As the first in her family to attend college, scholarships made the difference between starting an education and finishing one. “If I hadn’t had scholarships, I wouldn’t have been able to complete my education,” says Ann Frangos, a reality that continues to shape her commitment to helping others access the same opportunity.

Frangos earned her master’s degree in mathematics from Cleveland State University while working full time. The university’s affordability and accessibility made graduate school possible, and that experience helped launch a 36-year career at AT&T.

Today, Frangos gives back by supporting scholarships—particularly for students majoring in math—and by serving on the Cleveland State University Foundation Board. She believes Cleveland State plays a critical role in the city’s long-term health. “Cleveland State is really a part of Cleveland,” she says. “Its success is tied to the success of the city.”

Her philanthropy is guided by a simple belief: financial barriers should never be the reason a student doesn’t finish. “Sometimes a little help is all it takes to get someone to a much brighter future,” Frangos says—one that strengthens not only individual lives, but the community as a whole.