About Us
The Jewish Tuition Organization (JTO) was established in 1999 with the goal of ensuring no child is denied a Jewish day school education because of the cost.
Since then, the JTO has been privileged to make a difference in the lives of students attending Arizona Jewish day schools by awarding more than 7,000 scholarships.
As a school tuition organization (STO), the JTO is able to raise funds for these scholarships through the dollar-for-dollar Arizona Private School Tax Credit. Thanks to the generous support of partners like you, the JTO distributes more than 650 scholarships per year totaling more than $4 million.
The Jewish Tuition Organization (JTO) is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. All donations are welcome and appreciated.
Leadership
Janet Silva
Executive Director
A native New Yorker, Janet came to the Valley in 2016 bringing more than 25 years of experience in the accounting and tax field, working with companies of all sizes, making her an exceptional fit for the JTO and its tax credit scholarship programs. In addition to her specialized skill set for the executive director position, Janet has held board positions with various nonprofits making valuable contributions to the success of each organization. Janet has a passion for Jewish education and the Jewish community as a whole. The mother of two young daughters, Janet is driven to make the Jewish community the best it can be starting with fostering the education, traditions and culture for future generations.
Cyndi Suttle
Director of Marketing
Cyndi, born and raised in the Washington, DC area, has lived in the Valley since 1997. With more than 30 years of experience in agency, corporate and nonprofit organizations, Cyndi has implemented international, national and local marketing and PR campaigns, and enjoys both the strategic and creative roles in marketing. Cyndi recognizes the value of working for the JTO helping students attain a Jewish education today, knowing the impact these children will have on the future of the Jewish community. In her spare time, Cyndi, who has an adult son and daughter-in-law, cherishes spending time with her family and friends, and playing weekly games of Mah Jongg and Canasta.
Executive Committee
Chad Mandelbaum
Board President
Chad Mandelbaum became JTO Board President in 2024 after serving on the JTO Board for more than eight years. Chad previously served on the Finance Committee of Pardes Jewish Day School in Scottsdale, where he spent significant effort on STO-related initiatives. He strongly believes that a Jewish day school education should be financially possible for any family.
Chad currently is a managing partner of Mandelbaum Properties, where he is responsible for the asset management and financial oversight of the firm’s commercial real estate portfolio. He has a diverse background spanning 30 years in commercial real estate, corporate finance, mergers and acquisitions, and institutional real estate investments and has held positions at Wheels Up, iStar Financial (a Starwood Capital portfolio company), Bear Stearns and The Blackstone Group’s real estate private equity fund.
Chad earned a Bachelor of Science degree with concentrations in finance and accounting from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, after which he earned his CPA certificate. His financial background brings valuable knowledge to JTO.
Jeffrey K. Karp
Secretary
Jeffrey Karp, Doctor of Pharmacy, has spent the past 18+ years dedicated to helping couples undergoing fertility treatments to access and to properly use their high cost, highly complicated, self-administered injectable fertility medications while also working closely with Fertility clinics around the country. Jeffrey’s unique blend of patience, caring, compassion combined with his innovation in operational excellence have come together to help literally tens of thousands of couples achieve their dreams of child birth and family. More recently, Jeffrey opened his own Fertility Specialty Pharmacy in Scottsdale, where he’s able to put his passion for helping others and giving back to others to good use. Jeffrey joined the Jewish Tuition Organization Board of Trustees in 2012 and has been an ardent supporter of creating ways to make private Jewish day-school affordable for all students through engagement with our greater Jewish community regardless of affiliation or denomination.
Board Members
- Michelle Bernat
- Dan Chesin
- Heather Elias
- Gaby Friedman
- Rabbi Gavriel Goetz
- Rabbi Nesanel Kipper
- Rabbi Raphael Landesman
- Jonathan Miller
- Rayshelle Webb
- Brian Weinberger
- Samuel Zaila