Testimonials
Mentor Quote:
"..the Fort Worth affiliate was started in 1988 by former Fort Worth Independent Board Member and community service advocate, Mollie Lasater. Her enthusiasm was contagious and as a result, I became a mentor to a student "Dreamer". My experience with the program was unforgettable. The impact of the program for the student was significant, giving her opportunities that would not be available to her without the IHAD (I Have a Dream) program." - Kay Granger, Member of Congress 2006
Dreamer Quote:
“I did it! I just wanted to thank you for helping me out many times, everything the ‘I Have a Dream Foundation’ has done for me contributed to my success. It has been a long and hard road, but all worthwhile. Thank you for believing in me and going above and beyond to help me. Your kindness and caring is greatly appreciated and will never be forgotten.” – Candice Ramirez, Bachelor of Science in Nursing, TCU 2005
Parent Quote:
“I Have a Dream is a wonderful program that has kept my daughter motivated, improved her schoolwork and helped keep it (her work) up. This program has helped her to believe that she can become anybody or anything in a successful profession. What I enjoy most about this program is when she graduates she will still be a Dreamer, and help mentor another young Dreamer to pursue their dream and to become successful. Thank you I Have a Dream." - Marion Fernandez, parent of Dreamer Martha Hernandez, 2006
Mentor Quote:
"I assure you that last Sunday I would not have traded any of my greatest or most valuable possessions for any single minute that I have ever spent with the girls in the last 11 years. I am so grateful to the I Have a Dream Foundation for giving me the opporutnity to be a mentor." - Nancy Tully, December 2005
Our Proud Achievements
What We Do…
Increase graduation rate by adopting entire classes of at risk students.
Decrease drop-out rate by staying with these students through high school and into college.
Our Dreamers…
How We Do it …
Current Projects - Ripley Arnold, Butler, Manuel Jara
Academic and social support – school based and after school programs; college visits;
encouragement and advising about current and future dreams and opportunities
Mentoring
Parent Involvement
Community Service
Proud Achievements
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Unique Program, our motto is "Once a Dreamer, always a Dreamer".
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Scholarships awarded to all our Dreamers who achieve high school graduation.
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National Program with Local Roots, National Offices are located in New York.
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Diverse Funding Sources include Civic Groups, Foundations, Industry and individuals.
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Excellent Staff of four full time, three part-time and many tutors, mentors and volunteers.
Costs
$356,000 Annual Budget
$320,664 (87.5%) is direct programming budget
$1750 Student/year
Unique Program
o IHAD is long term and year round that works with the same group of children from
elementary school through college.
o IHAD is flexible and tailored to suit the particular needs and resources of the community
and the Dreamers.
o IHAD does not pick the cream of the crop or the children most at risk. Every child in the
selected age group is afforded an equal opportunity to set and achieve attainable personal
and educational goals.
o Dreamers are always encouraged to succeed, but are allowed to make mistakes without
being terminated from the program. "Once a Dreamer, always a Dreamer" is the IHAD
motto.
o Success is measured individually – college attendance is not the ultimate measure of
success: productive citizenship is.
Scholarships
o Currently $2,000 for each Dreamer who graduates from High School to use at the college, trade school or vocational school of their choice.
o Scholarship funds are held and invested by the Community Foundation of North Texas.
o The scholarship is paid directly to the school, not to the Dreamer.
o Dreamers have seven years from their targeted graduation date to use the scholarship funds.
National Program w/ Local Roots
o Begun in 1981 in New York, New York by Eugene Lang
o Brought to Fort Worth in 1988 by Mollie Lasater
Diverse Private Funding Sources
o Individuals
o Corporations
o Foundations
o Reading Rocks annual fundraiser (yearly special event)
Excellent Staff
o 4 fulltime and 3 part-time staff
o 12 work-study tutors
o 207 Dreamers
Results
65% graduation rate vs. 45% anticipated
45% of our graduates have utilized scholarship funds
“Making a difference through education.”
About Our Staff
Mollie Lasater, Board Chairperson
Honored recently as a "Great Woman of Texas", Mollie received her Bachelor's Degree from Vassar College and her Masters from TCU. She has served on many committees and been involved in countless projects to assist the students of Fort Worth and improve the education system. While serving as president of the Fort Worth Independent School System in the late 80's, on a trip to New York she met someone who changed her life and that of many children in the Fort Worth Area. Mollie met Eugene Lang, founder of the "I Have a Dream" Foundation and was so impressed with the program that she brought it back to Fort Worth. Since that time over 500 children have been assisted through elementary and high school by Fort Worth's "I Have a Dream" Foundation. Mollie and her husband, Garland, reside in Fort Worth and have two sons and four grandchildren.
Melissa Ashworth, Executive Director
Also a graduate of Texas Christian University, Melissa taught within the Fort Worth Independent School System prior to her position with "I Have a Dream". She considers the biggest challenges the foundation will face in the coming year as "Funding challenges in this tight economy, maintaining high quality programming and developing creative ways to sustain those programs". Melissa has founded a peer group of Executive Directors of non-profits in the Fort Worth area to network and exchange ideas. After 14 years with the foundation, the agency's being "passionate about helping young children" is one of the reasons she considers this her Dream Job!
Matt Torres, Manuel Jara Program Director
With Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Education from Abilene Christian Unviersity, Matt spent several years teaching and coaching in different Texas school systems. In 2005 he was nominated in the Star-Telegram Stars Awards recognizing community service. As a member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Fort Worth Star Telegram "Newspaper in Education Advisory Board", and the Site-Base Committee for Manuel Jara Elementray School, Matt is totally committed to the success of his Dreamers and their families. He holds informative meetings for parents to keep them abreast of school mandate and has even brought families together for picnics and weekend activities.
Debra Sykes West, Butler/Ripley Program Director
After graduating with Bachelor's and Master's Degrees in Special Education from the University of Illinois, Debra spent several years working for colleges. She transitioned to non-profit in the early 80's and has found a home in that profession. Joining "I Have a Dream" in 1997, Debra has been instrumental in modifying the Butler Housing and Ripley Arnold Programs after the school closings moved Dreamers into 20 different area schools. She also serves on IHAD national committees.