Annual Spring Gala of The I Have a Dream Foundation
Rainbow Room - Rockefeller Center,NY NY
May 8, 2007

On May 8, 2007 high atop Rockefeller Center in the extraordinary Rainbow Room, the “I Have a Dream” Foundation paid tribute to the pioneers, supporters, and leaders in the national “I Have a Dream” movement and its “Dreamers”; students served by the foundation through its mission to help at-risk youth stay in school and reach their education and career dreams.

Offering an awe-inspiring panoramic view of North, South, and East Manhattan, the elegant and enchanting Rainbow Room provides an atmosphere that impresses guests with unparalleled views of New York City, the world famous Cipriani cuisine (Harry’s Bar-Venice), and top-notch service. It also offers dinner and dancing to a live big band orchestra on selected Fridays and Saturdays where guests spend the evening gliding on the revolving dance floor in the center of the dining room. The orchestra and band play traditional ballroom style dance music ranging from Swing to Tango to Latin, as well as popular American standards. It is the central location atop Rockefeller Center in New York City.

The evening began with a stylish cocktail hour where Honored guests and “Dreamers” were welcomed by a flurry of attention from the press and other attendees congratulating them on their achievements. With Tim Gunn of “Project Runway” hosting the event and Broadway’s Brian Stokes Mitchell providing a special performance, the event was marked for success. When Brian sang “To Dream The Impossible Dream” and Honored “Dreamers” April Richards and Sandra Erdelac spoke of their courage, strength, determination and the paths they took to overcome hardships which catapulted them to success, eyes filled with tears noting the sentiment for the evening. April graduated from the Washington DC program and Sandra graduated from the Chicago program.

Sheila C. Johnson, Co-founder of Black Entertainment Television (BET), President and Managing Partner of the WNBA’s Washington Mystics, and CEO of Salamander Hospitality, was the recipient of the Eugene M. Lang Lifetime Achievement Award. The Spirit of the Dream Award was given to Harrison I. Steans, Chairman of the Executive Committee of Financial Investments Corporation (FIC) and Sponsor of “I Have a Dream”-Chicago Lathrop Project – the first IHAD Program in Chicago, IL. George Kettle, former owner of CENTURY 21 real estate master franchise for VA, MD, D.C., DE and Eastern PA, and sponsor of the first “I Have a Dream”– Washington, DC Program and IHAD-D.C. Brent Program, graciously accepted the Visionary Award. As Eugene Lang presented each award to each honoree, he spoke with pride of the individual’s contributions to making the foundation a successful endeavor.

The “I have A Dream” program was founded in 1981 by New York businessman Eugene Lang when he returned to make a speech at P.S. 121 in East Harlem, the elementary school he attended 50 years earlier. When he was informed that 75% of the students at the school would probably not graduate from high school he made an extraordinary offer. He assured the 61 sixth grade students that funds would be available for college tuition or vocational school. After an onslaught of media attention, the national “I Have a Dream” Foundation was officially launched in 1986.

The “I Have a Dream” Program motivates and empowers children from low-income communities to reach their education and career goals by providing a long-term program of mentoring, tutoring and enrichment and tuition assistance for higher-education. Over 15,000 students form some of the country’s most disadvantaged communities have taken part in 196 “I Have a Dream” Projects across 27 states and 66 U.S. cities. Currently there is 1 project currently operating in Auckland, New Zealand. Although the success of the “I Have a Dream” Foundation is measured child by child, the Foundation strives to ensure that students, referred to as “Dreamers”, achieve high school graduation and readiness for college, vocational school or employment.
For more information about the organization,feel free to view their website at www.ihad.org











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