DREAM is a 26-year-old youth development organization serving 2,000 inner-city youth each year and providing them with the opportunity to play, learn and grow. Through the power of teams, they inspire youth to recognize their potential and realize their dreams. DREAM’s story began when a group of neighborhood volunteers transformed an abandoned lot into two baseball diamonds for East Harlem children. Their “field of dreams” became a hub of neighborhood activity, connecting children, families and volunteers through the power of team participation. DREAM’s programs help kids stay on track to achieve long-term academic success and develop the life skills necessary to become competent, confident and caring adults. Through DREAM’s unique brand of youth development, each child plays on a baseball or softball team and engages in year-round, after school academic and enrichment programming that supports their growth from kindergarten through college graduation. Since its inception, the East Harlem and South Bronx, New York-based program has built a deep-seated rapport within both communities that they serve year-round.
BTIG COLLABORATION AND IMPACT:
For the past seven years, DREAM has been a recipient of donations through its partnership with BTIG Charity Day. With BTIG’s support, DREAM has been able to fund the resources necessary to help successfully place participating eighth grade boys and girls into high-performing high schools. With the help of hundreds of volunteer coaches, tutors and staff, children receive the support they need to prepare for the rigors of identifying, testing and applying to some of New York City’s top high schools. DREAM Board Member and New York Yankees first baseman, Mark Teixeira, and New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez have also acted as celebrity guest traders on BTIG Charity Day fielding calls alongside the firm’s institutional traders on behalf of DREAM. Mark Teixeira has been extremely dedicated to DREAM and its mission, and takes time out of his schedule each year to support youth and families in the East Harlem and South Bronx communities.
“The needs of our youth and families are beyond what most can imagine, especially as they get older and need to make crucial life decisions such as high school placement. Many of our youth will become first generation college students, and we are committed to being there every step of the way with the same support we have provided since we opened our doors to this incredible South Bronx Community in 2012. We absolutely couldn’t do the work that we do without the help from our incredible partners at BTIG.”
–Greg Lucas, Director of South Bronx Programs, DREAM
