FROM THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Dear Friends,

I am proud of what we accomplished through unprecedented circumstances over the past several years. Our staff, teaching fellows, families, and—most remarkable of all—our students displayed flexibility, resilience, and determination, through a remote program in 2020 and a hybrid program in 2021. This past summer, though—our first since 2019 where we all gathered 100 percent inperson—was special.

Since 1978, Breakthrough Summerbridge has helped over 1,700 underresourced students achieve admission to college preparatory high schools. As a result, the majority of our students reach and graduate from four-year colleges. Behind this success is each student’s commitment to academic excellence and determination to persist in the face of challenges. But anyone who participates in a Breakthrough Summerbridge event knows that we have a spirit that makes our program unique. The way that our students, staff, and teaching fellows interact and collaborate evokes joy and builds friendships and mentoring relationships that often last well beyond their years with Breakthrough.

The essence of this spirit is relationships and an unwavering emphasis on combining academic rigor with fun. It is so uplifting to witness in person the energy that arises when students engage with teaching fellows and each other through challenging, hands-on activities that take their learning to the next level. Equally inspiring are the bonds of mentorship that are formed between teaching fellows and instructional coaches as they discover the trials and the rewards of helping students succeed.

The middle school years can be challenging. Building relationships with other students who aspire to academic excellence, while participating in activities that emphasize teamwork and innovation, creates a critical network of support to help navigate these dynamic years. Breakthrough Summerbridge helps students build a stable groundwork for success on the road to high school, college, and beyond.

Thank YOU for being part of our community. I hope that as you review this year’s Impact Report, you gain further insight into the lifetime of difference Breakthrough Summerbridge makes for our students, teaching fellows, and alumni.

With Breakthrough Summerbridge Spirit,

Dara Northcroft

Dara Northcroft, Executive Director