Project DREAM is a private 501 (c) 3 that began in 2004, serving the 10 schools and 5,000 students in the North Sacramento School District with an initial donation of $10,000. We now raise funds for 28,000 students in 50 schools within the communities served by the Twin Rivers Unified School District (TRUSD). The Twin Rivers Unified School District is an ethnically diverse and urban school district covering 120 miles of Northern Sacramento County. 79% of our students qualify for free or reduced cost meals at school and we have identified over 1,800 homeless students within our school district, the highest number in Sacramento County. Our entirely volunteer board has worked tirelessly to double our annual fundraising efforts to meet these needs.

Since 2008 and TRUSD began, $251,331 has been requested and given out to schools and non-profits within the community for enrichment programs that cannot be funded out of state or federal education funding. We’ve also over $35,000 to give 58 of our graduating seniors the College Bound Scholarship to purchase needed dorm and school supplies. In some cases, these students also received a brand new laptop to assist them in their studies. During the 2011-2012 school year, we expect to have funded over $500,000 in projects since we began in 2004.

Thanks to all of you who have helped make this possible. You have sent over 1,000 students to 6th grade science camp and other outdoor education opportunities. You have sent students to fantastic museums, cultural attractions and to local universities throughout Northern California so that students understand what the world has to offer them if they complete and continue their education. Students have gone to Washington DC, Anaheim, The Museum of Tolerance in Los Angeles and the Shakespeare Festival in Ashland, Oregon.

We are now at the point where more requests for funding are coming in than money to support programs. Please spread the word about DREAM and help connect us with individuals, foundations and businesses who can support our work with these amazing young people. On behalf of the DREAM board, thank you for making a difference in the lives of our amazing young people and teachers.