Chapter well on its way to meeting our goals.  In 2014, we brought back the Black & White Ball and were able to help three recipients!
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Cleveland Betterment continues to strive to impact the lives of people and organizations who need a helping hand.  With a strong volunteer leadership team, our generous corporate donors, and all who attend the events, year-in and year-out, we are poised to continue the tremendous work The Foundation for Community Betterment does throughout our local communities and across the country.

Photo from April 18, 2013.  Pictured (left to right) are: Kurt Burns, Marc Milkie, recipient Karen Burns, Tessa Burg, recipient Brian Jameson, Dale Smith

Tessa Burg
Alyson Cameron
Andy Carson
Sandy Croucher
Allyson Finn
Ryan Finn
Kelly Lytle
Marc Milkie
Dale Smith
Kimberly Sullivan
Andrea Vagas

This letter is from a recent recipient:

Dear The Betterment Foundation, 
My name is Kyle Finn and I am a member of the Global Brigade’s chapter at the University of Dayton. Global Brigades is the world’s largest student-led global health and sustainable development organization. I want to sincerely thank you for your kind dotation toward my trip this past January to Aguas Frias, Panama. Without the donations from organizations such as yours, none of this would have been possible. Your donation was used to help buy the medical supplies, which were used to create one of the largest pharmacies in the Eastern Panama. We were able to provide dental and health care to 360 individuals, who otherwise would have to wait months or not receive health care at all. The idea behind philanthropy is to provide goodwill to fellow members of the human race in an active effort to promote human welfare and your organization embraces this idea to the fullest. The gratitude expressed by the people we cared for is something that would motivate any one to continue their quest to help others in need. Once again, thank you and continue to make a difference in the world. 
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Sincerely, Kyle Finn 
Junior Pre-Medical Major, University of Dayton

60. Cleveland Clinic ICU
59. Cleveland Clinic
58. Alicia Jordan, Cleveland, OH
57. Kim Cummings, Cleveland, OH
56. Carolyn Iliano, University Heights, OH
55. Philip & Jennifer Spencer, Woodmere Village, OH
54. Tina Barr, Brook Park, OH
53. Lorain Cooperative Ministry, Lorain, OH
52. Cooking With Cuyahoga Kids, Rocky River, OH
51. Rachel Z., Mayfield Heights, OH
50. Steve & Donna Zofchak, Monroe Falls, OH
49. Hanhauser Family, Avon Lake, OH
48. Ursuline Piazza, Cleveland, OH
47. Transitional Housing, Inc., Cleveland, OH
46. Jessica Zimmerman, Cleveland, OH
45. Gustavo Morales, Cleveland, OH
44. Spencer Rumer, Sandusky, OH
43. The Hiser Family, Sandusky, OH
42. Brian Jameson, Cleveland OH
41. Karen Burns, Cleveland OH
40. Cuyahoga Community College Women in Transition Program, Cleveland OH
39. Global Brigades, Dayton, OH
38. Jennifer Nagel, NY
37. Gretchen Grace Hetzel, Cleveland OH
36. New Life Community Center, Cleveland OH
35. The Kilmartin Family, Cleveland OH
34. Nick Santucci, Cleveland OH
33. Brenna Hannan, Cleveland OH
32. The Straniero Family, Cleveland OH
31. Nancy Temple, Cleveland OH
30. Don Sofonia, Cleveland, OH
29. Aidan Carter, Cleveland OH
28. Monyata Evans, Cleveland OH
27. Roots of American Music, Cleveland OH
26. The Pozuelo Family, Cleveland OH
25. Lorain Community Meals Program, Cleveland OH
24. Morgan Vitou, Cleveland, OH
23. Tracie Clay, Cleveland, OH
22. OH Sled Hockey, Willoughby, OH
21. Paula Triscaro, Bainbridge/Chagrin, OH
20. Adam Gaspar, Fairview Park, OH
19. Rob and Molly Marcinick, Lakewood, OH
18. Mark Holland, Parma Heights, OH
17. The Walsh Family, Chagrin Falls, OH
16. Three Trackers of Ohio, Sagamore Hills, OH
15. Lutheran Metropolitan Ministry, Cleveland, OH
14. Kelly Liskay, Parma, OH
13. Brandon Cisar, Cuyahoga Falls, OH
12. Danny Best, South Euclid, OH
11. The Billingsley Family, Cleveland, OH
10. The Wallings Family, Cleveland, OH
9. Frank DeFranco, Cleveland, OH
8. Jackie Yanafaro, Cleveland, OH
7. The West Side Catholic Center, Cleveland, OH
6. Colin O'Donoghue, Cleveland, OH
5. The Taft Family, Cleveland, OH
4. Heights Youth Theatre, Cleveland, OH
3. Youth Challenge, Cleveland, OH
2. Bellefaire JCB, Cleveland OH
1. Rachel Dorocak, Strongsville, OH