The DREAM Program, Annual Reports, Annual Report, 2007

DREAM

The DREAM Program 2007 Annual Report The DREAM Program, Inc. PO Box 361, Winooski, VT 05404 802.655.9015 www.dreamprogram.org

Board Members *Jan Backus Former Vermont State Senator Winooski, VT Bill Finnegan; Chair Co-Founder of Tamarack Media Montpelier, VT

DREAM partners with AmeriCorps to expand the quality and breadth of our impact.

Mike Foote Student of Public Policy. Former Mentor and Staff Member.

Seattle, WA Cara Gleason Director of the Northern Lights Program Burlington, VT *Jon Harris; Former Chair Member Services, Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility Seattle, WA Karen Dusini Administrative Coordinator Information Systems at Champlain College Burlington, VT Pete Land Co-Founder of Tamarack Media Burlington, VT Lu Neuse Student of Education. Former Mentor and Staff Member.

Burlington, VT Kristen Towbin Retail Training Manager at Ben and Jerry’s Winooski, VT *These members left the board in 2007.

Why did we skip the 2006 Annual Report?

While DREAM has year round programming, our fiscal, hiring, and planning years all begin September 1st. To align our Annual Report with this schedule, this report covers January, 2006 to August, 2007. All future reports will be on track with our fiscal year.

Mike Loner, Executive Director & Jon Harris, Former Board Chair G reetings, and welcome to the 2007 Annual Report.

This is a gateway for us to share DREAM with you. I hope you enjoy this chance to catch up with our work and continue to connect with the pieces that inspire you the most.

Our core values are cornerstone philosophies that help guide everything we do. One value, and perhaps our most important cornerstone, is Empowerment Through Ownership. We know that when people develop a connection and responsibility around a piece of DREAM, their interest and investment skyrocket. Mentors and kids truly own and run their Local Program together. They plan events, fund raise for activities, and invest in relationships. Parents of kids gather at family meetings to advise and support the program. Parents of mentors donate funds and materials for projects and host programs as they travel around the country from Maine to California!

Vermonters with no family in the program are even stepping up. They see their donations of time, money, and materials as instrumental in strengthening their community. Their involvement is perhaps most visible at Camp DREAM. In the last year, over 250 volunteers spent over 1300 hours improving Camp. This investment is essential to our progress. It also engages people in addressing a serious community need in an inspiring way that they love.

Ownership of DREAM is not exclusive. We do this together. I hope that you feel very proud of our work as you look through this report.

Let us know when you see things you want to know more about. Thank you for dreaming with us!

The board can celebrate many accomplishments in the last year! We worked with staff to create board priorities that focus on critical areas of the organization: children, mentors, alumni, staff, Camp, environment, and expansion.

These priorities will be monitored to ensure healthy progress for DREAM. We are thinking even BIGGER for next year.

Working with the rest of the organization, we will move away from year-long board priorities and shape up DREAM’s future for years to come.

Sadly, I must step down from the board as I plan to move cross country to Seattle. My two years on DREAM’s board gave me the opportunity to contribute to a beautiful organization with a heart and soul for inspiring children. My one frustration from board work was that I spent my volunteer time discussing how others can best serve children instead of actually playing with children. DREAM has inspired me. I will take the lessons I learned to Seattle and mentor a youngster so we can both achieve our dreams.

Dream,

Jon Harris Former Board Chair

Keep DREAMing,

Mike Loner Executive Director

Bill, Mike L., Mike F., Jon, Karen, Kristen, and Pete on a board retreat. www.dreamprogram.org

Report Contents Local Programs The Franklin Street Program The Franklin Square Program

4 5 6

The Forest ���������� Park Program

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The Elm Street Program

The Birchwood Program The Highgate & Green Acres Program The Armory Square Program The Northwoods & Hollow Drive Program

8 9 10 11

Summer D-Unit High Adventure Camp

Dream Advocacy

12 13 14 17

Support The Alumni Organization Community Partners & Supporters The Annual Appeal

18 19 20

Financial Statements

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The Charge

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Annual Report 2007

Local Programs Children grow with each

Pine Meadow started in October, 2007 and is not covered in this report.

experience. Discovering a new ability or a friend builds pride and eagerness to try more, a new game, a new vegetable, a new thought.

We support this growth with great passion. Our local programs bring together neighborhood kids and their mentors for weekly adventures. Kids count on this supportive network for exploring new places, hobbies, and opportunities for higher education.

Kids and mentors own their program together. This structure increases a personal sense of value, fueling confidence and eagerness to keep growing.

Armory Square has changed name and ownership and is under renovation.

Franklin Sq. Kids And St. Michael’s Mentors

www.dreamprogram.org

The Franklin Street Program

This second UVM program has quickly grown to serve every child at Franklin Street who wants to be

in DREAM. With the help of an Alumni grant, mentors and kids took their first trip in the spring, cruising on vegetable oil to Boston. They explored the aquarium and took in the city from land and sea on a Duck Tour.

“For me, this trip was the high point of the program so far. In all the struggles between forming a new program, and trying to earn money to be able to do such a thing, this trip represents exactly what we’ve been working towards.”

“A lot of these kids have never been out of their housing community.

You could tell how amazed they were to have the chance to explore such a different lifestyle. You could see it in the little things, like when we approached the city, the tall buildings made the kids start to scream! Some of them said that they had never seen such tall

Annual Report 2007

buildings, as they snapped a million pictures. As we got into the city, some of the kids, such as Jillian, started to try to count all the floors of the tall buildings. ‘Wow, that one is 19 stories!!’ she said.”

“By far my favorite part of the trip was seeing the kids react. I heard kids exclaim ‘I love Boston’, and Keesha showed me all the pictures she snapped of Boston on her cellphone, on the bus ride home. They were just so in awe, and it really makes you realize all you take for granted.”

Jess Bean, 2nd Year Mentor

The Franklin Street Program in Boston

The Elm Street Program Elm Street mentor Janet MacDonald brought her

program to her family farm during an April snow shower to check out the cows and ride the tractor.

“It took an hour long bus ride to find winter in a magical farm land at the real MacDonald’s Farm.

Giving time out of the week is amazing, but bringing them to my home was an honor. Seeing kids of all ages feed cows for the first time and take pride in a nine foot snowman was incredible. Every single kid had a positive attitude and a smile on his or her face when making lunch, friendship bracelets, and resting in front of the fire. MacDonald’s Farm is a perfect getaway where DREAM kids can take responsibility for the cows, themselves and each other.”

Janet MacDonald, 2nd Year Mentor

“We should do this every year. This is better than Montreal and Boston combined”! Hope Seymour, 3rd Year Mentee Elm Street traveled to New York City and Maine for a High Adventure. See more on page 13.

www.dreamprogram.org

The Franklin Square Program What is community building? The Franklin Square

Program has explored this question in the past two years.

Group programming that is inclusive for the program’s many races and cultures, evening time Mentor/Parent Social events, a community-wide mural project sponsored by the Alumni Organization (which will hang in the local elementary school!)...this is just the tip of the iceberg of what this group has accomplished together.

In the spring of 2006 a couple of mentors attended a Burlington citizen’s forum regarding issues of race, class, and integration in the city’s elementary schools, including their mentees’ school. After the event the mentors took some time to reflect on DREAM and what they have experienced over the past two years...

Franklin Square Friday DREAM

“I see a change occurring in Franklin Square among the kids and how they relate to each other and I see a change taking place among the parents.

They are forming relationships among each other, relationships I thought I would never see in my four years! I like the change that I see. DREAM in Franklin Square is going to continue on in the next semester to make more bonds and make the bonds among parents and children even stronger, as well as focus on getting a stronger relationship between the parents and mentors. DREAM is building a stronger community and family in Franklin Square.”

Kylie Edwards - 3rd Year Mentor

Annual Report 2007

“I don’t mean to get all philosophical, but I feel like this is the only way I can explain it. I do DREAM to help spread equality. To give everyone, every child, an equal opportunity. I know this sounds cliché - something you’ve heard a million times around. But, as I was helping re-arrange chairs in the auditorium where the Burlington school board meeting was just held, this idea of equality just stuck in my mind. I got it. I suddenly realized what the school board is trying to do by redistributing the “wealth” among all its schools. I realized its endall, its goal, my goal, DREAM’s goal: to give every child a chance to achieve; to create an environment filled with the opportunities that every child has a right to experience.”

Eric Jackson - 3rd Year Mentor

Franklin Square took a trip to Boston to visit the Children’s Museum and Aquarium. Check out the crew on page 21!

Mural painting in the Franklin Square Family Center

The Forest Park Program “I started DREAM at Castleton College my sophomore year. In my three years with the program I saw it grow and change in so many ways, developing to ten dedicated mentors.

I feel the Castleton students are now a recognizable positive force at Forest Park. The kids have also made a huge impact on the mentors. I love seeing some of the guys I know from Rugby who are so tough on the field, yet amazing playing with the kids. I was originally scared about what would happen with DREAM when I left. By the time I graduated, I knew this program was in the hands of some of the most capable people I know. Now that I’m working in child protective services I find myself wishing I could find a program like DREAM for the kids I work with. You guys will just have to keep growing till you are everywhere.”

Jonna Green, ‘07 Alumna

www.dreamprogram.org

The Birchwood Program “The most amazing part of the trip for me was on the way home. I was in the back of the bus chillin’ out when the kiddos had to call home to say we were going to be a little late.

Hearing the excitement in their voices and hearing how much the kids just wanted to share their stories right then and there was incredible.”

Ashley O’Bryan - ‘07 Alumna

Birchwood at the Bronx Zoo

In November of 2006 the Birchwood Program traveled to New York City on an 8-hour bus trip transporting

11 children 300 miles. The prolonged bus trip turned out to be the most productive bonding experience for the Birchwood program yet. The City’s new sights and sounds captivated the group. Exploring the Sony Wonder Museum the children morphed into audio producers, television stars and robotic engineers. They explored Central Park’s playgrounds, carousel, and ponds. And lastly they ventured into the Bronx Zoo’s animal kingdom to see lions, bears, snakes, gorillas, and more!

“Why do we do this? We are college students that have homework, projects, and jobs to go to; our lives are a non-stop juggling act of time consuming activities, yet we decided to take on DREAM. Why do we do it? The answer is so compelling, so spine tingling that I have goosebumps.

Seeing the kids’ faces as we crossed the Manhattan Bridge, watching them look up at the 100 story buildings surrounding them, staring at the thousands upon thousands of people walking the sidewalks, running through Central Park, gazing at a baby gorilla and then a Siberian tiger, chomping down their first-ever Italian style pizza, and being with them on their first over night trip ever. That’s why.”

Jeremy Ellis, 4th Year Mentor

Annual Report 2007

The Highgate & Green Acres Program Norwich University students now mentor children from both

the Green Acres and Highgate communities in Barre. Many of the Green Acres children are now in high school. They help bring on the younger children at Highgate. One of the group’s highlighting activities was bonding in the snow at Winter Adventure Camp.

“I love DREAM and Winter Adventure Camp. This weekend has been the most fun thing I’ve done in a while. I got to be seven again. Being a mentor has been the best time of my life.”

“Winter Adventure Camp fills me with shivers of fun. It was cold but we had a blast. Out of all the things we did, being on the ice was the best part. I’m amazing at defense for the broom ball game. I remember I fell and started making snow angels on the ice. Jayla and Becky and Amber started doing it too. I love WAC so much! I can’t wait to go again. Hopefully we have a joined session again, too. Extra people means extra fun!”

Stephen ‘Ginger’ Gilson, 2nd Year Mentor

Suzie Silva, 3rd Year Mentee

The Highgate & Green Acres Program adventured in Burlington for their 2007 culminating adventure. Catch their video here: http://youtube.com/watch?v=dSZ2oCKGiAY

www.dreamprogram.org

The Windsor Program “We are going to California and we just barely took off. It was pretty funny because you get a tingly feeling inside you and I cannot wait till we get there because I’m going swimming and it will be fun!!”

Journal Entry From Rochelle Parker, 5th Year Mentee

T he Armory Square and

Northwoods & Hollow Drive programs made history with the first ever multi-program High Adventure trip. In the fall, kids and mentors from both programs met to plan their California adventure. They sold grilled cheese sandwiches to college students and asked friends and family for donations. When next page...

“I learned a bit about what it’s like to be a parent, being responsible for kids 24 hours a day, day after day. I learned how sleep deprivation and stress can affect behaviors and group dynamics. And finally I learned how amazingly the most intense situations somehow have a way of bringing everyone closer as a group.”

Brian Bensch, 3rd Year Mentor, Describing His High Adventure Experience

Some people jump into the program with a bang. On Rob Hoffman’s first day with Armory Square, he jumped in a car and ended up in the woods of Camp, surrounded by Dr. Seuss themed adventurers...

“Going into WAC, I had been involved with DREAM for all of one day. I didn’t know any of the kids and had no real idea of what WAC actually was. What amazed me was that after all of two days, I actually felt that I knew almost everyone quite well. One of my favorite memories had to be the skits when the mistake was made of assigning two of the kids to play the hulk and a professional wrestler. Needless to say, the wrestling match chaos followed was all sorts of ridiculous, but what really impressed me was that it never got out of hand or mean spirited. It was an amazing introduction to DREAM and really showed me what the program can be.”

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Rob Hoffman, 2nd Year Mentor

Annual Report 2007

Minnie French, 5th Year Mentee, Laura Shaw, Camp Director, and Elizabeth Daniels, 5th Year Mentee, at Armory Square’s Dr. Seuss WAC.

The Northwoods & Hollow Drive Program

The Northwoods & Hollow Drive Program At Great Escape

The Great Escape Trip was a ton of fun. It was our culminating event for the spring of 2007. We loaded up about 40 kids into the DREAM bus and made the two hour trip to Six Flags Great Escape in upstate New York. Before heading into the gates, we munched on some PB&J and got psyched about the fun rides awaiting us. My mentee and I made our way to the biggest roller coaster we could find and went on it at least 5 times before we decided we should explore.

My favorite memory was convincing two of the thirteen year old boys that it was a good idea to go on the coaster that went upside down. They had no problems with attacking the biggest and fastest coaster, but somehow going upside down was not happening. When they finally agreed to go on it, I took a video with my camera and right at the end of it you can hear Travis yell “THAT WAS AWESOME!�

This is why I do DREAM, seriously. Dylan Nelson, 3rd Year Mentor

summer rolled around, they had raised $19,000 and boarded a plane to Los Angeles. The group toured Southern California between LA and San Francisco, catching a Giants game, strolling through massive Sequoias, and exploring the Pacific.

This trip set precedent for futue multi-program events. Friendships formed at Camp amongst kids and mentors from across Vermont are continuing in events and trips. Look for this crew again in Florida in summer of 2008!

www.dreamprogram.org

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DREAM Summer

D-Unit

The D-Unit summer intern program served over 200 children.

We hire mentors to run on-site programming in all ten communities from June to August. Basing interns in the neighborhood directly connects them with families, involving parents in community building.

Beyond on-site programming, kids frequently travel around Vermont and the Northeast. In 2006, Justine Modica, Northwoods & Hollow Drive mentor, became the first ever “Outdoors Intern” organizing hiking, kayaking, and local farm adventures.

“Sandy was our D-Unit intern at Franklin Street. Throughout the summer, he stressed the importance of giving back, being appreciative, and taking turns. At the end of the summer, Sandy organized a community pot-luck, at which he presented awards to each of the children, highlighting their special qualities. The children made him a book of thank you’s and parents showed their gratitude by throwing a cookout for Sandy and his team of interns. It was so heart-warming to see how appreciative the parents were of Sandy’s work.”

Franklin St. Paper Plate Awards Chris Brown, Programs Director & Elm St. Alum

“One of the best days I had was with James. I didn’t feel comfortable taking him on group trips because he’s much better when he has someone sticking to him. James and I have always gotten along really well and I was looking forward to spending some one on one time together. We started the day at Echo. We got supplies to make chocolate and peanut butter chip cookies (with aprons!). Then we went down to the waterfront with my roommate, her dad, and his dog. James saw some kayakers bringing in their boats. He ran over to them, grabbed one end of a kayak, and helped carry them into shore. It was amazing.”

Julia Risk, 4th Year Mentor

Every summer, D-Unit travels to the ocean, giving many kids their first ever view of endless water.

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Annual Report 2007

Julia Risk, 4th Year Elm St. Mentor & DUnit Intern & James Mulholland, 4th Year Elm St. Mentee

High Adventure The trip of all trips happens on High Adventure. A year in advance, kids and mentors roll out the maps to decide where to explore. They fundraise their entire way with pasta dinners, bottle drives, and grilled cheese sales. And then they get on the plane. For some of the more seasoned adventurers, flying is no big thing. For many kids though, this is the first plane flight.

In 2006, Armory Square and Northwoods / Hollow Drive programs pulled off the first ever multi-program trip to California (see pages 10-11). In 2007, the Elm Street program embarked on a combined urban and rural tour of New York City and Maine. They helped out in a soup kitchen in New York and put in some volunteer hours at Acadia National Park. The crew took the DREAM Bus home, stopping on the way at mentor Jenna Mawhinney’s house, checking out life off the electrical grid! Here’s the crew on their trip...

www.dreamprogram.org

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Camp All mentees age 8 and up are invited to Camp for a three or five day residential summer session. Completely free to our families, this opportunity is provided by donations from individuals, foundations, and the AmeriCorps Program.

“This makes my life better.”

Francine Bahati, 1st Year Camper and 3rd Year Elm St. Mentee

10-12 Year Old Girls Session, Camp DREAM on Metcalf Pond in Fletcher

Our program, facilities, and community have grown by leaps and bounds. We launched our Councilor in Training program, engaging older DREAMers, providing them skills for future jobs, and enriching the overall camp experience.

Campers explored the intersection of farm, garden, cooking, and healthy food traditions through our new Local Foods Program. Our Guest Rock Star Program brought artists, crafts people, and local business people to teach campers new skills and leave a lasting imprint on the property.

Shelby Alger, 2nd Year Camper & 5th Year Elm St. Mentee at Camp’s Farm Partner The Farm Between

Camp DREAM enriches life. We cultivate an environment

Scott Hess, Camp Director & Elm St. Alum With A Camper Annual Report 2007

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that is both formative and fun for our kids, mentors, and staff.

As Camp grows, we are able to offer an increasingly influential experience to those lucky individuals who call the hills surrounding Metcalf Pond home for a day, a week, or an entire summer.

“This is amazing…this is the best place ever. It’s like home.”

Travis Near, 3rd Year Camper and 4th Year Northwoods & Hollow Drive Mentee

Summer 2006:

Summer 2007:

91

82

Campers

Campers

Through our summer and winter programs, as well as a range of off-season events, Camp is building a

community that connects children, mentors, staff, Fletcher residents, and socially-minded Vermont businesses and non-profits. Camp’s dynamic staff work hard to create a perfect space for team-building, outdoor exploration, and volunteering. It never ceases to amaze us what energy and imagination every individual brings to Camp DREAM.

Winter Adventure Camp WAC is a rowdy team-based winter camping weekend for each of

our programs complete with camper led snowshoe hikes, broomball on Metcalf Pond, and fireside theatrical improvisation.

“One of the main reasons I like DREAM so much is because of how the mentors act. Even though they are “adults”, they can let a little of the kids inside burst out. They make me more confident when I’m here. I guess I feel less dorky!”

Amber Monti, 3rd Year Camper & 4th Year Mentee Franklin Square Program Tobogganing

www.dreamprogram.org

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Camp Development Camp changes each year as more campers and volunteers leave their mark on the property. We are only developing eight of our fifty wooded acres.

This homestead site centers around our organic garden, the base of our new local foods program.

Seventh Generation, American Flatbread, and our cedar builder Brian, helped us construct a clay oven on the edge of the garden. Our kids helped build the shed and oven, celebrating the finale with Flatbread pizzas garnished with vegetables picked twenty feet away. Having the kids plant and tend the garden grows their interest in trying beets, peppers, and purple carrots with their meals. CJ, mentee from Birchwood, often consumed his own creation, the CJ wrap: scallions, green and purple beans, all wrapped in a lettuce leaf.

A chicken coop, rabbit hutch, and a well now complement the homestead. Supporters Karen & Lowell Richards celebrated their 35th wedding anniversary by adding fruit trees and berry bushes.

This edible landscape will produce tasty treats in just a few years. A volunteer crew from IBM helped us clear the old apple orchard to encourage it to produce again. These developments provide more options for our kids to interact with and learn from the land.

Kids building Camp

The Organic Garden, Center Of The Local Foods Program

Completion of the Flatbread Oven

Beyond the homestead area, camp sites are scattered throughout the woods. This summer, the first group of campers slept in the Hess Lean-to, our first cabin. Next summer, we anticipate sleeping campers in the Newton Family Treehouse as well! To build these campsites, ensure good trails between them, and provide top rate programming, we host numerous volunteer crews and many National Civilian and Vermont Youth Conservation Corps teams. Thanks to the generous Newton, O’Connell, Hess, and Stryker families whose gifts make this possible and to Henry Howell for his expert direction on tree house construction.

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“I like being able to build things here - having the freedom to do something real.”

Annual Report 2007

Travis Near, 3rd Year Camper and 4th Year Northwoods & Hollow Drive Mentee

Dream Advocacy In February, DREAM sent a delegation of office staff, mentors, and teens to Washington D.C. to attend the annual National Low Income Housing Coalition Conference. DREAM rocked the conference, to say the least. DREAM teens spoke their minds about current issues facing families living in affordable housing in Vermont and met with our congressional representatives. At the end of the conference, a couple of our delegates stood in front of the entire conference to speak personally about their experiences growing up in Vermont’s affordable housing. They received a standing ovation.

“If we’ve gotten this far in a couple of days, imagine how far we could go in a couple of years!”

Ashley Seymour, 4th Year Mentee

www.dreamprogram.org

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Support

As we grow, we rely on a simple fact. Building DREAM is fun. From

getting out to work and play with kids at Camp to helping college students form a new program with a community, it’s clear that everyone involved is doing something good, special, even magical. We thank Alumni, community partners, and all of our friends who believe in this work and do what you can to help us reach more kids.

The Alumni Organization

Providing a resource network for our children is invaluable. This network expands around the world

with former mentors in the Alumni Organization. They host programs on trips, help kids get into college, and offer grants to encourage new program initiatives. In 2006, they donated almost $12,000 to the Alumni Fund.

The first Alumni Council, composed of Leah Threatte, Carly O’Connell, and Elizabeth Rosen led this appeal and many great initiatives before handing Donors In The 2006 Alumni Appeal the reins to the next elected council. We $1000 and up $50 - $99 $1 - $24 appreciate all their work.

Leah Threatte Jeff Kinkaid Jon Potter Sam Glickman Helen Biggs $500 - $999 Jesse Foote Laura Burt Mike Foote Peter Helseth $250 - $499 Drew Sheriff Tim Wright Mike Newton Brian Feldman Erica Rivinoja $100 - $249 Beth Huston Lu Neuse Emilie Knaus Dave Ball Emily Rummo Devon Green David Anderson Carly O’Connell Paul Biggs Giulia Good Stefani Jorge & Molly Miranda

See donors and details of the 2007 Alumni Appeal on our website.

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Macon Phillips Sean Alpert Aaron Gaines Matt Griffiths Christine Ennis Nicole Lobkowicz Josh Slattery Rebecca Taxier Brad Bate Ed Bialas Laura Thompson Brianna Dusseault Alexis Sheehan Sara Cooper Brian Hannigan Elizabeth Rosen Allegra Love $25 - $49 Rachel Richardson Kate Haggerty Chris Ellingwood Kallie Willets Keith Musselman Ashley Carleton Kristin Beattie Dean Krishna Anonymous Jeff Cooney Kate Hubbell Chad Butt Eric Bussey Dakota Casserly Eric Fries Kristin Burdge Dominic Germana Molly Redmond Kate Knight Brooke Lierman

Annual Report 2007

Scott Hess Rob Hayward Stephanie Lawrence Jamil Batcha Doug Fry Kristin Romberg Chris Brown Kendra Nardi Courtney Breslin Kristi Kushmerek Steve Antaya Christie Ma John Cyr Margot Laporte Lindsey Davis Monica Barrera Kristen Brisee Katie Stevenson Amira Bakr Anne Fletcher Rob Bialas

Alumni Jesse Foote, Templeton ‘01, Steve Antaya, Birchwood ‘06, & Chris Brown, Elm St. ‘06 At The Alumni Reunion At Camp DREAM

Alumni Teams Competing On The Trust Walk, One Event Of Many In The First Ever Metcalfathonalon

Community Partners & Supporters

Nonprofit organizations require a lot of help to get started and to grow into a powerful force for change.

Over the past five years DREAM has built partnerships with a number of local, regional, and national organizations and businesses. We offer our thanks to all of the organizations who supported and partnered with us in 2006. In that year, 254 volunteers donated over 1,737 hours of their time to DREAM! Without your help, we could not do what we do.

Photo Garden Champlain Oil Company

The Community Lutheran Church

Thanks to Winooski Housing and Ben & Jerry’s for housing us. Thanks also to Jon Normandin and Dino’s Restaurant for the recycled vegetable oil that fuels our bus! www.dreamprogram.org

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The Annual Appeal This year began a new fund raising era. Parents of an alumna challenged seventy five supporters to

increase their giving or donate for the first time. One hundred and eleven fans answered the challenge, earning DREAM a $7500 match. Additionally, many donors made their fifth annual donation or sponsored specific initiatives at Camp (page 16). This growth in consistent donors demonstrates dedication to our mission. Thank you for believing in this work.

143 donors gave over $64,000 in the 2006 Appeal $5000 and up

$100 - $249

$100 - $249

Rusty Beth, The Adams Fund Neil Groberg & Ellen Wolfson Ed Potter & Regina Olchowski Eric Groberg Dan & Gloria O’Connell

Mike & Vicki Loner Eileen Huston David Joslyn T.R.Mervak & S.M. Marcus Jan & Stephen Blodgett Lu Neuse Nancy Cathcart Jen Lazar & Daniel Shearer Michael & Barbara Taxier Jerry & Nancy Godbehere Margaret & John Biggs Jay Vigon & Margo Nahas Deborah Harris Ross Shearer Susan & Earl Burt Maureen McDonald Jon Harris Rebecca Deutsch Woody & Emily Eckels Molly & Jorge Miranda Bette & Ronald Zollshan Karen & Rex Butt Bob & Teresa Brennan Melissa Ries & Patrick Kennedy Doug & Anne Bate Dale & Kirk Gleason Ann & H. Randall Deming

Karen & Douglas Baer William & Janet O’Bryan Elizabeth Allen Barbara Guttman Greg Young and Carol Cutler Ira Mintzer & Marian Menkel Alen & Judy Hoffman Susan & Dick Toth Karen Fairbank & Vahan Moosekian Thomas & Pamela Clairmont John Tobin & Gail Lee Risse Jon & Annette Lindsey Buzz & Donna Land Cindy Char Karen Stubaus Marian Kummer Susan Post Susan & Chris Tilden Karen & Charles Brown Rina Watson Karen Hendy Barbara Callahan Brian & Jeanne Addison Michael & Cathy Christie Sue Kuegel Barbara & Leonard Dwinell

$2500 - $4999 Helen & Andrew Biggs Gail Lees $1000 - $2499 Monte & Linda Shaw Scott Mishara Richard Burdge Jean Burdge Ian & Karla Kennedy Herbert & Judith Krueger $500 - $999 Alice Foote Gordon & Motoko Deane Lindsay & Kristen Deane Jack & Kathleen McKay Walter & Linda Anderson Adolph & Margarete Piperno Dorothy Treisman Connie Lierman Karen & Lowell Richards Kathy & Rees Shearer $250 - 499 The Pearson Family Anonymous Kevin & Linda McGrain James & Linda Martin Helen & David Fitz Anne Leddy & Alexander Wilson Kent & Elizabeth Dauten Cara Gleason Holly and Jeffrey Wirth Ed Doherty

Building DREAM together is fun!

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Annual Report 2007

Camp Session Five Girls Mix Mud For The Clay Oven

These foundations supported DREAM in 2006 and the beginning of 2007: The James T. Bowse Health Trust The Donley Foundation The Vermont Community Foundation The Byrne Foundation $50 - $99

The Kelsey Trust The Mascoma Bank Foundation The Turrell Fund The Ben and Jerry’s Foundation

The Rosenstiel Foundation The Tarrant Foundation The New England Patriot’s Foundation The Lindsay Trust

$1 - $49

Spence & Verena Putnam Henry Dusseault James & Sue Miller Carol Loner Mary & Tim Fox Kathy & George Butterworth Lisa & David Naugle Max Silverman Patti Eckels Helen Crosby Gary & Gretta Gulezian Michael & Barbara Fletcher Mary & Clayton Griswold David & Sabine Sheppe Louis Klapp Joel & Janet Angelico Carol Gaines Erik Hoekstra Stephen & Mary Jane Higgins The Wiseman Family Lynda McDaniel Leslie & Michael Walker Camilla Shannon Maureen Love Gary De Carolis Priscilla & John Hall Teddy Salgado Stephen Bezark Paul & Rebecca Roller Lisa Christie Richard & Lee-Ellen Magna Christopher & Terri Hunter Denis & Kathleen Curtin Charles & Anita Warren Julia Guttman Owen & Dorothy Walsh Robert & Janet Kmetz The Hubbell Family Harry & Kathleen Wellens Charles & Dorothy Basdekis Robert & Christine Tibor Beth Lavallee Rose Marie Pinette Bob Linck Therese & Alfred Borden Kristin Burdge Chris Brown Susan & Barry Rosen Dolores & John Green Thomas & Kathleen Hamon Jon & Kathleen Ballou Mohamed & Lynda Bakr Carl & Jessica Ellis Lisa Engelbrecht Sharon & Ethan Fener Joan & Jon Auritt Mary-Ellyn & Neil Tarzy Harry Resovsky & Dorothy Abercrombie David and Janine Paradee Christopher Krueger George & Barbara Bartlett Judith & Daniel Keith Jerry Shelton Arnold Fischer Angel & Joan Ortiz Michael & Mary Dumont Margaret Burdge Lois and George Bean David Foote Mary Ippolito Robert & Cynthia Basdekis Franklin Square Program with DREAM Alumni in Boston Harbor Jean Latour

Friends and family created the Founders Fund two years ago to celebrate

2007 Appeal

Jon Potter and Mike Foote’s leadership in establishing DREAM as a nonprofit and spreading it across Vermont. Directed by Jon and Mike, the Fund supports DREAM kids’ application to higher education. Caitlin Day, one of the first recipients, has graduated from the Connecticut Culinary Institute and has returned to Vermont as a chef! Your gifts specified to the Founders Fund keep this opportunity alive.

The 2007 Appeal has passed $70,000! See names of donors in this appeal at our website.

Thank you so much for believing in our work and making it possible with your gifts.

www.dreamprogram.org

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Financial Statements THE DREAM PROGRAM, INC. STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED) DECEMBER 31, 2006 ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS: Cash and cash equivalents Temporarily restricted contributions receivable Undeposited Funds Accounts receivable (Network for Good Donations) Accounts receivable (Housing Authorities)

$ 115,096 16,769 7,135 3,792

Total current assets

142,791

OTHER CURRENT ASSETS: Inventories for sale

4,391

Total inventories for sale

4,391

LONG-TERM ASSETS: Equipment Land Accumulated depreciation

13,000 132,991 (4,948)

Total property and equipment, net

141,043

Cash restricted for college accounts Other temporarily restricted assets

275 -

Total long-term assets TOTAL ASSETS

145,709 $ 288,500

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS CURRENT LIABILITIES Current portion of long-term debt Accounts payable

3,669

Total current liabilities

3,669

Total liabilities

3,669

NET ASSETS: Net assets, beginning of year Unrestricted net income Temporarily restricted net income Total net assets TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

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$

Annual Report 2007

256,894 6,479 21,458 284,831 $ 288,500

THE DREAM PROGRAM, INC. STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED) YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006 Unrestricted REVENUES, GAINS, AND OTHER SUPPORT: Contributions Government Foundations Companies Organizations Individuals Fees Investment income Sales to public Fundraising events Net assets released from restrictions: Satisfaction of program restrictions

$

16,000 444 17,478 88,527 54,250 1,541 3,448 10,946

Temporarily Restricted

$

32,277 77,801 3,908 11,586 8,832 -

Total

$ `

32,277 4,352 29,064 97,359 54,250 1,541 3,448 10,946

112,946

(112,946)

305,580

21,458

327,038

111,512 49,988 95,326

-

111,512 49,988 95,326

Total program services

256,826

-

256,826

Supporting Services: General and administrative Fundraising

28,655 13,619

-

28,655 13,619

Total supporting services

42,275

-

42,275

Total functional expenses

299,100

Total revenues FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES: Program Services: School-year programs Summer programs Camp DREAM

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS NET ASSETS, BEGINNING OF YEAR NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR

$

299,100

6,479

21,458

27,937

41,951

214,943

256,894

48,430

$ 236,401

$

284,831

View the full 2006 Financial Report at www.dreamprogram.org/about/finances.htm

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Annual Report 2007

TOTAL FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES

FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES: Salaries and related expenses Payroll taxes Health insurance Housing stipends Other benefits Staff development Staff recruitment Legal Accounting and payroll Engineering and design Other professional services Office and occupancy Phone, fax, and internet Website Technology Marketing Risk management Evaluation Supplies Food Postage Printing and duplication Building materials Activities Travel and transportation Lodging DREAM gear purchases Program fundraising expenses Dues and subscriptions Interest and fees Taxes Depreciation Vehicles 40,558 2,823 2,272 7,217 1,463 50 54 100 8,177 4,514 1,538 8,675 54 11 7,934 16,255 230 3,746 1,061 197 1,100 3,482

$ 111,512

$

School-Year Programs

YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006

$ 49,988

$ 35,103 2,443 1,967 1,733 985.85 2,034 10 139 1,395 1,688 750 1,741 $

$

95,326

33,248 2,314 1,863 10,825 592 624 4,785 1,047 236 100 3,594 7,703 6,010 152 52 12,361 170 4,065 1,000 (253) 2,347 750 1,741

Program Services Summer Camp Programs DREAM

STATEMENT OF FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES (UNAUDITED)

THE DREAM PROGRAM, INC.

$

$

256,826

108,909 7,580 6,102 18,042 1,463 642 54 624 4,785 1,047 236 200 13,504 4,514 10,227 16,719 205 73 12,500 9,499 22,008 230 4,746 1,061 (56) 2,347 2,600 6,964

Total 6,999 487 392 2,706 4,420 643 1,524 1,800 782 914 100 241 2,610 1,125 1,102 578 409 644 127 56 712 284 $ 28,655

$

$ 13,619

$ 10,499 731 588 902 559 242 98 -

$ 42,275

$ 17,498 1,218 980 3,608 4,420 643 1,524 1,800 782 914 100 241 2,610 1,125 1,662 578 651 742 127 56 712 284 -

Supporting Services General and Administrative Fundraising Total

$ 299,100

$ 126,407 8,798 7,082 21,650 5,883 1,285 54 1,524 624 6,585 1,829 1,150 300 241 16,114 5,639 11,888 17,297 857 815 12,500 9,626 22,064 230 4,746 1,061 712 228 2,347 2,600 6,964

Total Expenses

The Charge 1.

Heading

2.

Strengthen and refine our existing programs.

Increase the number of Vermont children served by our program.

3.

Lay the foundation for our growth outside of Vermont.

Trevor Albrecht, 2nd Year Highgate Mentor

Central Office Expansion In September, the Central Office doubled in size from 9 to 18 staff! This growth was made possible

through an AmeriCorps State grant. We are growing to tackle our charge, the three initiatives above. We know that we have a successful model for building communities of families and college students that empower children from affordable housing neighborhoods to recognize their options, make informed decisions, and achieve their dreams. In our initiative to increase our effectiveness and reach, we plan to expand throughout Vermont and beyond in the next two years. Look out for DREAM in your home town!

To chart our developments on The Charge, please check out www.dreamprogram.org, Contact us, and come visit!

Huge thanks to our partners for making this growth possible. Recognizing our potential, AmeriCorps met

our need for more staff and Ben & Jerry’s offered the office space to house us. Half of our staff still reside in our original office space at the Elm Street community, generously provided by the Winooski Housing Authority.

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