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 "I
Have A Dream" Foundation Turns Students' Dreams
Into Reality
Arturo Zepeda, a child of Mexican immigrants, was "dying on
the vine" when "I
Have A Dream" Foundation (IHAD) adopted his class, said
John Horan, Executive Director of IHAD's Chicago office. Evidence
showed that Arturo was far beyond his class in potential. So
IHAD worked to secure him a scholarship at the Latin School
in Chicago, stuck with him through high school and helped him
get into Notre Dame University.
Now, Zepeda - who is helping undocumented
workers get their citizenship - wants
to be a lawyer. Zepeda is one of thousands
of students who could have become a drop-out.
But with IHAD's help, he is a productive
citizen.
IHAD sponsors "adopt" an entire grade
from a public elementary school or a group
from a public housing development and
give them a year-round program of academic,
social and cultural activities, from elementary
school through high school, followed by
college or vocational scholarship. And
IHAD's success rate in graduating students
from high school is impressive. Seventy-two
percent of "Dreamers" from Chicago who
have gone through the program graduate
on time, compared to the normal 35% rate
for children from the same areas IHAD
targets. And about 64% of those who graduate
go on to college, while only 18% of those
who have not been exposed to IHAD move
on.
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