30 Days of Thanks: Day 9 & 10

Day 9: We are thankful for Delta Sigma Pi, the co-ed, professional, business fraternity at IPFW's Doermer School of Business.

Members of the Delta Sigma Pi have supported The Brandon Foundation by inviting us to some of their networking events. Through these events, we have met some amazing people who are as concerned with giving back to our community as we are! Delta Sigma Pi is always so positive and encouraging, and we are thankful to have a relationship with them.

Day 10: We are thankful for our guest speakers!

We have been so lucky to have so many wonderful people volunteer and make time to visit with our students. Sharing stories and experiences is a priceless gift we can give our children; knowing people have come from similar backgrounds and have overcome struggles to be successful is encouraging to our future leaders. Allowing our students to meet community leaders personally has been so beneficial to helping them set new, long-term goals We've had visitors from local businesses, lawyers, coaches, principals, non-profit organizations, and so many more. Each and every time, our students learn something new and meet another person who has inspired them to make good choices and become successful.

30 Days of Thanks: Day 7 & 8

Day 7 & 8: We are so very thankful for the teachers and parents of our students!

We are so thankful for the adults in our students' lives. Having the support of our students' teachers has been so beneficial, as we've been able to get reports about their progress in their classrooms. Additionally, parents are committed to getting their children to and from our program each week and support us during our community service projects.

Thank you, teachers and parents, for believing in The Brandon Foundation and for sharing your children with us!

15 more days...

It's hard to believe that tomorrow is July 1st!

Our deadline is fast approaching... Remember, we want to raise $25,000 by July 15th for our Dream Maker Sponsorships and The Brandon Foundation College Scholarships Fund.

Since beginning our Dream Maker Sponsorship and College Fund programs just 10 weeks ago, we have raised over $19,000! Can you help cross the finish line?

#BeaDreamMaker

 

Strength, Patience, and Passion...

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world." -Harriet Tubman

 

The students at The Brandon Foundation are dreamers; they have the strength, the patience, and the passion that Harriet Tubman speaks of, but they still need some help. They need your help. Have you thought about supporting our Dream Maker Sponsorship program yet?

 

Each year, as we continue to grow, our expenses increase. Your Dream Maker Sponsorships provide financial support for kids in many areas: personal, academic, and extracurricular. Not to mention, we have students who are just years away from considering college options, and being able to provide financial support to them is important to us. Our students are working hard now to earn better opportunities for their futures; they are being taught the importance of continuing their education.

 

While we have received some support of our Dream Maker Sponsorships and our College Scholarship Fund, we are still $9,000 away from our goal of $25,000. Can you share $30 a month (just $270 a year!) to become a Dream Maker Sponsor? Do you have a business that would consider becoming a Corporate Dream Maker Sponsor? Remember, all donations are tax-deductible, and your money is staying local to help our future community leaders.

 

Many of our supporters have asked about our next auction or event as a fundraiser; we will not host another event until 2016. Our focus for 2015 is to develop funds in our Dream Maker and College Scholarship programs to assist our students daily and to allow these funds time to grow. Because of this, our Dream Maker Sponsorships - both on the personal and business level - are extremely vital to our growth and continued success.

 

Our goal is to raise $25,000 by July 15th. Today, we're less than one month away!

 

The quickest, easiest way to donate is to click "donate now" on our website; however, if you have any questions about what being a Dream Maker Sponsor entails, please do not hesitate to contact us:  brandonfoundation@hotmail.com.

 

Remember, "every great dream begins with a dreamer..."

Thank you for considering and supporting us!

Become a Dream Maker!

"A dream doesn't become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work." -Colin Powell

How can you help our dreams become reality? Become a  Dream Maker Sponsor! 

The Brandon Foundation is currently looking for 10 student sponsorships for the 2015-16 school year. By donating $30 a month (or $270 for the year), you will be assisting with the finances for students' needs for items or programs, such as: coats, hats, shoes, school supplies, extra-curricular activities, and a gift for their birthday and Christmas. Sponsors and donors will receive progress reports and correspondence from students and will be invited to events at The Brandon Foundation.

 

When we receive more than 10 sponsorships (1 for each student at the foundation), the surplus of donations from sponsorships will go directly into The Brandon Foundation’s College Scholarship Fund. Our goal is to raise $13,500 for our scholarship fund by July 15, 2015. Remember, your gift is tax-deductible. If you have any questions, please contact us via email: brandonfoundation@hotmail.com.

Please know how much we appreciate your consideration and donations -- no matter the amount. Without support and donations from our friends, The Brandon Foundation would not be possible. Fundraising, such as the Dream Maker Sponsorship, helps sustain our organization, benefit our future leaders, and make us a strong presence in our community.

If you wish to donate today, please to submit electronically on our blog homepage or make checks payable to The Brandon Foundation and mail to:

The Brandon Foundation
c/o Caty Holm
PO Box 15966
Fort Wayne, IN  46885

Thank you!

Wish List

On a regular basis, and several times recently, we have been asked how people can help and what we need... other than monetary gifts. Since it is the season of giving, we decided to create a list of our immediate needs. 

Please know that we appreciate any item you have that may help our students. 

The need for snacks/drinks is ongoing, as we give our students a snack during each session. Also, we will gladly accept gently used games or items for the kids, and we're willing to pick the items up! Please contact us if you're interested in helping us with any of the items below.

Games/Items for Kids
corn hole

board games

construction paper

poster board

electric pencil sharpener

bean bag chairs

books

chapter books (ages 11-14)

comic books

drawing books

Snacks

Pretzels
Chips

Cookies

Popcorn

Animal Crackers

Cases of bottled water/juice boxes

Your gifts help our students...

Dear Friends:

Did you know that our youth have a much higher success rate when they have contact with all important aspects of their future at an earlier age, including family, school, and community, among others? We’ve read the formal studies, such as “America’s Youth: Transitions to Adulthood” (2011) and “Dropout Rates” (2014), from the U.S. Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences and the National Center for Educational Statistics; they remind us why we’re here, but it’s not enough.

More important than any study we could show you is the true story of our oldest student. He is a young man with a bright future, but he had to be guided to the right path. When he came to us in November (2013), he was a quiet, unmotivated middle school boy, who had been informed he would be held back. According to society, the odds are against this young, black male, with a father who is not in the picture and a mother who works a less than ideal schedule to make ends meet for him and his younger brother; but, gradually, he came out of his shell, participated in activities both at the foundation and school, began reading, playing basketball and football, and sharing his words and artwork with us. At the foundation, he has two mentors. One of our new mentors at the foundation visits him one day a week; currently, they are reading The Other Wes Moore together and are having thoughtful conversations about overcoming adversity. The mentor he was paired with earlier on has become such an important role in his life that he attended a Father’s Recognition Day at his school to show his dedication to being present in his life. Today, a year from when we first met him, we are happy to report that he has made Honor Roll! He has become a leader to our younger students and has no doubt that God plays a vital role in his life and yours.

The Brandon Foundation continues to work hard at becoming a well-known fixture in the Fort Wayne Community; we are dedicated to our youth – our future leaders, and we provide the early exposure to “aspects of future life.” Students learn about the importance of family, school, and community by being surrounded by people who commit to their success, support them in their studies, and participate alongside them in community projects.

Thanks to contributors like you, we have been able to offer programs and experiences to our students that help them stay on the right path and realize they can be successful – in school and in the community. As we continue to grow and offer our services to more students, your gifts are so important. By donating and supporting The Brandon Foundation, you promise to make an immediate impact on our community – our future leaders. There is no study that will repay you, but the smiles and success stories of students like our oldest above is a start.

Truly, there is no donation too small. If you are able, please visit our blog by clicking here to send your gift today. Please feel free to share this letter with friends, families, or businesses to keep us in mind as they consider any year-end giving. Remember, The Brandon Foundation is a 501(c)3, so all donations are tax deductible.

 

Blessings to you and your family during this holiday season!

Derrick Jackson, a guest speaker, who spoke to our kids about perseverance and hope.

Giving Tuesday!

Black Friday. Cyber Monday. Giving Tuesday?

Who knew? The Brandon Foundation just learned about this wonderful day, and we would like to share it with you!

Each year, millions of people kick off their holiday season with days devoted to spending money. In 2012, Giving Tuesday was created by 92nd Street Y (a community center in New York) and the United Nations Foundation as a way to remind us what the holiday season is truly about -- giving thanks and giving back. 

With social media hashtags such as #greatgiving, #unselfie, and #GivingTuesday, supporters can follow others' projects, experiences, and pledges for various communities.

Can you help us? Will you consider The Brandon Foundation as your project and pledge to support us? If you can, click on the "Donate Now" button at the top of our blog's homepage, and, if you can't donate now or participate in Giving Tuesday, please share our link and help us spread the word about The Brandon Foundation AND #GivingTuesday.

Click here to support us today!