In 1981, businessman Eugene M. Lang returned to P.S. 121, the elementary school he had attended in East Harlem 50 years earlier, to address a class of graduating sixth graders. He promised college tuition to every sixth grader who graduated from high school. Soon he hired a full-time Program Coordinator and enlisted the support of a local community-based organization to provide services and support to the children through graduation. By 1986, Lang officially formed the national "I Have A Dream Foundation."
On June 11, 2013 the Foundation held their annual "Spirit of The Dream" Spring Gala. The event celebrated the efforts and progress John King Jr. has advanced as New York State Education Commissioner. Proceeds from the evening benefited the organization's "Dreamers."
The "I Have A Dream" Foundation works to ensure that all children have the opportunity to pursue higher education. They empower children in low-income communities to achieve higher education by providing them with guaranteed tuition support and equipping them with the skills, knowledge, and habits they need to gain entry to higher education and succeed in college and beyond. By helping the "Dreamers" gain access to college, they are put on a different academic and life trajectory, while having a broader impact on the students' families and the generations that follow.
Fantastic entertainment was served with co-hosts Sue Herera, Co-Anchor of "Power Lunch," CNBC and Carlos Watson, former CNN and MSNBC anchor. The Honorable Chris Coons, Arthur Levine and Carl Banks served as Honorary Chairs.
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| A silent auction was held with Patrick Tully as Auctioneer |
