Festival of Children Foundation:

Learn About The Dreams

Last year, The Possible Dream asked charities to submit proposals for tangible, measurable projects or "Possible Dreams" that fulfill their mission and improve the lives of children.

After a panel of judges selected the eight finalists, the Orange County Register's Season of Caring officially launched. Then we asked the community to help fund and follow the dreams of these eight dynamic children's charities:

El Viento Foundation

Collaborative Partner: Coast Community College District, the Ocean View School District, and the Huntington Beach Union High School District

El Viento Foundation’s Possible Dream is to provide after school tutoring and enrichment activities to at-risk youth in the Oak View Community to prevent academic failure, gang involvement, drug use, teen pregnancy, illiteracy, and continuing the poverty cycle. The presence of successful students participating in this program represents systemic, positive change to the community. By adhering to El Viento’s high standards, participating in El Viento activities, graduating high school and gaining acceptance to college, students earn an annual college scholarship of $2,000 for two years. During the ten year duration of the program, El Viento students participate in numerous activities which are tailored by age group. Credentialed teachers from the district are central to all program activities and lend continuity to the school curriculum as well as core manpower to our program. This request is specifically to help fund teacher salaries within the program.

Girls Inc. of Orange County

Collaborative Partner: Human Options and other Costa Mesa youth-serving agencies

Girls Inc.’s Possible Dream is to offer empowering programs to the Orange County girls that need them the most by expanding the Girls EmPOWERED after-school and summer program to include girls in the Human Options Shelter, girls receiving services from Someone Cares Soup Kitchen, Share Ourselves, and other Orange County agencies that provide emergency services to families. This program concentrates on families struggling to meet the most basic needs, by helping their daughters, ages 5 to 18, with a safe place to learn, grow, and dream. Girls EmPOWERED will help up to 350 girls succeed in school and in life.

Kids Konnected

Collaborative Partner: San Juan Capistrano Boys & Girls Club

Kids Konnected’s Possible Dream is to address the needs of underserved children and teens in designated southern parts of Orange County through its cost-free San Juan Capistrano support group. This program's objectives are to educate, reduce feelings of isolation, anxiety, and depression. In this program, kids and teens meet face to face in age-specific, groups to discuss how a parent’s cancer is impacting their lives. The group atmosphere is conducive to healing, as the children share in one another’s strength and in turn realize their own strength.

Laguna Beach Community Clinic

Collaborative Partner: Coalition of Orange County Community Clinics, and California Academy of Family Physicians

Laguna Beach Community Clinic’s Possible Dream is to pay for pediatric equipment and pediatric staff to provide medical care for sick-children visits to the clinic. The scope of diagnosis and acuity of urgent care visits runs the spectrum from simple colds and infections to potentially life threatening conditions such as acute asthma. Fortunately, well-child visits are covered by government programs, however the key government program for sick-child visits has been eliminated 100% by the State of California. For children who are most in need, those who are sick, LBCC must pay for services from other sources.

New Vista

Collaborative Partner: The Orange County Asperger's Society

New Vista’s Possible Dream is create a dual station commercial Kitchen, with laundry facilities and café style dining that will help the adolescents on the Autism Spectrum they serve grow and thrive. “Project Independence….Beyond Mac n Cheese” is all about autonomy. With the creation of the “Home Teaching Center” they will be coaching adolescents on the Autism Spectrum how to prepare healthy food, clean up, wash clothes and properly socialize in a restaurant environment. Additionally the “Home Teaching Center” will serve as the central Kitchen for the student run business “Daug Days”. This will be the only teaching kitchen in Orange County supporting youth on the Autism Spectrum.

Orangewood Children's Foundation

Collaborative Partner: CASA

Orangewood’s Possible Dream is to ensure that children in foster care approaching ‘emancipation’ learn to live independently through its Independent Living Program (ILP). CASA has joined this effort to train these at-risk youth in the life skills needed for independence. CASA and Orangewood will collaborate through a series of ILP workshops for youth to attend with their CASA volunteers. As many of these youth don’t do not currently attend ILP, increasing this collaboration will increase the number of foster youth receiving the life skills training.

The Sierra Club Foundation

Collaborative Partner: Local, state and national park rangers and representatives

The Sierra Club Foundation’s Possible Dream is to fund Orange County Inner City Outings, which transports groups of low income, culturally diverse young people in to the outdoors. Dedicated leaders will work with school groups and community agencies to plan and implement a sequence of outings geared to promote environmental awareness, pique interest and curiosity, develop leadership skills and promote personal responsibility.

United Cerebral Palsy
Collaborative Partner: Orange County chapter of CampFire USA
United Cerebral Palsy’s (UPC-OC) Possible Dream is to connect parents of children with disabilities to specially trained teenager sitters who want to work with disabled children and their sibling(s) through its “Special Sitters” program. UCP-OC, in cooperation with CampFire USA, recruits and trains teens in the many skills they will need to benefit these children and families, such as CPR, analytical thinking in emergency situations, communication skills, etc. The families benefit greatly in this program by having the time and flexibility to handle the daily chores of life and to recharge their mental batteries. The teens benefit by caring for, learning about and having a greater appreciation for children with disabilities and the struggles they face and in addition incorporate their siblings in different games, crafts and general activities.