“Power of A Dream” Celebration

The U.S. Dream Academy, a 501(c)3 nonprofit that inspires and invests in the lives of children of incarcerated parents, will host its Annual “Power of A Dream” celebration in honor of the charity’s 25th Anniversary on Monday, October 2nd at the Museum of the Bible in Washington, DC, presented by Amway. The Black Tie Optional Event will commence with a Sponsor Reception at 5:30pm, followed by the Program at 7:00pm, hosted by NBC4 News Anchor Shawn Yancy. Celebration tickets are available for purchase.

Event Details:

In celebrating its 25th year, the U.S. Dream Academy has set a fundraising goal of $1 million for the 450 attending guests and honorees. The event will take place in the Gathering Room on the top floor of the Museum of The Bible, with sweeping views of Washington, DC. Attendees will be treated to a red carpet experience, VIP reception, an impactful Power of A Dream 25th Anniversary program, an After-Glow dessert reception, and entertainment by Grammy and Tony Award winning artist Jennifer Holliday.

“For a quarter of a century, our nonprofit has been the driving force behind positive change, impacting countless lives,” says Dr. Wintley Phipps, U.S. Dream Academy Founder and CEO. “As we celebrate our 25th anniversary, we renew our commitment to our mission and look forward to the next 25 years of making a difference in the world.”

EVENING HIGHLIGHTS

Alumni Keynote Speaker: Withney Simons, U.S. Dream Academy Alum, Entrepreneur and Head Image Consultant at Conassauier Paris

Entertainment: Jennifer Holliday, GRAMMY and TONY Award winning Broadway Actress, Recording Artist and Gospel Singer

Special Performances & Appearances: Wintley Phipps, GRAMMY nominated Gospel Singer, and Founder and CEO of U.S. Dream Academy, Award Winning Takoma Academy Chorale

Mentor of The Year Award (sponsored by QTS): DANIEL GUERRERO

After a round of nominations from each of the U.S. Dream Academy Learning Centers across the United States, and a rigorous review by a specially selected group of QTS employees, we are thrilled to announce our mentor of the year from Salt Lake City: Daniel Guerrero.

Daniel has been in the mentorship program since March of 2022. Not only is he a mentor at U.S. Dream Academy, but he is a mentor coach and agent manager at PlusOne Company, a sales center that specializes in direct response. Although he has worked for the company for eight years, Daniel decided to go back to school to finish his associates degree. One of his courses required him to mentor in the community. He researched several other programs, and ultimately, he believed the U.S. Dream Academy mission and vision aligned most strongly with his own.

Growing up, Daniel lived in a single parent household with three other siblings. Looking back at his time in Mexico, Daniel says he “wasn’t on the right path” even at a young age. He believes without a doubt, had he been there longer, the trajectory of his life would have been much different. Looking at the parallels of his life in comparison, Daniel understands the importance of having a program to impact kids in a positive way.

Amway serves as the Presenting Sponsor of the Power of a Dream Gala. Additional sponsors this year include: QTS, Centera Transport, Inc.,Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Consolidated, David McDonald, Giant Food, Markerman Productions, IBOAI, NFL Foundation, and the Antoine Bethea Family Family Foundation.

Since 2001, the annual Power of a Dream Gala has raised more than $20 million to assist with the provision of high-quality after-school programs specifically tailored for children living in high-risk communities.

Today, there are more than 850 young people (DreamKids) in seven communities (Dream Cities) nationwide who benefit each day from evidence-based comprehensive youth development programming delivered through Dream Academy Learning Centers in: Baltimore, Houston, Orlando, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, San Bernardino, and Washington, DC. During the pandemic, the U.S. Dream Academy developed a safe, secure “Virtual Village” online platform for our young people and mentors to maintain connection; it has now become one of our more popular ways for our mentors to connect with their mentee from anywhere in the world.

DC DreamKids are active in the annual Power of a Dream Gala, and love to engage in community outreach supporting the local shelters for people experiencing homelessness through a partnership with Giant Food.

Congressional Host Committee:

The Honorable John A. Boehner, Former Speaker, United States House of Representatives

Senator Ben Cardin, D-MD

Senator Diane Feinstein, D-CA

Congressman Pete Aguilar, D-CA

Congresswoman Sheila Jackson Lee, D-TX

Congressman Kwesi Mfume, D-MD

Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton, D-DC

Congressman Bobby Scott, D-VA

Congressman David Trone, D-MD