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  Overview


Education is the engine for opportunity and the cornerstone of our democratic system of government. Yet in some areas of our community fewer than half of the children in a fifth grade class will complete high school. The implications of this extraordinary dropout rate include loss of income, hope and individual contributions to community life. This human tragedy impacts not only the children fighting for survival; it drains our community’s vibrancy and financial resources. The “I Have a Dream”® Foundation is an educational enhancement program designed to increase the overall high school completion rate of our students. “I Have a Dream”®’s goal is that all Dreamers graduate from high school prepared for advanced study or rewarding employment. The foundation “adopts” an entire grade level of children from an elementary school with low-income levels and a history of poor academic achievement. It provides support to help them graduate from high school plus college scholarships for all those that graduate from high school.The beauty of “I Have a Dream”® projects are their simplicity, focus, and track record of success.  When the foundation adopts a class of children, “I Have a Dream”® promises to:
  • Provide supportive services and enrichment programs for Dreamers to help them graduate from high school.
  • Provide financial assistance for either a college or vocational education to every Dreamer that graduates from high school.

Important program elements include: mentors and tutors; after-school and summer activities; long term relationships with caring adults; college preparatory experience; assistance applying for scholarships; job shadows; cultural events; connections with community resources; and employment counseling.

We provide more than just academic enrichment to help our students achieve their dreams. We know that relationships make the crucial difference. We build a bond of trust and friendship that often makes our staff the only safe harbor in our Dreamers stormy lives.

  • A shoulder to cry on in a time of grief;
  • A warm hug and a ready smile to acknowledge their importance in the world;
  • An advocate who can navigate through school red tape;
  • An ambassador who opens doors to worlds they would never even see;
  • And most importantly, an adult who believes in their potential, an adult who sees a first generation college graduate, and refuses to accept anything short of their best.
Because at “I Have a Dream”®, we believe in our students and they ultimately come to believe in themselves.The foundation team is a collection of extremely caring, devoted individuals from a range of disciplines. They are sponsors, project coordinators, AmeriCorps members plus financial contributors and community volunteers. This team connects Dreamers to the resources of a caring community including schools, cultural institutions, business, industry, and volunteers. Together with the parents, their role is to support Dreamers by serving as a guide, friend, tutor, or counselor. The relationship exists on a personal basis and for the long term. These long-term relationships with caring adults help nurture the children at vital times in their lives.