After two great years of working closely with Hayes Freedom High School and Principal Amy Holmes, our programs are ready to be launched for all 12 – 18 year olds to receive. Currently, the programs we serve are only in the school (and usually within the classroom). On June 15, 2012, we will release our calendar of events so youth participants not within a Dream Big School can register and participate in our programs.

We are very excited to come to this milestone in our history. Many people and organizations have  helped in this process. Not to mention all the students and schools that participated in Dream Big programs in the last 4 years. The support has been monumental!

As we take this next step, we want every youth to have a dream and help them realize they can live it as well. For more information on our events, visit our calendar of events. To learn more about our programs, give us a call at (360) 448-7439 or email info@dreambigcc.org.

We’ll be at Beaches Restaurant & Bar. Don’t miss out- join us!!

Unfortunately, the unthinkable is happening. What is the unthinkable? The unthinkable is the simple behaviors older generation conducted, and did not have serious repercussions. Now, the consequences of the following actions have dire consequences:

• underage binge drinking
• experimental drug use
• unprotected sex
• hazing/bullying

Teenagers are still in need of love, attention, and a healthy home. As much as they claim to have all the answers, they still need someone to guide them and give them structure. And as much as adults like to treat them like adults, their brain (frontal lobe) is still developing the cognitive know-how to make the right decisions. Take a good look at bulleted behaviors. They are the gateway to unhealthy choices. Consequently, these behaviors are leading to death, or a self-destructive lifestyle.

Have you done all that you can to give back to your teenager in home, school, neighborhood, or community?

Make Every Dream Count will still be active. Our spot on GlobalGiving is not permanent, but we’re still able to receive donations. It is still the goal to reach $25,000 by September 30, 2012. This will help us subsidize costs to educate over 2,500 middle school and high school students next school year. To learn more, click on the project page of Make Every Dream Count.

If 44 supporters donate $62 each, we will meet our goal. Are you one of those supporters?

Or

Are you one of the 88 supporters to donate $31? Can you support us here?

Here are some of the examples of your donation dollars at work:

• Increase student participation in the classroom
• Retain a potential HS dropout to stay in school
• Providing the inspiration a young adult needs to succeed
• Teaching youth that community involvement is important

So what are you waiting for?! Click on this link to make your donation, and learn more about our campaign. If not today, set your calendar for April 30th to make a donation.

• Tickets are Sec: 219 Row: K
• Free food and drink till the end of the 3^rd quarter
• And yes, every $50 donation places your name in the drawing

The rules of the drawing are to:

1. Donate $50 to the Make Every Dream Count campaign;
2. Be a Dream Big Community Center Face Book Fan, click here to be a fan;
3. Pick up tickets at DBCC’s executive office.
4. Donation has to be made by Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

For every $50 donation before April 17, you’ll be enter into a drawing to win:

• (2) Portland Trail Blazers’ Tickets ($250 value) to their last game against Utah Jazz on April, 18 at 7:00pm
• Tickets are Sec: 219 Row: K
• Free food and drink till the end of the 3^rd quarter
• And yes, every $50 donation places your name in the drawing

The three rules of the drawing are to:

1. donate $50 to the Make Every Dream Count campaign;
2. be a Dream Big Community Center Facebook Fan, click here to be a fan;
3. pick up tickets at DBCC’s executive office.

Here is your chance to help our youth, support a local organization, and improve our schools. “Thank you for letting me tell you my dream,” Anonymous high school student.

Refreshments will be provided by

Maybe or maybe not, right?! It would depend how much you wanted those three items above. What if you choose the three items, would you make the needed sacrifice then? We have all said at least once in our life:

• “I want…”
• “I desire…”
• “I wish for…”
• “if only”

What if we said:

• “I gave up…”
• “I sacrificed…”
• “I left…”

in order to achieve, obtain, accomplish, or complete a desired outcome, we would all be in a much better and happier place. Unfortunately, that is not how we frame our goals or dreams.

Many make sacrifices everyday for years at a time. Some sacrifices are for a lifetime, some are just for a season. Some knowingly accept the sacrifice, others sacrifice unknowingly. To name off a few:

• College – sacrifice personal freedom to gain a diploma
• Marriage – sacrifice singleness to gain companionship
• Military – sacrifice life to gain freedom and independence to a nation
• Pregnancy – sacrifice physical physique to gain life
• Self – sacrifice time to gain happiness

In the law of physics, what must go up must come down. In order to gain, sacrifice(s) will need to occur. We fail to realize that success only comes to those who continuously pursue it. Your pursuit towards success should result in sheer tunnel vision to an isolated destination, without any outside distraction that may compromise your travels.

At the end of the day, can you say you’ve done all you could (including sacrifices) to make your dream come true?

• Event work
• Video Editing and Producing
• Mentoring
• Network Marketing
• Fundraising
• Office Administration
• And many more

At the end of the day, volunteering is what keeps nonprofits running smoothly and profitable. Without volunteers, the work of the staff would be small and possibly un-impactful. To learn more about opportunities, please come to our Volunteer Workshop on Thursday, March 29, 2012 at 4pm. The workshop will be at the Clark County Public Service Center on the 6^th Floor. Please RSVP via FaceBook or email info@dreambigcc.org.

P.S. – Thank you to all to have already donated one of your precious commodities to Dream Big Community Center!