Winter 2008

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the new web site of the "I Have A Dream" Foundation. We're thrilled that we can make this site available to you and provide you with a way to more easily learn about our mission and work, as well as the future direction of "I Have A Dream".

I have been with the "I Have A Dream" Foundation for nearly nine months now, and I continue to be inspired every day by our mission, by the tireless dedication of our staff and supporters across the country, and by the many successes of the students we serve. This is a particularly exciting time for the organization, as we prepare to launch an ambitious new plan to strengthen our operations and significantly increase our impact. Our goal is to ensure that all children have the opportunity to pursue higher education and to fully capitalize on their talents, passions, and leadership to have fulfilling careers and make the world better - changing not only their lives, but the lives of all the generations that follow.

As you may know, local "I Have A Dream" chapters sponsor entire grade levels of students in public elementary schools or public housing developments, and do whatever it takes to ensure these students succeed. Currently, only 50% of children in low-income communities will graduate from high school, and less than 10% will earn a bachelor's degree. We are working to change this reality by providing a continuous program of academic support, enrichment, and leadership development for our 'Dreamers', from the time they are in early elementary school all the way through to college. Upon high school graduation, each Dreamer receives guaranteed tuition assistance for higher education. 

Today, more than 4,000 Dreamers are on the pathway to college in 16 states, Washington, D.C., and New Zealand, building on the successes of some 10,000 Dreamers who came before them. Our Dreamers often graduate and enter college at double or triple the rates of other students in the local population, and surpass the overall statewide average for students in their peer group.

To build on this success, we are undertaking an intensive strategic planning process together with our affiliates to take our impact to the next level. A key part of this plan will be to invest in our national infrastructure so that we can better support our affiliates in pursuit of our collective goals. We are also forming an Advisory Board of education thought leaders and practitioners, including Bridget Long of Harvard University, Cliff Stanley of Scholarship America, Earl Martin Phalen of BELL, and Richard Murphy of Youthline America, to help us update our program model and access the resources we need to put the model into action. Together, we have come to see that we have the potential to produce even more college graduates and ultimately, reach many more communities across the nation.

I couldn't be more excited about the future of the "I Have A Dream" Foundation, and I hope you will explore our new web site to learn more about us. Our plans for the organization will have a great impact on the students we serve, but we need your help to put these plans into action. I encourage you to get involved through volunteering at the local or national level, making a donation, getting your company involved, joining our Junior Board, and more.

Thank you in advance for your support.

All my best,

Iris Chen
President & CEO