"Hang On to the Dream
Foundation"
Launches the New "Sponsor a Dream" Campaign
Dance lessons. Music lessons. Ice skating lessons. New equipment. It can all cost a lot money and Christopher's non-profit organization for kids, "Hang On to the Dream Foundation", will soon be launching one of the most unique ways of helping kids reach their goals in life.
The "Sponsor a Dream" campaign is an idea of Christopher's where people can choose a particular kid to sponsor through the "Hang On to the Dream Foundation". "We are very excited about this new project", Christopher says. "This is a first of its kind in a way and we really think that a lot of kids are going to see their dreams come true because of it." Through the "Sponsor a Dream" campaign, donors can specifically choose the child, and the dream, they wish to support. "I know that one of the things that always prevented me from donating to a non-profit organization before I started our foundation was that I never really knew exactly how the money I was donating was going to be used", Christopher says. "I wanted to know, for sure, that my donation actually got to the people I was trying to help. This way, donors to the 'Hang On to the Dream Foundation' can actually choose exactly which child their donation goes to, they can correspond back and forth through the foundation with that child and really become involved in developing that child's life, as well as follow the progress that that child makes because of the donor's support." This campaign is a first of its kind for a children's charity that specifically addresses the hopes and dreams of America's youth. "Everyone at the 'Hang On to the Dream Foundation' is really excited about bringing this new kind of opportunity to the country. It is sure to make a huge difference in the lives of young people who otherwise would be unable to afford dance lessons, or piano lessons or skating lessons or new photography equipment," says Christopher. "No kid should ever lose hope for their future because they feel that they 'can't afford' to dream."
The "Sponsor a Dream" campaign officially kicked-off its 10-city nationwide tour on July 18, 2006 in Omaha, Nebraska. Upcoming cities include Denver, Atlanta, Santa Fe and Portland (Maine).
For more information on the "Sponsor a Dream" campaign, "click here".
Courageous Young Ice Skater Receives
National Honor and Key To The City
(Photo from left: Sharon Orton, Hang On to the
Dream Foundation president Christopher Ewing,
Stephanie, Mayor Tom Hanafan of Council Bluffs, Iowa)
Stephanie Orton of Council Bluffs, Iowa was just 7 years old when she was hospitalized with 2nd and 3rd degree burns suffered while in the care of her drug addicted parents. The court got involved and her parents eventually lost custody of Stephanie due to their constant drug abuse. After 9 months in foster care, Stephanie was adopted by her maternal grandmother who enrolled her in ice skating lessons in an effort to help take her mind off of all that she had been through. Now, 5 years later, Stephanie has excelled greatly in her skating, however the finances needed to continue skating have been hard for her grandmother to afford.
On Thursday, August 3, 2006 Stephanie was informed by Hang On to the Dream Foundation president Christopher Ewing that his organization has found a sponsor who is going to cover all of the costs of her skating lessons during a presentation ceremony held at the Council Bluffs City Hall. At the same time, Council Bluffs Mayor Tom Hanafan presented Stephanie with "The Key to the City" in recognition of her accomplishments and determination. Stephanie applied for sponsorship at a Hang On to the Dream Foundation "Dream Search" event held recently in Omaha, Nebraska.
"This is really cool," Stephanie said, "and it feels really nice to know that there is someone out there who cares about helping me with my skating." Stephanie is being sponsored by a family from Ann Arbor, Michigan. Stephanie's grandmother and legal guardian, Sharon Orton, who has single-handedly been trying to afford Stephanie's skating expenses, while also trying to make ends at home meet at home, says that the sponsorship is a big help. "I am so happy right now that someone out there cares enough to help Stephanie. I thank them so much! I have always told Stephanie that if she just hung in there everything would work out, ...and now it has," Sharon said as her voice cracked and tears streamed down her face.
"Stephanie is exactly what the Hang On to the Dream Foundation is all about and we are thrilled to have been able to find a sponsor who will now go on and play a part in helping her reach her goals in life," Ewing says.
The Hang On to the Dream Foundation is a national, non-profit organization, that helps kids all around the country reach their goals in life by providing them with needed items, opportunities and money in an effort to help make their dreams become a reality. The Hang On to the Dream Foundation is the first children's organization in the U.S. to establish a program where donors can personally choose the child, and the dream, that they wish to support.
Kids between the ages of 8 and 17 years of age can apply for sponsorship to cover the cost of their activities. Interested donors can log on to www.hangontothedream.org to choose a child to sponsor.
A very tearful Sharon Orton, and a very happy
Stephanie Orton, get a chance to say thank you to Stephanie's new sponsor via
telephone from City Hall.
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