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IBOAI NEWS |
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The cause: Children threatened with the cycle of incarceration. The organization acting on their behalf: The U.S. Dream Academy, now celebrating its 10th successful year. The worthy affair: The 7th Annual Power of a Dream Gala fundraising event seeking to raise a million dollars, which IBOAI has proudly supported.
The evening was black-tie optional with white linen
elegance and top-tier entertainment as supporters stepped up to the
plate. Big names in entertainment, names high in government and
corporate
Twenty-nine IBOs attended, including six IBOAI Board
members and three |
Left to right: Wintley Phipps, Sandy Spielmaker, and Jody Victor show the President’s Award presented to Jim Payne.
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Gina Dutt. IBOAI sponsored a table at the event, as did a number of IBOs – table sponsorships totaled $61,000. In
addition to supporting the cause by sponsoring a table, IBOAI Governance & Oversight Committee member Jody Victor is on the U.S. Dream Academy Board. Amway Global, formerly Quixtar, meanwhile, gave $30,000 in computers and $25,000 in funds. Amway Global’s Executive Vice President, Jim Payne, received the U.S. Dream Academy’s President’s Award. Accepting on Jim’s behalf was Sandy Spielmaker, Vice President of Sales at Amway Global.
Entertainment was provided by comedian and actor Chris
Tucker, Grammy and Tony Award-winning Broadway performer
Jennifer Holliday, and Grammy Award-winning singer Peabo
Bryson. The hit of the night, however, was the U.S. Dream
Academy DreamKids who performed “America Rocks,” written by
longtime U.S. Dream Academy supporter U.S. Senator Orrin
Hatch of
The big news of the night, though, was the matching donations by publishing magnate Oprah Winfrey, who matched the $903,000 raised for the evening plus promised up to another $500,000 to match any additional donations raised by October 10. You can join the IBOAI and Oprah Winfrey by donating to the U.S. Dream Academy, too.
“The U.S. Dream Academy’s mission is to empower children who are at risk of incarceration to maximize their potential by providing them with academic, social and values enrichment through supportive mentoring and the use of technology. It seeks to break the cycle of incarceration by giving children grades 3 through 8 the skills and vision needed to lead productive and fulfilling lives,” says the U.S. Dream Academy website.
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