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About Us

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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, Jewish Tuition Organization

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, Jewish Tuition Origanization

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, Jewish Tuition Organization

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.

Leah Loeb, CPA

Treasurer

Leah Loeb, CPA, was born and raised in Toronto, Canada, and later lived in New York before settling in Phoenix, Arizona, in 2015. She resides in Phoenix with her husband and two teenage children.

Leah is a Senior Manager in the Tax Compliance Department at Roth & Co. LLP, where she has been a valued team member since 2007. She brings extensive experience across a wide range of industries, including nonprofit, wholesale, retail, and real estate, and works closely with high-net-worth individuals and trusts.

Her expertise encompasses a full spectrum of accounting services, from tax compliance and financial statement preparation to bank financing support and QuickBooks setup. As Senior Manager of Roth & Co.’s tax division, Leah leads both U.S. and international teams, ensuring accuracy, efficiency, and consistently high-quality results.

Board Members

  • Michelle Bernat
  • Dan Chesin
  • Heather Elias
  • Gaby Friedman
  • Neil Frieser
  • Rabbi Gavriel Goetz
  • Jeff Karp
  • Rabbi Nesanel Kipper
  • Rabbi Raphael Landesman
  • Jonathan Miller
  • Tyler Tocco
  • Brian Weinberger
  • Samuel Zaila