Newsletter
September 2014

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Expanding our Impact: DREAM Joins Alerta Joven

This month DREAM has officially launched its participation in the national youth initiative Alerta Joven! Funding from USAID will enable us to expand our education, health and workforce development programs to serve 800 new youth over the next 2.5 years. We are thrilled to be collaborating with the Puerto Plata consortium, and partnering with three organizations doing great work: CEPROSH, Grupo Clara, and COIN. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates throughout the year!

NYC Sue�os 2014

DREAM will host our third annual NYC Sue�os Benefit November 13th at Saleya in Tribeca. Sue�os is the bridge between our extended international community and the innovative work DREAM provides in the DR to more than 4,500 youth. This is our moment to celebrate all our young learners through an exclusive evening of fine food, drink, music, art and visionaries. Click here to learn more, or purchase your tickets below:

Individual Ticket: $250

Couple's Ticket: $400

A Very Special Story...

Lifetime DREAMer Carlos was affected by a debilitating eye disease that caused him to lose one eye and was in danger of spreading to the other. Through a process of several years, initiated by Ramon Vazquez, and brought to completion by Robert Ottis, Carlos got the help he needed from A Ganar graduate and Cuidame founder Yohanna Rodriguez. After being trained by DREAM as a home health care attendant and receiving a certificate from the Ministry of Health, Yohanna spent three months accompanying Carlos to Santo Domingo for this life changing treatment. Thanks to her dedication, Carlos recently received a glass eye and a new look at life.

The More Books, the Better!

It is really that simple here at DREAM. DREAM is committed to helping students and families in the Dominican Republic develop a culture of reading. Which is why we are excited to announce the implementation of the My Very Own Library literacy program this school year. Proudly supported by the friends and family of the late Anne Feeley (1954-2012), and in collaboration with Scholastic Book Fairs, the North Coast will be able to give away over 27,500 FREE NEW BOOKS to more than 2,000 DREAM and Public school students to help them grow their very own home libraries. These great NEW BOOKS will be presented to students to self-select at three special Book Fair events happening in December, March, and May. The Kick-Off Event will be December 11th at 9:30 a.m., so please mark your calendars, and join us in the DREAM Center for this amazing landmark affair!

A Ganar #9 Has Arrived!

Forty Cabarete youth selected out of seventy applicants are participating in DREAM's ninth A Ganar course and the first one under Alerta Joven. The course begins with 100 hours of development through sports to increase communication, teamwork and life-skills. The course also includes professional development, resume-building, interviewing, customer service and an intense English course, followed by an internship. The students have shown tremendous motivation and commitment. Congratulations to the new participants!!

Teaching and Promoting Literacy on the North Coast

DREAM wants to give a big shout out to Peace Corps Volunteers Andrea Rosener, Caitlin Meyer, Queenie Razel Olalo and Cindy Toscano for designing the Peace Corps Regional Escojo Ense�ar Conference. Public School Teachers from across the North Coast participated in three days of workshops in improving student engagement in the classroom, the use of libraries, components of literacy, reading and comprehension development, lesson planning and parental involvement. We are proud to work with these dedicated educators. A great way to start the school year!!

DREAMers of the Month

The students of Barrio Blanco

Barrio Blanco is the poorest community in the tourist zone of Cabarete. Today, 23 young Barrio Blanco residents are getting the opportunity to receive a better education at the CADIN School, along with academic support from the DREAM project. Thanks to the principal benefactor Mr. Ron Zauner, who, along with the help of several donors in the United States, will sponsor their studies, transport and meals throughout the year. Barrio Blanco is a part of the community forgotten by many, but now it has a big reason to celebrate!

Donors of the Month

A special thank you to all those who gave this month, including:

Friends & Family of Anne Feeley, Scholastic & MVOL

Umbrella Fund and The Doughty Family Foundation

Michel Zaleski Thomas Rosato Foundation

Benjamin De Menil Gates Capital Management

Gordon Gannon Eric Phillips Nik Millhouse

Patrick McBrien Stanley Bergman

Neal Berger Brenda Doyon