Program Impact
-
What?
“I Have a Dream” Foundation works to narrow the education gap. We provide long-term, year-round academic and enrichment programming for Idaho youth and we guarantee tuition support for post-secondary education.
-
Who?
Our “Dream Scholars” are youth with demonstrated financial need and a commitment to participate in our academic and enrichment programs throughout their academic years.
-
Why?
We know that access to resources removes barriers and provides all children the opportunity to realize their innate potential and achieve their dreams.
-
How?
We provide tutoring, mentorship, social-emotional support, life skills learning and enrichment opportunities to our students throughout their academic years with long- term, year-round programming. From a young age our students participate in community service and cultural enrichment activities with our nonprofit and business partners. Our students learn leadership and become contributing members of our community.
-
Impact:
IHDF program results are powerful. 98% of our high school seniors this year are on track to graduate, 80% will go on to post-secondary education, and others will take their next steps toward job or career. Our students perform hundreds of hours of community service each year.
-
Cost:
Delivering our program costs $4,500 per student, each year.* This is a small investment to facilitate a lifetime of achievement, productivity and contribution to our community and the larger world.
*Cost vary slightly per grade level.
ACCORDING TO IDAHO EDUCATION NEWS, EVERY YEAR, IDAHO STUDENTS SLIP FURTHER AND FURTHER BEHIND.
AND YET…
98% percent of our first group of Dream Scholars are on track to graduate high school; comparatively, Idaho’s overall graduation rate, in the demographic we serve, is between 70%-75%.
Over 90% of our students will be the first in their families to graduate high school and many will be the first in their families to finish elementary or middle school.
80% of our students have plans to go on to post-secondary education; comparatively, the State of Idaho’s go-on rate is 38%.
Dream Scholars perform hundreds of hours of community service each year and report this experience as having a significant impact on their belief in service and community.
Dream Scholars are young leaders, peer tutors, contributing community members.
Here’s What Our Graduating Dream Scholars Have to Say:
“The “I Have a Dream” Foundation has helped... set me up for success in life. [They] have helped facilitate my growth by giving me mentors or resources that can help me see other opportunities with my career. The “I Have a Dream Foundation” has given me the opportunities to grow as a person and as a leader.”
— Eduardo
“My childhood was hard because I was bullied for not knowing English. My parents didn’t go to college; my mom didn’t finish high school and my dad didn’t finish middle school so [IHDF] helped us a lot… I’m ready to go to college… this is what they’ve been preparing us for… they want to see us move up!”
— Alexia
“I’ve had ups and downs. I was having trouble, my grades needed to go up, all the problems needed to stop… I was behind a whole semester and thanks to IHDF I was able to catch up, thanks to IHDF, I’m graduating!”
— Froilan
“I had a hard time socializing with other people and because I was really shy… I thank IHDF for providing the skills I use today and helping me pursue my dream of going to college.”
— Nick
“IHDF has helped with college… like 100 times!”
— Olivia
“There have been certain points in my life when I flunked classes . . . I learned how to manage my time and be successful, and I wouldn’t have had that if I wasn’t part of the IHDF.”
— Hugo
“The “I Have a Dream” Foundation made my dreams become bigger and the people in the program helped me achieve the mindset that everything is possible if you are determined. Every day I am grateful for being a Dream Scholar… to be surrounded by people who only want the best for you. I am so lucky to be in a program where they all want me to succeed and will help me have a great future.”
— Mariyah
*Source of Statewide data: Idaho Education News
