DREAM alumni have played a critical role in the sustainability and growth of this magical youth development organization serving children living in affordable housing. The Dartmouth program, established in 1999, has the most number of alumni of all 13 DREAM programs - the Dartmouth DREAM alumni have consistently led the way in giving back.

The funds raised this year, from you, will go toward strengthening our efforts in Boston and growing to new cities. Additionally, some funds will be set aside for scholarship awards that will help our old partners afford college as they graduate high school and set their sights on higher education!

Thank you for contributing - your gift makes a huge difference. For perspective on what your donations could do:

• $500 covers a winter adventure weekend for the Dartmouth DREAMers at Camp DREAM
• $250 pays for five teens and mentors to go on a weekend college tour
• $100 covers the costs of training and screening a new mentor for a child

Any contribution you’re able to make strengthens this important organization.

Below is something I wrote in the Summer of '11, which I think you'll enjoy:

This Spring, I had the opportunity to go to the celebration for DREAM mentors graduating from the new Boston programs. Since I had been trying to get together with my own partner/mentee from Dartmouth DREAM, I sent her a Facebook message to see if she would like to come along. Surprisingly, given both of our busy schedules, she was free!

I love telling people about Nedra. I met her when she was eight years old living in a housing development in Vermont. We would always have a blast during our Friday afternoons together, taking advantage of everything Dartmouth has to offer: canoeing on the Connecticut River, visiting the pottery studio, exploring the Hood Museum. One of my favorite memories of Nedra was when we went together in the late fall to the Dartmouth Organic Farm. To my dismay, the only activity left to do was to spread manure! I was worried that Nedra would want no part in this unglamorous activity, but as she always does, she participated with gusto. Nedra has now blossomed into a beautiful, smart young woman. She is working and going to college in the Boston area, and I feel as proud of her as her family must be.

I waited for Nedra in Harvard Square to take the bus to the graduation party. We had the opportunity to catch up and reminisce about our time together in the Upper Valley. I was impressed that Nedra seemed to remember every activity that we did together. DREAM had clearly impacted her positively. But even more interestingly, I realized that I also remembered every experience that she recalled! Clearly, our time together as part of DREAM had been an important part of our growth and development. It cleared the line of sight for Nedra to aim for college, and it helped me decide to devote my life to contributing to communities as a family doctor.

At the party, we enjoyed listening to the speeches that the mentors gave for each other. It was clear that DREAM had been a central part of their college experience. It felt good to be part of welcoming them into the strong circle of DREAM alumni. Nedra and I were a testament to the fact that, nine years later, our relationships still have powerful effects. At one point during the party, Nedra turned to me incredulously and said, “I can’t believe I’m as old as the mentors!” She now saw herself more like the positive role models from her youth than like the young child she had been. I affirmed to her that she absolutely has grown into a positive role model, and it would be wonderful to figure out a way for her to participate as a mentor in DREAM. I know that Nedra, as well as the newly graduating DREAM alumni, will continue to make positive impacts and connections whatever they decide to do.

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Post note November 12:

Nedra now has a beautiful baby boy, Trevor, and is doing well back with her family in Vermont. She is managing to be a wonderful mom while continuing her college education! I am very proud of her.