Why “I Have a Dream” Foundation?
What We Do
“I Have a Dream” Foundation—Idaho provides academic and social-emotional support, life skills learning, and enrichment programs to under-resourced youth. The program spans from first grade to first job and guarantees tuition assistance for continuing education.
WHY WE DO IT
We envision a world in which all children are empowered to realize their innate potential and are equipped to forge productive futures. We believe potential should not be constrained by lack of resources. We are committed to narrowing the opportunity and education gap.
Who We Serve
We empower under-resourced youth through our “Dream Scholars” programs. Dream Scholar families apply for program admission, qualify by demonstrating financial need, and commit to academic success and long-term engagement within our program. Today we serve more than 100 students in our core programs and through school district and nonprofit collaborations we partner to support hundreds more.
How We Do It
We support Dream Scholars long-term and year-round. We take an individualized approach to ensure each child’s academic achievement, social development, and community engagement. We provide enrichment opportunities for our students and families and require our students to take part in community service projects each year. We provide mentorship, tutoring, counseling, intervention and advocacy for our students and families.
We Envision a Community
We envision a community where all children are empowered to forge their own future and reach their full potential.
What it Costs
Direct cost per student in our core programs is $4,500 per student, each year. Over 12 years, we invest approximately $50,000 in each Dream Scholar’s success; we also provide $10,000 in tuition assistance for our students who go on to post-secondary education. This a small investment to facilitate a lifetime of achievement and contribution to our community and the larger world.
What Are The Costs of Inaction
Students who do not finish high school earn significantly less income over their lifetimes. The economic costs nationally—including lost wages, taxes, and productivity—are hundreds of billions of dollars.
Why Here
52% of Blaine County residents are a paycheck away from being unable to pay essential bills. Under-resourced students are at risk for falling behind and staying behind. 69% of White students in Blaine County are proficient in reading between kindergarten and third grade, while only 33% of the Hispanic students meet those standards. 96% of the students we serve are Hispanic.
We Create Opportunities
We create opportunities where underserved children learn to develop and master the skills they need to chart their own paths forward, undefined by circumstance.
Educational Success
With year-round, 360-degree support from the beginning, Dream Scholars stay on track to remain in school, graduate from high school and pursue their post-secondary education and career goals. They successfully transition to adulthood, competitive with their economically advantaged peers.