Dream Project Updates:

This has been a year of change and challenge, and it has reaffirmed that the mission of the Dream Project is more important than ever. We are honored to serve as Board Chair and Executive Director, and we are proud of what our community has accomplished together. Fifteen years ago, a community of students, parents, and local leaders—including Dr. Emma Violand-Sánchez—came together with a bold vision: to ensure immigrant students could pursue higher education regardless of their immigration status. They began by awarding four scholarships of $1,000 each. Today, the Dream Project awards more than 100 scholarships annually, each valued at $4,000. This remarkable growth is a testament to the vision and dedication of our founders, board members, staff, mentors, families, and donors who make this work possible.
Over the past year, we have focused on strengthening our programs, building infrastructure, and transitioning day-to-day operations from the board to staff. Already, we are seeing the positive results of these efforts. Our Annual Scholarship Award Ceremony was the most attended in our history, with over 300 participants celebrating our scholars. And in collaboration with Stanford University, we are launching Bridge to Dreams—a virtual summer mentorship program beginning in July 2025 that pairs college-ready high school seniors with Stanford graduate student mentors. This initiative will foster opportunities for higher education, improve college acceptance rates for immigrant students, and expand representation in academia.
We have also worked to meet the evolving needs of our community. Through monthly legal information sessions, we have created space for students and families to better understand their rights, navigate the impact of recent Executive Orders, and access mental health resources, including our monthly Solidarity Circles. These conversations are part of our unwavering commitment to support our community during these challenging times.
Looking ahead, our FY2026–2028 strategic plan charts a bold course. We aim to increase scholarship amounts each year, with the long-term goal of awarding a scholarship that covers a full year at a community college. For the second year in a row, our revenue exceeded $1 million, which allowed us to raise scholarship awards by $500. Building on this momentum, our new plan sets a target of 15% annual revenue growth to keep pace with our vision. We are inspired by the generosity of our donors, grantors, businesses, and faith-based partners as we work toward this goal. As we look to the year ahead, we are excited for the opportunities and challenges before us. Together, with your continued support, we will strengthen our services and expand the impact of our scholarships. Thank you for walking alongside us in this mission.