Dreams for Kids
Encyclopedia
Dreams for Kids is a 501(3) non-profit, charitable organization
founded in 1989.The organization empowers at-risk youth and those with disabilities through a variety of programs.
at the request of his mother, Patricia Tuohy, a single parent.
The organization began its community outreach work on December 24, 1989 in Clara's House, a homeless shelter
house in the South Side, Chicago neighborhood of Englewood
, where 43% of its residents lived below the poverty level.
On Christmas Eve
, a dozen volunteers visited Clara’s House with Mr. Tuohy and delivered gifts and food to the 54 children living in the shelter. This began the organizations commitment to homeless youth. The first event grew every year to become Holiday for Hope, and each December the organization welcomes over 1,000 Illinois
children of all faith
. The event is hosted by groups in several United States
cities and in 30 countries around the world.
In 2000, Dreams for Kids expanded its mission to include youth
with disabilities and, with a grant from the Chicago Blackhawks
of the National Hockey League
, created an adaptive sports program, which the youth named Extreme Recess. Chicago Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz
and Blackhawks Charities later established a major, wide ranging partnership with Dreams for Kids to participate in its 20th Anniversary and assist in expanding Dreams for Kids programming across North America
.
In 2007, influenced by Jesse White
, an early mentor
of Mr.Tuohy, long time community leader
, Illinois Secretary of State, and the founder of the 50 year Jesse White Tumbling Team
, the organization began focusing on youth empowerment
rather than charity
outreach as its primary objective. This led to the development of the Dreams Leaders program, designed to engage and empower youth of poverty
and disability
.
The biographies of Jesse White and Clara Kirk and their influence on Dreams for Kids, and the organizations history and documented stories, were featured in a book authored in 2006 by Mr. Tuohy, Kiss of a Dolphin. The book was updated and republished in May 2010, under the title of Dreams for Kids, Changing the World...One Person at a Time.
In early 2009, Dreams for Kids opened a United States
East Coast
chapter of the organization in Washington D.C.
On March 11, 2011 Dreams for Kids and founder Tom Tuohy were invited to the White House
to participate in a ceremony hosted by the President of the United States
Barack Obama
honoring the Chicago Blackhawks
for their Stanley Cup
championship and to play field hockey on the South Lawn to promote the Let's Move!
campaign of the First Lady of the United States
Michelle Obama
.
The event is hosted in cities and village around the world and supported by individuals, businesses, and social service groups in each community.
In 2010, National Hockey League
Chicago Blackhawks
all-star and 2010 Winter Olympics
medalist, Patrick Kane
personally adopted the Dreams for Kids Holiday for Hope mission and launched its toy drive at Sears Tower
.
In each Holiday for Hope event, the youths who are guests are encouraged to pay it forward
by serving their community in the following days.
, deep sea diving, track and field
, rock climbing
, bocce ball, and sailing
, baseball
, and martial arts
reinforce each child's positive belief in their own abilities, increases confidence and self-esteem, and also helps to improve respiratory capacity, circulation, heart rate, muscle tone, and, consequently, their quality of life.
Adaptive sports provide community integration, high life satisfaction, and true empowerment for those living with a disability.
and those with disabilities, by giving them opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.
The purpose of the program is to break down the social barriers of segregation, provide leadership opportunities to an isolated population, and bring diverse youth together and engage them as active members of their local and global communities.
The program was recognized by the Northwestern University
Kellogg School of Management
KIN Global as its featured, innovative nonprofit of 2010.
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
founded in 1989.The organization empowers at-risk youth and those with disabilities through a variety of programs.
Mission
The Dreams for Kids mission is "to empower at-risk youth and those with disabilities through dynamic leadership programs and life-changing activities that inspire them to fearlessly pursue their dreams and compassionately change the world."History
Dreams for Kids was founded by Tom Tuohy of ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
at the request of his mother, Patricia Tuohy, a single parent.
The organization began its community outreach work on December 24, 1989 in Clara's House, a homeless shelter
Homeless shelter
Homeless shelters are temporary residences for homeless people which seek to protect vulnerable populations from the often devastating effects of homelessness while simultaneously reducing the environmental impact on the community...
house in the South Side, Chicago neighborhood of Englewood
Englewood, Chicago
Englewood, once known as "Junction Grove" , is one of the 77 official community areas of Chicago. At its height, over 97,000 people lived in its approximately 3 square miles , but the neighborhood's population has since dropped dramatically...
, where 43% of its residents lived below the poverty level.
On Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, a dozen volunteers visited Clara’s House with Mr. Tuohy and delivered gifts and food to the 54 children living in the shelter. This began the organizations commitment to homeless youth. The first event grew every year to become Holiday for Hope, and each December the organization welcomes over 1,000 Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
children of all faith
Faith
Faith is confidence or trust in a person or thing, or a belief that is not based on proof. In religion, faith is a belief in a transcendent reality, a religious teacher, a set of teachings or a Supreme Being. Generally speaking, it is offered as a means by which the truth of the proposition,...
. The event is hosted by groups in several United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
cities and in 30 countries around the world.
In 2000, Dreams for Kids expanded its mission to include youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
with disabilities and, with a grant from the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
of the National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
, created an adaptive sports program, which the youth named Extreme Recess. Chicago Blackhawks Chairman Rocky Wirtz
Rocky Wirtz
William Rockwell "Rocky" Wirtz is the principal owner and chairman of the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks. He is also president of the Blackhawks' parent company, Wirtz Corporation, a diversified conglomerate headquartered in Chicago....
and Blackhawks Charities later established a major, wide ranging partnership with Dreams for Kids to participate in its 20th Anniversary and assist in expanding Dreams for Kids programming across North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
.
In 2007, influenced by Jesse White
Jesse White (politician)
Jesse Clark White is a Democratic American politician. He is currently the 37th and second-longest serving Secretary of State of Illinois, after James A. Rose, and the first African American to hold this position....
, an early mentor
Mentor
In Greek mythology, Mentor was the son of Alcimus or Anchialus. In his old age Mentor was a friend of Odysseus who placed Mentor and Odysseus' foster-brother Eumaeus in charge of his son Telemachus, and of Odysseus' palace, when Odysseus left for the Trojan War.When Athena visited Telemachus she...
of Mr.Tuohy, long time community leader
Community leader
A Community Leader is a designation, often by secondary sources , for a person who is perceived to represent a community. A simple way to understand community leadership is to see it as leadership in, for and by the community...
, Illinois Secretary of State, and the founder of the 50 year Jesse White Tumbling Team
Jesse White Tumbling Team
The Jesse White Tumbling Team is a team of acrobats that was founded in 1959 by Illinois athlete and politician Jesse White. Their acrobatic performances can frequently be seen during half-time shows for the National Basketball Association, the National Football League and Major League Baseball...
, the organization began focusing on youth empowerment
Youth empowerment
Youth empowerment is an attitudinal, structural, and cultural process whereby young people gain the ability, authority, and agency to make decisions and implement change in their own lives and the lives of other people, including youth and adults....
rather than charity
Charitable organization
A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization . It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A charitable organization is a type of non-profit organization (NPO). It differs from other types of NPOs in that it centers on philanthropic goals A...
outreach as its primary objective. This led to the development of the Dreams Leaders program, designed to engage and empower youth of poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and disability
Disability
A disability may be physical, cognitive, mental, sensory, emotional, developmental or some combination of these.Many people would rather be referred to as a person with a disability instead of handicapped...
.
The biographies of Jesse White and Clara Kirk and their influence on Dreams for Kids, and the organizations history and documented stories, were featured in a book authored in 2006 by Mr. Tuohy, Kiss of a Dolphin. The book was updated and republished in May 2010, under the title of Dreams for Kids, Changing the World...One Person at a Time.
In early 2009, Dreams for Kids opened a United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
East Coast
East Coast of the United States
The East Coast of the United States, also known as the Eastern Seaboard, refers to the easternmost coastal states in the United States, which touch the Atlantic Ocean and stretch up to Canada. The term includes the U.S...
chapter of the organization in Washington D.C.
On March 11, 2011 Dreams for Kids and founder Tom Tuohy were invited to the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
to participate in a ceremony hosted by the President of the United States
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....
Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
honoring the Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
for their Stanley Cup
Stanley Cup
The Stanley Cup is an ice hockey club trophy, awarded annually to the National Hockey League playoffs champion after the conclusion of the Stanley Cup Finals. It has been referred to as The Cup, Lord Stanley's Cup, The Holy Grail, or facetiously as Lord Stanley's Mug...
championship and to play field hockey on the South Lawn to promote the Let's Move!
Let's Move!
Let's Move! is a campaign to end childhood obesity in the United States. The campaign was started by First Lady Michelle Obama. The initiative has the goal of "solving the challenge of childhood obesity within a generation so that children born today will reach adulthood at a healthy weight."The...
campaign of the First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States
First Lady of the United States is the title of the hostess of the White House. Because this position is traditionally filled by the wife of the president of the United States, the title is most often applied to the wife of a sitting president. The current first lady is Michelle Obama.-Current:The...
Michelle Obama
Michelle Obama
Michelle LaVaughn Robinson Obama is the wife of the 44th and incumbent President of the United States, Barack Obama, and is the first African-American First Lady of the United States...
.
Holiday for Hope
Holiday for Hope is a global holiday event designed to celebrate and empower homeless and at-risk youth during the month of December each year.The event is hosted in cities and village around the world and supported by individuals, businesses, and social service groups in each community.
In 2010, National Hockey League
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League is an unincorporated not-for-profit association which operates a major professional ice hockey league of 30 franchised member clubs, of which 7 are currently located in Canada and 23 in the United States...
Chicago Blackhawks
Chicago Blackhawks
The Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won four Stanley Cup championships since their founding in 1926, most recently coming in 2009-10...
all-star and 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
medalist, Patrick Kane
Patrick Kane
Patrick Timothy Kane, Jr. is an American professional ice hockey right winger currently playing for the Chicago Blackhawks of the National Hockey League . The Blackhawks selected him with the first overall pick in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.-Minor and junior:Kane attended the St...
personally adopted the Dreams for Kids Holiday for Hope mission and launched its toy drive at Sears Tower
Sears Tower
Sears' optimistic growth projections were not met. Competition from its traditional rivals continued, with new competition by retailing giants such as Kmart, Kohl's, and Wal-Mart. The fortunes of Sears & Roebuck declined in the 1970s as the company lost market share; its management grew more...
.
In each Holiday for Hope event, the youths who are guests are encouraged to pay it forward
Pay it forward
The expression "pay it forward" is used to describe the concept of asking that a good turn be repaid by having it done to others instead. In contract law, typically there are two parties but there is the concept of third party beneficiaries. Pay it forward merely applies this contract law concept...
by serving their community in the following days.
Extreme Recess
Extreme Recess provides children with disabilities the opportunity to participate in adaptive sports, often for the very first time. Adaptive sporting events from snow skiing, water-skiing to biking, kayakingKayaking
Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving across water. Kayaking and canoeing are also known as paddling. Kayaking is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle...
, deep sea diving, track and field
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, rock climbing
Rock climbing
Rock climbing also lightly called 'The Gravity Game', is a sport in which participants climb up, down or across natural rock formations or artificial rock walls. The goal is to reach the summit of a formation or the endpoint of a pre-defined route without falling...
, bocce ball, and sailing
Sailing
Sailing is the propulsion of a vehicle and the control of its movement with large foils called sails. By changing the rigging, rudder, and sometimes the keel or centre board, a sailor manages the force of the wind on the sails in order to move the boat relative to its surrounding medium and...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, and martial arts
Martial arts
Martial arts are extensive systems of codified practices and traditions of combat, practiced for a variety of reasons, including self-defense, competition, physical health and fitness, as well as mental and spiritual development....
reinforce each child's positive belief in their own abilities, increases confidence and self-esteem, and also helps to improve respiratory capacity, circulation, heart rate, muscle tone, and, consequently, their quality of life.
Adaptive sports provide community integration, high life satisfaction, and true empowerment for those living with a disability.
Dreams Leaders
Dream Leaders provides empowerment to at-risk youth, those who live in severe povertyPoverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
and those with disabilities, by giving them opportunities to make a difference in the lives of others.
The purpose of the program is to break down the social barriers of segregation, provide leadership opportunities to an isolated population, and bring diverse youth together and engage them as active members of their local and global communities.
The program was recognized by the Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
Kellogg School of Management
Kellogg School of Management
The Kellogg School of Management is the business school of Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois, downtown Chicago, Illinois and Miami, Florida. Kellogg offers full-time, part-time, and executive programs, as well as partnering programs with schools in China, India, Hong Kong, Israel,...
KIN Global as its featured, innovative nonprofit of 2010.