I Have A Dream Foundation began in 1981 when a man named Eugene M. Lang returned to the elementary school he attended as a child and was told the majority would not finish high school. This prompted him to promise college tuition to every sixth grader who stayed in high school and graduated. Lang then told the class to witness Dr. Martin Luther King’s I Have A Dream speech and went on to hiring a full-time program director, urging students to dream big and promising to help them achieve their goals; thus creating the I Have A Dream Foundation.
Community and education are the center of I Have A Dream Foundation. We provide opportunity and assistance to families in Chelsea, Manhattan and offer a network of support and services for Dreamers through their college years, so they can achieve their educational and career goals. The Chelsea 3 I Have A Dream Program cares for approximately 59 children grades 3 through 6 and Dreamers have access to resources such as tutoring and mentoring with interns of all different backgrounds. We pride ourselves in providing a safe and stimulating environment for youth grades to grow and learn together and as individuals.