The results are in...

It was just three short months ago that we began our #BeADreamMaker sponsorship program, and we are excited to report that the results are in...

With the help of many individual, family, and corporate sponsorships,

The Brandon Foundation has raised $22,077.00!

While we were short of our goal, we are thrilled with the support we received. Not only was each one of our students sponsored, but we have enough funds to develop our College Scholarship Fund and enroll our students into new programs during the 2015-16 school year!

Over the next few weeks, our students will begin school, and they will start with all of their supplies loaded into a new backpack. Additionally, we have been doing some shoe shopping (who doesn't love a new pair of school shoes?). The students (and their families!) are happy and grateful; it's a wonderful thing to witness.

The Brandon Foundation will officially begin on Monday, August 24th. This year, we are adding two new students; we now have 12, who range in ages from 5-15 years old. We could still use some help with mentoring, so if you or someone you know may be interested in joining us two hours a week, please let us know. We love referrals and appreciate your help!

While we follow a new curriculum this year, we will begin our year with familiar extra-curricular actives such as art classes and visits from Kava (our dog friend). A new addition to our program will be a boys club and a girls club for our students in 4th grade and above, which will be lead by an adult who visits every other week. These clubs will allow students to discuss, discover, and dissect what it takes to grow up in a world that presents challenges. The leader of these groups have committed to becoming role models for our students and guiding discussions that revolve around maintaining our morals and virtues; we're so excited to see the impact this club will have on their lives.

A few of the board members did some planning earlier this week, and we cannot wait to share what will be happening each month at the foundation. Be sure to keep checking back for updates, especially after the first of the year when we begin discussing our next Silent Auction Event! As soon as the date is set, we promise to share so you can mark your calendars!

As always, we thank you for your support. Because of YOU, The Brandon Foundations is thriving! We're excited to begin our 3rd year, and we're blessed to be doing it with encouragement from our friends, sponsors, families, and community.

PS - We're looking into creating a lounge, seating area for our older students. Do you have a couch or chair you would like to donate? :)

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!

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.

This is only the beginning.

It is hard to believe that today and tomorrow are our last days at The Brandon Foundation for the 2013-14 school year. Time truly does fly when you're having fun...

As we bring our first year to an end, though, we know that it is not an ending at all. Over the past 9 months, we have learned what we are capable of, what our potential is, that God does and will provide, and that we are exactly where we need to be, doing exactly what we should. It is only the beginning...

The children of the foundation plan to return in the fall, allowing us to strengthen our bonds and work with them academically and socially and in faith. The love this group has for each other, among their peers and their mentors, is a love that cannot be broken. In fact, many students are saddened by the "summer break" and look forward to when we will see each other again, which is why we have several summer activities planned for the students individually and as a group. Be sure to watch our Facebook page for updates and news!

We cannot thank you enough! Your support was been astounding! In fact, we are almost sold out of tickets to our dinner and silent auction fundraising event in August, so if you planned to attend, please contact us right away:  brandonfoundation@hotmail.com. Have an amazing summer!