Dreams don't have to be the hope of something that may be achieved far down the road. Sometimes the road appears too costly or there just isn't enough road left and the Dream needs to be real now, or it just may never be. Every issue, Dream Weavers showcases a non-profit organization who's efforts and true desires are to help those of us who are less fortunate and who's focus is to bring their Dreams Alive.
"I Have a Dream"® Foundation
Helping Low-Income Children Reach Their Educational And Career Goals
 "Providing a comprehensive, long-term program of mentoring, tutoring and life skills enrichment."
The "I Have a Dream"® Foundation began in 1981, when New York businessman Eugene Lang made a speech at the elementary school he attended 50 years earlier. When he was told that 75% of students at P.S. 121 in East Harlem would probably not graduate from high school, he made an extraordinary offer: he assured the 61 sixth grade students that fund would be available for college tuition or vocational school if they graduated from high school. After a flurry of media attention, the national "I Have a Dream"® Foundation was officially launched in 1986. You can visit their website at: http://www.ihad.org/
 The "I Have a Dream"® Foundation mission is to help children from low-income areas reach their education and career goals by providing a comprehensive, long-term program of mentoring, tutoring and life skills enrichment with an assured opportunity for higher education.
In the United States, there are 75 active "I Have a Dream"® projects in place in over 66 cities, throughout 27 states, including 22 Elementary, 18 Middle School, 25 High School and 10 College projects. In all, there are over 6,000 active Dreamers. This brings their total projects to date up to 180.
From A Recent Press Release
OVERTOWN FIRST-GRADERS RECEIVE PROMISING SURPRISE OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT AND SCHOLARSHIPS
Two Community Heroes Open "I Have a Dream"® Foundation Project and Make Dreams Come True through Education for Children in the Midst of Overtown’s Re-Development.
MIAMI, FL -- January 16, 2004 -- Two community members made a surprise announcement today to 51 Phillis Wheatley first-graders and their families. These individuals are providing sufficient funding within the next 10 -- 14 years to ensure that these children graduate from high school and have last-dollar funds for college by opening an "I Have a Dream"® Foundation Project. Furthermore, they have made a personal commitment of time and resources to the students for the duration of the Project.
Mark Buchbinder, of the U. S. Department of Housing and Urban Development -- Miami Field Office (HUD), first learned of the "I Have a Dream"® Foundation a few years ago and since last June has worked to secure funding to open an "I Have a Dream"® Project at an inner-city school in Overtown, an area that is in the process of re-development.
"Educating children is often about providing them with the right role models. I first became inspired to sponsor an "I Have a Dream"® Project because of my desire to set an example for my own children and grandchildren about the importance of serving their community," said Buchbinder, co-Sponsor for the "I Have a Dream"® Project at Phillis Wheatley Elementary. "I anxiously look forward to beginning this journey with the "I Have a Dream"® Class of 2015, their parents, and teachers to help them achieve success so that they may become productive citizens in their community."
As the Overtown community is being re-stabalized, Buchbinder believes that education cannot be left behind. In his quest to provide these first-graders with educational support, Buchbinder reached out to Stephanie Trump (no affiliation to Donald Trump,) his co-Sponsor and real estate magnate, who has been involved in the opening all "I Have a Dream"® Projects in South Florida. Putting their funding behind the Overtown Project, it is estimated they will spend approximately $1 to $1.5 million to ensure that these children beat the odds, graduate from high school, and go to college.
 In Miami, there are currently four "I Have a Dream"® Projects. With the ceremonial start-up this morning there will now be five Projects with a total of 459 Dreamers -- the organization’s term for children who participate in the Program.
The Overtown Project is the national Foundation’s 182nd Project. Nationally, the "I Have a Dream"® Program has helped more than 13,000 students from low-income communities reach their education and career goals by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring and enrichment with an assured opportunity for higher education. "I Have a Dream"® Sponsors make a 10-15 year commitment when they "adopt" a grade of children from a school or same-age group from a housing project. A team of paid staff and volunteers support the Dreamers throughout their primary and secondary school years. In addition to the children’s commitment, the involvement of families, school officials, teachers and other community leaders is vital to the Program’s success.
You Can Help
Contributions to the "I Have a Dream"® Foundation help us inspire new dreams in the hearts of Dreamers every day. Whether it be a donation, service partnership, sponsorship or volunteering, the effects of a contribution last long into the future by providing expanded options and broadening horizons for classes of Dreamers across the country. You can visit our website at: http://www.ihad.org/
You Can Become a Sponsor
"I Have a Dream"® works because of the personal relationships between Dreamers, their Sponsors, the Project staff and other significant adults with whom they are connected through "I Have a Dream" ®. Sponsors are, therefore, most valuable to Dreamers as caring individuals willing to share their experience and their resources. Sponsor after Sponsor will tell you that the more of yourself that you are able to bring to the Project, the more you and your Dreamers will benefit. For more information on becoming a Sponsor with "I Have a Dream"®, visit our Sponsors page.
You Can Make a Donation
Your donation to the "I Have a Dream"® Foundation's national office will make a difference across the United States, by helping us to open new "I Have a Dream" ® Projects and provide high-quality services and resources to active "I Have a Dream"® Projects - and the children and young adults they serve - nationwide.
Please Note: All donations made through this site will support the work of the national "I Have a Dream"® Foundation. If you are interested in making a donation to a specific "I Have a Dream" ® Project, please click here to find a Project near you.
- Online Donations
Make an On-line Donation to the "I Have a Dream"® Foundation's national office through Network for Good . Your donation will be forwarded to us in a timely manner, and your donation will be acknowledged by both Network for Good and the "I Have a Dream"® Foundation.
- Mail or Fax Donations
You may send a contribution payable to "I Have a Dream"® Foundation directly to our offices. Donations may be made by credit card or check. Please mail or fax the form below.
Donation Form (PDF Document)
"I Have a Dream"® Foundation
330 Seventh Avenue, 20th Floor
New York, NY 10001
Fax: (212) 293.5478
A Dream Weaver is any not-for-profit organization
that provides the less fortunate with the ability to bring their
Dreams Alive.
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