“I HAVE A DREAM” FOUNDATION – OREGON RECEIVES ONE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE JAMES F. AND MARION L. MILLER FOUNDATION
“I HAVE A DREAM” FOUNDATION – OREGON RECEIVES ONE MILLION DOLLAR GRANT FROM THE JAMES F. AND MARION L. MILLER FOUNDATION
April 4, 2011 – The James F. & Marion L. Miller Foundation recently awarded a grant of $1,000,000 to “I Have a Dream” Foundation – Oregon, for the new Dreamer School program at Alder Elementary School. This program is the first of its kind in the nation. Building on the organization’s past success, which includes doubling or better high school graduation rates for students, this bold new initiative will expand the group’s impact from 900 to over 3,000 children per year within the next decade.
“We are very pleased to support this innovative project. The Dreamer School is an excellent fit with our goal of raising student achievement. The Alder school Principal and staff impressed us with their commitment ” said Charles Putney, President of the James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation.
“We at ‘I Have a Dream’ are absolutely thrilled to be chosen to receive this $1 million grant in support of the Dreamer School,” said Mark Langseth, “I Have a Dream” Oregon’s President and CEO. “This represents a huge vote of confidence for the Dreamer School model from a leading Oregon foundation.”
The Miller $1 million gift will serve as a challenge to leverage new and increased support for the Dreamer School over the next five years. This gift sets in motion an opportunity to innovate in education and enhance the lives of hundreds of youth.
“I Have a Dream” has been catching the attention of other influential organizations as well. The Silver Family Foundation recently awarded “I Have a Dream” with a $150,000 grant. In addition, the Oregon Community Foundation, Rose Tucker Charitable Trust and USA Funds have all made lead gifts to this project.
Alder Elementary, the Dreamer School, is ranked as one of the most poverty stricken schools in the state of Oregon with over 93% of students eligible for free or reduced lunch costs. Alder is located in the Reynolds School District. Statistically, it is expected that approximately 10% of Alder students will finish with a post-secondary degree or certificate and only one half of Alder students are meeting statewide benchmark tests in reading and math. “I Have a Dream” plans to increase these numbers to 80% of Alder students receiving a post-secondary degree/certificate and 90% meeting the benchmark tests by providing a proven combination of services.
“We will create a “culture” of college and career within the schools and students’ families, provide academic and personal support services in a community of teachers, administrators and mentors that contribute to academic success,” states Dreamer School Director, Traci Rossi. “This is part of our ‘cradle-to-career’ continuum that will allow the school to serve as a powerful hub for neighborhood stability and educational change.”
In order to deliver quality services in an efficient manner, “I Have a Dream” is collaborating with other education and nonprofit partners, leveraging resources through an innovative shared cost model which focuses on student achievement and student success.
ABOUT “I HAVE A DREAM” FOUNDATION – OREGON
“I Have a Dream” Foundation – Oregon was founded in 1990 to help low income kids reach success in school and college. The organization has been accomplishing this mission by delivering a proven combination of core services to students: long term relationships with caring adults, academic and personal/social support services, and creating a “culture of college” within schools and students’ families.
Since 1990, ten entire 3rd grade classes have been “adopted” with supportive services to help succeed through college. Nearly 900 students have benefited from “I Have a Dream” Foundation programs in Oregon through this model. In 2010, the nation’s first “Dreamer School” was established.
ABOUT THE JAMES F. AND MARION L. MILLER FOUNDATION
The James F. and Marion L. Miller Foundation, an independent private foundation, was established in 2002 to enhance the quality of life of Oregonians through support of the Arts and Education.
