operation breakthrough

Operation Breakthrough is a nationally accredited, not-for-profit corporation that began in 1971 as a response to requests from parents in the central city for quality childcare for children of the working poor. Current funding comes from a federal Head Start grant, the State of Missouri, the city of Kansas City, private donations and various foundations.

The mission of Operation Breakthrough is to help children who are living in poverty develop to their fullest potential by providing them a safe, loving and educational environment.


The center also strives to support and empower the children’s families through advocacy, referral services and emergency aid.


To qualify for state-subsidized childcare, the parents must be working or attending school. Operation Breakthrough enrolls children whose parents are not working when there is concern that the children will not have food or might be unsupervised if they are at home. The state does not pay for those children's care.


The center cares each weekday for more than 600 children, ages 6 weeks to 18 years. All but 2% of the enrolled families live below federal poverty guidelines, most far below them. About 25% of the children are homeless at any given time, living in homeless or battered women’s shelters or transitional living programs, sleeping on the sofas of friends or relatives, sometimes even living in cars, rundown hotels or abandoned buildings. About 25% come from foster homes. The rest live primarily with single mothers who struggle to support them on annual earnings that are often not more than $14,000. Currently, enrollment is full, and there is a waiting list of more than 500 children.


I was turned onto this special place a few years ago by my good friend Linda. I walked through the doors for a tour and happened to mention that I was a photographer. Before I knew what had hit me, I was taking pictures of the children for letterheads, event invitations, publications, calendars, annual fundraising videos and the front lobby, just to name a few of my very fun “assignments.” Last week I was there to work side by side with Lynne Melcher on an upcoming video about some of the center’s sponsors. (It's going to be shown on the jumbo-tron at an upcoming Chief's pre-season game!) The children, the staff and the armies of volunteers at Operation Breakthrough never fail to inspire me.