DR

EA

MThe DREAM Program 2007 Annual Report

The DREAM Program, Inc.PO Box 361, Winooski, VT 05404

802.655.9015 www.dreamprogram.org

Board Members*Jan BackusFormer Vermont State SenatorWinooski, VT

Bill Finnegan; ChairCo-Founder of Tamarack MediaMontpelier, VT

Mike FooteStudent of Public Policy. Former Mentor and Staff Member.Seattle, WA

Cara GleasonDirector of the Northern Lights ProgramBurlington, VT

*Jon Harris; Former ChairMember Services, Vermont Businesses for Social ResponsibilitySeattle, WA

Karen DusiniAdministrative Coordinator Information Systems at Champlain CollegeBurlington, VT

Pete LandCo-Founder of Tamarack MediaBurlington, VT

Lu NeuseStudent of Education. Former Mentor and Staff Member.Burlington, VT

Kristen TowbinRetail Training Manager at Ben and Jerry’sWinooski, VT

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.

*These members left the board in 2007.

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

www.dreamprogram.org 1

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 HarrisFormer Board Chair

Mike Loner, Executive Director & Jon Harris, Former Board Chair

Ownership of D R E A M i s n o t 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!

Keep DREAMing,

Mike LonerExecutive Director

Greetings, 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.

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

2 Annual Report 2007

Report ContentsLocal Programs

The Franklin Street Program 4The Elm Street Program 5The Franklin Square Program 6The Forest ParForest Park Program 7

The Birchwood Program 8The Highgate & Green Acres Program 9The Armory Square Program 10The Northwoods & Hollow Drive Program 11

Summer

D-Unit 12High Adventure 13Camp 14

Dream Advocacy 17

Support

The Alumni Organization 18Community Partners & Supporters 19The Annual Appeal 20

Financial Statements 22

The Charge 25

www.dreamprogram.org 3

LocaL ProgramsChildren grow with each

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.

Franklin Sq. Kids And St. Michael’s MentorsArmory Square has changed name and ownership and is under renovation.

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

4 Annual Report 2007

The Franklin Street Program

“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

Jess Bean, 2nd Year Mentor

The Franklin Street Program in Boston

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.

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.”

The Elm Street Program

“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 5

“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.”

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.

Janet MacDonald, 2nd Year Mentor

6 Annual Report 2007

“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.”

The Franklin Square Program

“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 end-all, 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.”

Franklin Square took a trip to Boston to visit the Children’s Museum and Aquarium. Check out the crew on page 21!Kylie Edwards - 3rd Year Mentor

Eric Jackson - 3rd Year Mentor

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...

Mural painting in the Franklin Square Family Center

Franklin Square Friday DREAM

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 7

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

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

8 Annual Report 2007

Birchwood at the Bronx Zoo

The Highgate & Green Acres Program

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

“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!”

Suzie Silva, 3rd Year Mentee

www.dreamprogram.org 9

“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.”

Stephen ‘Ginger’ Gilson, 2nd Year Mentor

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.

The Windsor Program

10 Annual Report 2007

“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

The 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

“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

“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.” Rob Hoffman, 2nd Year Mentor

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

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...

next page...

The Northwoods & Hollow Drive Program

www.dreamprogram.org 11

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.

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!

Dylan Nelson, 3rd Year Mentor

The Northwoods & Hollow Drive Program At Great Escape

12 Annual Report 2007

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.”

“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

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

Julia Risk, 4th Year Elm St. Mentor & D-Unit Intern & James Mulholland, 4th Year Elm St. Mentee

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.”

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

Julia Risk, 4th Year Mentor

www.dreamprogram.org 13

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...

14 Annual Report 2007

Camp

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.

Camp DREAM enriches life. We cultivate an environment 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.

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

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

“This makes my life better.”

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.

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

www.dreamprogram.org 15

Winter Adventure Camp

“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

“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

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.

Summer 2006: 82Campers

Summer 2007: 91 Campers

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.

Franklin Square Program Tobogganing

16 Annual Report 2007

Camp Development

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.

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

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.

The Organic Garden, Center Of The Local Foods Program

Completion of the Flatbread Oven

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

Kids building Camp

DrEam aDvocacy

www.dreamprogram.org 17

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

18 Annual Report 2007

suPPort

The Alumni Organization

$1000 and up

Leah ThreatteJeff KinkaidJon PotterSam GlickmanHelen Biggs

Jesse FooteLaura BurtMike FootePeter Helseth

Drew SheriffTim WrightMike NewtonBrian FeldmanErica Rivinoja

Beth HustonLu NeuseEmilie KnausDave BallEmily RummoDevon GreenDavid AndersonCarly O’ConnellPaul BiggsGiulia Good StefaniJorge & Molly Miranda

Macon PhillipsSean AlpertAaron GainesMatt GriffithsChristine EnnisNicole LobkowiczJosh SlatteryRebecca TaxierBrad BateEd BialasLaura ThompsonBrianna DusseaultAlexis SheehanSara CooperBrian HanniganElizabeth RosenAllegra Love

Rachel RichardsonKate HaggertyChris EllingwoodKallie Willets

$500 - $999

$250 - $499

$100 - $249

$25 - $49

$50 - $99

Keith MusselmanAshley CarletonKristin BeattieDean KrishnaAnonymousJeff CooneyKate HubbellChad ButtEric BusseyDakota CasserlyEric FriesKristin BurdgeDominic GermanaMolly RedmondKate KnightBrooke Lierman

Amira Bakr

Scott HessRob HaywardStephanie LawrenceJamil BatchaDoug FryKristin RombergChris BrownKendra NardiCourtney BreslinKristi KushmerekSteve AntayaChristie MaJohn CyrMargot LaporteLindsey DavisMonica BarreraKristen BriseeKatie Stevenson

$1 - $24

Rob BialasAnne Fletcher

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.

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

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

Donors In The 2006 Alumni Appeal

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

and many great initiatives before handing the reins to the next elected council. We appreciate all their work.

www.dreamprogram.org 19

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.

Community Partners & Supporters

The Community Lutheran Church

Champlain Oil Company

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!

Photo Garden

20 Annual Report 2007

The Annual AppealThis 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 upRusty Beth, The Adams FundNeil Groberg & Ellen WolfsonEd Potter & Regina OlchowskiEric GrobergDan & Gloria O’Connell

$2500 - $4999

Helen & Andrew BiggsGail Lees

$1000 - $2499

Monte & Linda ShawScott MisharaRichard BurdgeJean BurdgeIan & Karla KennedyHerbert & Judith Krueger

$500 - $999

Alice FooteGordon & Motoko DeaneLindsay & Kristen DeaneJack & Kathleen McKayWalter & Linda AndersonAdolph & Margarete PipernoDorothy TreismanConnie LiermanKaren & Lowell RichardsKathy & Rees Shearer

$250 - 499

The Pearson FamilyAnonymousKevin & Linda McGrainJames & Linda MartinHelen & David FitzAnne Leddy & Alexander WilsonKent & Elizabeth DautenCara GleasonHolly and Jeffrey WirthEd Doherty

$100 - $249Mike & Vicki LonerEileen HustonDavid JoslynT.R.Mervak & S.M. MarcusJan & Stephen BlodgettLu NeuseNancy CathcartJen Lazar & Daniel ShearerMichael & Barbara TaxierJerry & Nancy GodbehereMargaret & John BiggsJay Vigon & Margo NahasDeborah HarrisRoss ShearerSusan & Earl BurtMaureen McDonaldJon HarrisRebecca DeutschWoody & Emily EckelsMolly & Jorge MirandaBette & Ronald ZollshanKaren & Rex ButtBob & Teresa BrennanMelissa Ries & Patrick KennedyDoug & Anne BateDale & Kirk GleasonAnn & H. Randall Deming

Susan & Dick TothKaren Fairbank & Vahan MoosekianThomas & Pamela ClairmontJohn Tobin & Gail Lee RisseJon & Annette LindseyBuzz & Donna LandCindy CharKaren StubausMarian KummerSusan PostSusan & Chris TildenKaren & Charles BrownRina WatsonKaren HendyBarbara CallahanBrian & Jeanne AddisonMichael & Cathy ChristieSue Kuegel

$100 - $249

Barbara & Leonard Dwinell

Karen & Douglas BaerWilliam & Janet O’BryanElizabeth AllenBarbara GuttmanGreg Young and Carol CutlerIra Mintzer & Marian MenkelAlen & Judy Hoffman

Building DREAM together is fun!Camp Session Five Girls Mix Mud For The Clay Oven

www.dreamprogram.org 21

Henry DusseaultKathy & George ButterworthPatti EckelsMichael & Barbara FletcherLouis KlappErik HoekstraLynda McDanielMaureen LoveTeddy SalgadoLisa ChristieDenis & Kathleen CurtinOwen & Dorothy WalshHarry & Kathleen WellensBeth LavalleeTherese & Alfred BordenSusan & Barry RosenJon & Kathleen BallouMohamed & Lynda BakrCarl & Jessica EllisLisa EngelbrechtSharon & Ethan FenerJoan & Jon AurittMary-Ellyn & Neil TarzyHarry Resovsky & Dorothy AbercrombieDavid and Janine ParadeeChristopher KruegerGeorge & Barbara BartlettJudith & Daniel KeithJerry SheltonArnold FischerAngel & Joan OrtizMichael & Mary DumontMargaret BurdgeLois and George BeanDavid Foote

$50 - $99

Mary IppolitoRobert & Cynthia BasdekisJean Latour

$1 - $49Spence & Verena PutnamCarol LonerMax SilvermanHelen CrosbyDavid & Sabine SheppeCarol GainesStephen & Mary Jane HigginsCamilla ShannonPriscilla & John HallPaul & Rebecca RollerChristopher & Terri HunterJulia GuttmanRobert & Janet KmetzCharles & Dorothy BasdekisRose Marie PinetteKristin BurdgeDolores & John Green

James & Sue MillerMary & Tim FoxLisa & David NaugleGary & Gretta GulezianMary & Clayton GriswoldJoel & Janet AngelicoThe Wiseman FamilyLeslie & Michael WalkerGary De CarolisStephen BezarkRichard & Lee-Ellen MagnaCharles & Anita WarrenThe Hubbell FamilyRobert & Christine TiborBob LinckChris BrownThomas & Kathleen Hamon

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.

2007 Appeal

These foundations supported DREAM in 2006 and the beginning of 2007:

Friends and family created the Founders Fund two years ago to celebrate Jon Potter and Mike Foote’s leadership in establishing DREAM as a non-profit 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.

Franklin Square Program with DREAM Alumni in Boston Harbor

The James T. Bowse Health TrustThe Donley FoundationThe Vermont Community FoundationThe Byrne Foundation

The Kelsey TrustThe Mascoma Bank FoundationThe Turrell FundThe Ben and Jerry’s Foundation

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

22 Annual Report 2007

FinanciaL statEmEntsTHE DREAM PROGRAM, INC.

STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION (UNAUDITED)DECEMBER 31, 2006

ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:Cash and cash equivalents 115,096$ Temporarily restricted contributions receivable - Undeposited Funds 16,769 Accounts receivable (Network for Good Donations) 7,135 Accounts receivable (Housing Authorities) 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 13,000 Land 132,991 Accumulated depreciation (4,948)

Total property and equipment, net 141,043

Cash restricted for college accounts 275 Other temporarily restricted assets -

Total long-term assets 145,709

TOTAL ASSETS 288,500$

LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS

CURRENT LIABILITIESCurrent portion of long-term debt -$

3,669

Total current liabilities 3,669

Total liabilities 3,669

NET ASSETS:Net assets, beginning of year 256,894 Unrestricted net income 6,479 Temporarily restricted net income 21,458

Total net assets 284,831

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND NET ASSETS 288,500$

Accounts payable

www.dreamprogram.org 23

THE DREAM PROGRAM, INC.

STATEMENT OF ACTIVITIES (UNAUDITED)YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2006

TemporarilyUnrestricted Restricted Total

REVENUES, GAINS, AND OTHER SUPPORT:Contributions

Government -$ 32,277$ 32,277$ Foundations 16,000 77,801 `Companies 444 3,908 4,352 Organizations 17,478 11,586 29,064 Individuals 88,527 8,832 97,359

Fees 54,250 - 54,250 Investment income 1,541 - 1,541 Sales to public 3,448 - 3,448 Fundraising events 10,946 - 10,946 Net assets released from restrictions:

Satisfaction of program restrictions 112,946 (112,946)

Total revenues 305,580 21,458 327,038

FUNCTIONAL EXPENSES:Program Services:

School-year programs 111,512 - 111,512 Summer programs 49,988 - 49,988 Camp DREAM 95,326 - 95,326

Total program services 256,826 - 256,826

Supporting Services:General and administrative 28,655 - 28,655 Fundraising 13,619 - 13,619

Total supporting services 42,275 - 42,275

Total functional expenses 299,100 299,100

TOTAL INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET ASSETS 6,479 21,458 27,937

NET ASSETS, BEGINNING OF YEAR 41,951 214,943 256,894

NET ASSETS, END OF YEAR 48,430$ 236,401$ 284,831$

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

24 Annual Report 2007

THE

DR

EA

M P

RO

GR

AM

, IN

C.

STA

TEM

EN

T O

F FU

NC

TIO

NA

L E

XP

EN

SE

S (U

NA

UD

ITE

D)

YE

AR

EN

DE

D D

EC

EM

BE

R 3

1, 2

006 S

choo

l-Yea

rS

umm

erC

amp

Gen

eral

and

Tota

lP

rogr

ams

Pro

gram

sD

RE

AM

Tota

lA

dmin

istra

tive

Fund

rais

ing

Tota

lE

xpen

ses

FUN

CTI

ON

AL

EXPE

NSE

S:Sa

larie

s and

rela

ted

expe

nses

40,5

58$

35,1

03$

33

,248

$

10

8,90

9$

6,99

9$

10,4

99$

17

,498

$

126,

407

$

Pa

yrol

l tax

es2,

823

2,44

3

2,31

4

7,58

0

48

7

73

1

1,

218

8,

798

Hea

lth in

sura

nce

2,27

2

1,

967

1,

863

6,

102

392

588

980

7,08

2

H

ousi

ng st

ipen

ds7,

217

-

10,8

25

18,0

42

2,70

6

902

3,60

8

21,6

50

Oth

er b

enef

its1,

463

-

-

1,

463

4,42

0

-

4,42

0

5,88

3

St

aff d

evel

opm

ent

50

-

592

642

64

3

-

64

3

1,

285

Staf

f rec

ruitm

ent

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Le

gal

54

-

-

54

-

-

-

54

A

ccou

ntin

g an

d pa

yrol

l-

-

-

-

1,

524

-

1,

524

1,

524

Engi

neer

ing

and

desi

gn-

-

624

624

-

-

-

62

4

Oth

er p

rofe

ssio

nal s

ervi

ces

-

-

4,

785

4,

785

1,80

0

-

1,80

0

6,58

5

O

ffic

e an

d oc

cupa

ncy

-

-

1,

047

1,

047

782

-

782

1,82

9

Ph

one,

fax,

and

inte

rnet

-

-

23

6

23

6

914

-

914

1,15

0

W

ebsi

te10

0

-

100

200

10

0

-

10

0

30

0

Tech

nolo

gy-

-

-

-

24

1

-

24

1

24

1

Mar

ketin

g-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Ris

k m

anag

emen

t8,

177

1,73

3

3,59

4

13,5

04

2,61

0

-

2,61

0

16,1

14

Eval

uatio

n4,

514

-

-

4,

514

1,12

5

-

1,12

5

5,63

9

Su

pplie

s1,

538

985.

857,

703

10

,227

1,

102

55

9

1,

662

11

,888

Fo

od8,

675

2,03

4

6,01

0

16,7

19

578

-

578

17,2

97

Post

age

54

-

152

205

40

9

24

2

65

1

85

7

Prin

ting

and

dupl

icat

ion

11

10

52

73

64

4

98

74

2

81

5

Bui

ldin

g m

ater

ials

-

13

9

12

,361

12

,500

-

-

-

12

,500

A

ctiv

ities

7,93

4

1,

395

17

0

9,

499

127

-

127

9,62

6

Tr

avel

and

tran

spor

tatio

n16

,255

1,

688

4,

065

22

,008

56

-

56

22

,064

Lo

dgin

g23

0

-

-

23

0

-

-

-

230

D

REA

M g

ear p

urch

ases

3,74

6

-

1,

000

4,

746

-

-

-

4,74

6

Pr

ogra

m fu

ndra

isin

g ex

pens

es1,

061

-

-

1,

061

-

-

-

1,06

1

D

ues a

nd su

bscr

iptio

ns-

-

-

-

71

2

-

71

2

71

2

Inte

rest

and

fees

197

-

(2

53)

(56)

28

4

-

28

4

22

8

Taxe

s-

-

2,34

7

2,34

7

-

-

-

2,

347

Dep

reci

atio

n1,

100

750

750

2,60

0

-

-

-

2,

600

Veh

icle

s3,

482

1,74

1

1,74

1

6,96

4

-

-

-

6,

964

TOTA

L FU

NC

TIO

NA

L EX

PEN

SES

111,

512

$

49,9

88$

95

,326

$

256,

826

$

28,6

55$

13

,619

$

42,2

75$

29

9,10

0$

Pro

gram

Ser

vice

sS

uppo

rting

Ser

vice

s

www.dreamprogram.org 25

Heading

Trevor Albrecht, 2nd Year Highgate Mentor

thE chargE

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!

Central Office Expansion

1.2.

3.

Strengthen and refine our existing programs.

Increase the number of Vermont children served by our program.

Lay the foundation for our growth outside of Vermont.

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.

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