OverDrive Founders Steve and Loree Potash Awarded Inaugural Linda Eastman Trailblazer Award from the Cleveland Public Library Foundation

 Award and ceremonial plaque celebrate visionaries advancing reading and literacy

CLEVELAND, OH – October 30, 2025 – On October 9, OverDrive co-founders Steve and Loree Potash were honored with the inaugural Linda Eastman Trailblazer Award by the Cleveland Public Library Foundation during its annual Black, White & REaD fundraising event. The award recognizes visionary leaders who have made groundbreaking contributions to the fields of information and reading literacy.

The award celebrates the legacy of Linda Eastman, who became the first woman in the world to lead a major library system when she was appointed Director of Cleveland Public Library in 1918. A pioneer in advancing literacy and equitable access to information, Eastman expanded the Library’s branches, collections, and community outreach.

The Black, White, and REaD event celebrates the library’s ongoing commitment to reading and digital literacy. This year’s program also featured Amanda Knox, bestselling author, journalist, and criminal justice advocate, as the keynote speaker. Knox is the author of Waiting to Be Heard, her acclaimed memoir recounting her experience navigating wrongful imprisonment and her ongoing advocacy for criminal justice reform. Greg Stefani was also recognized with the Robert Pincus Outstanding Service Award for his longstanding support of the Library’s mission.

It was in the spring of 2002 when Cleveland librarians first approached Steve and Loree Potash to reimagine the future of library reading. That partnership sparked an innovation that transformed how readers around the world access books and information. Earlier in the evening, a private ceremony was held at Cleveland Public Library’s Main Branch, where a plaque was unveiled commemorating this collaboration between OverDrive and Cleveland Public Library that led to the world’s first model for lending ebooks through libraries. Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne presented a proclamation recognizing the milestone on behalf of the county.

“For generations, Cleveland Public Library has embodied the spirit of literacy, learning, and innovation,” said Steve Potash, Founder and CEO of OverDrive. “As the People’s University, it inspired me in my earliest days as an entrepreneur and later stood beside us as we pioneered a new model for digital reading. It’s been a privilege to collaborate with this remarkable institution and its visionary leaders to advance the joy of reading worldwide.”

Prior to Steve and Loree receiving the award, Dan Simon, President of UH Cleveland Medical Center, offered his congratulations and applauded their support for literacy saying, “Your true passion rests in expanding literacy. Here at UH, your gift launched an innovative literacy program called Baby’s First Books. Today, every baby at a UH maternity hospital heads home with a bag containing four books, information on early literacy, and instructions on how to sign up for a library card. Your dedication to improving the lives of those in our community is truly remarkable.”

Founded in 1986 by Steve and Loree Potash, OverDrive began as a small technology company in Cleveland and has grown into the world’s leading digital reading platform, serving more than 87,000 libraries and schools across 115 countries. OverDrive’s partnership with Cleveland Public Library was instrumental in developing the first ebook lending model for libraries, an innovation that transformed how communities access books and information.

“Steve and I and our family are products of the local public schools, universities, and, when we needed it most, the Cleveland Public Library,” reflected Loree Potash upon accepting the award. “These impactful communities created an environment that let OverDrive not just happen, but thrive.”

Beyond their work at OverDrive, Steve and Loree’s lifelong commitment to literacy and community advancement continues through the Steve & Loree Potash Family Foundation, which has funded more than $10 million in literacy programs worldwide, including BelieveInReading.org, the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, and the Baby’s First Books initiative at University Hospitals.

The Linda Eastman Trailblazer Award will continue to be presented annually by the Cleveland Public Library Foundation to honor individuals or organizations whose innovative work has advanced literacy, learning, and public access to information on a local, national, or global scale.

About OverDrive

OverDrive is a mission-based company that supports libraries and schools worldwide. Named a Certified B Corp in 2017, OverDrive serves more than 87,000 libraries and schools in 115 countries with the industry’s largest digital catalog of ebooks, audiobooks, magazines, video, and other content. OverDrive empowers libraries and schools by expanding access for all through tireless industry advocacy and consistent innovation. Award-winning apps and services include the Libby library reading app, the Sora student reading platform, Kanopy, the leading video streaming app for libraries and colleges, and TeachingBooks, which offers one of the largest catalogs of supplemental materials that enhance literacy outcomes. Founded in 1986, OverDrive is based in Cleveland, Ohio, USA. www.overdrive.com