Seven Continents Project 2016

Thank you for partnering with us to change the WORLD!

Dream of a Better World invites you to make a difference on ALL seven continents once again this holiday season.  Join us in celebrating by GIVING the gift of health, warmth, shelter, protection, and perhaps even life itself.  GIVE the gift that helps kids and families rise from the depths of poverty and despair.

GIVE… give ANYTHING you can… and you will help change the world, literally.

This year, by CLICKING on the "WHOLE WORLD" button in the right side panel, we can split your donation and distribute it to a project on every continent.  Your gift will literally reach around the world to spread goodness and hope to those in need!  Or, you can donate to your favorite project or continent by simply clicking on their individual "DONATE" button.

Our projects range from buying backpacks and school supplies for Maori tribal kids in New Zealand, helping with a PE and art program for an orphanage in Peru, to planting saplings for a reforestation project in China. We are helping to save the Whale Sharks in the Galapagos and Antarctica to protect them from poachers. And, this Christmas will be our 5^th annual “Operation Holiday Heroes” where we will provide gifts and other needs to the wounded and sick soldiers and their families living at Fisher House. 

Our family and friends were all saddened by the unexpected and tragic loss of our dear friend, Hannes Arch, from Austria, and we are going to help the needy kids from his European hometown who he loved to support. He will be missed, but we want to keep his generous spirit close to our hearts this year. 

The kids at the orphanage in Africa are hungry for the first time since we first met them over 7 years ago, so we are raising funds for their food this next year. Specifically they need protein, so that’s what we are getting them for Christmas! Any remaining funds will go towards a Christmas celebration for the kids.

We are super excited to deliver every gift that goes towards these great projects and we promise that every penny you donate goes towards its designated cause. Together, we can make a difference again on EVERY continent.  

Thank you for your on-going support!  

Love, Hannah, Jack & Carly and the Dream Team!

If you'd like to find out more about each project, you can visit the "Continent Tabs" on our home page, or click on the "Continent" links below:

North America Goal - $3,000
Our 5th Annual Operation Holiday Heroes 2016  

 

Fisher House Hawaii - Honolulu

South America Goal - $1,000
Nuestros Pequenos Hermanos - Bolivia 
PE equipment, art supplies and hygiene supplies for the kids living in the orphanages.

Asia Goal - $1,000
Orangutan Foundation International- Borneo

Help protect the environment, as well as the habitat for endangered orangutan and many wild birds in Southeast Asia.

Africa Goal - $7,000

Our Own Home Orphanage - Uganda.  Celebrating 7 years of incredible partnership! They need PROTEIN! Fundraising to provide more protein and rice, to help improve their diet.

Antarctica Goal $1,000
Turtle Island Restoration Network
Help SAVE the diminishing Whale Shark population through the research efforts of explorer Jonathan Greene.

Australia Goal - $2,000
Diving for a Cause - Whakatane, New Zealand.   School supplies for needy kids, a marine program in a Maori school and helping women in a battered women’s shelter in New Zealand.

Europe Goal - $1,000
SOS Villages for Children in Austria.   Helping abandoned, destitute and orphaned children requiring family-based child care. In memory of an amazing man and our good friend - Hannes Arch. 

12,000 Teddy Bears Showed Up

Another WOW!  It's Our Turn Now and #IPAGivesBack to the rescue. 

Remember that Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii had many of it's stuffed animals stolen this year just before their Annual Teddy Bear Drive. So, #IPAGivesBack collected 400 stuffed animals and showed up to volunteer.
We did not realize that when the word got out.... drum roll please... over 12,000 stuffed animals showed up, doubling their total donations from last year!  This was SO MUCH FUN, that we can hardly wait for next year!  Here is another super nice note about the event, from one of our volunteers, Shania Bravo.

Shania - “I was told prior to the event that there would be a lot of stuffed animals, but seeing the amount in real life does not compare the its description. The pile of stuffed animals was enormous. Originally, we only intended to drop off the stuffed animals that we had collected at IPA, but we stayed additional hours to help.

My favorite feeling was seeing so many people coming in to donate, whether it was one animal or bags of it. Being able to see a bunch of strangers come together to support one purpose is astounding and heart warming. This is another event that I want to continue participating in annually.”

Thank You Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii!

On a serious note, thank you for our volunteers and the HUNDREDS of IPA families and other friends who donated and helped collect 400 stuffed animals!  This was a blast, but it is also serious business. We have learned that once every minute, a child somewhere in

Thank You #IPAGivesBack!

America is abused. Physically. Sexually. Emotionally. But the most upsetting statistic of all is how often abuse is witnessed and ignored. But an abused child never forgets. And neither does Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii!  Here's a GIANT shout out to their awesome work!

#IPAGivesBack - Students Help Local Kahuku High School Students Go to National Science Fair!

 

Wow! 10,000 Showed Up!

A huge success! This is our 4th year and the Heroes and Remembrance Race is always such a privilege to sponsor.  Thanks to ALL of you who donate and volunteer, we have supported Fisher House and this event with over $20,000 in donations and many, many man-hours during the last 4 years!  It is a very emotional event, and it helps to remind us that over 7,000 men and women have given their lives in service to protect our freedom, just since 9/11. This year #IPAGivesBack showed up before sunrise to help prepare for the event. We supplied and passed out water bottles to the runners and then arranged the boots into a memorial for the public to come and visit on 9-11. 

Rylyne Bravo, an #IPAGivesBack volunteer, sent us the nicest note about her experience.  I will finish the blog with her special thoughts about the day.

From Rylyne - This was the most effective and emotional type of volunteering that I have ever done. We woke up really early at four o'clock so we could get at to the Memorial on time. On the way, there were more than 7,000 boots that lined the road, everyone made for a solider that died in action since 9/11. It was extremely sad to hear Hannah, a volunteer for around four years now, to tell us that the boots are getting closer every time. 

It helped me realize the value and sacrifice that others go through to keep our country safe. One of the higher ranking members of the military or navy also reminded all of us of how important it is that these sacrifices were not in for nothing. He said that there is a boot for every person because all of them matter and should never be forgotten. The boots are made to border a long track where people are able to run to honor the soldiers. Some would run, some would walk, and some would simply sit next to a boot because they used to know the person who wore it. During the race, we were able to pass out water to all the amazing participants.

After, we collected all of the shoes with the help of other schools and volunteers. This really helped me see how kind and caring the people of Hawaii are. It only took and hour or so to collect all 7,000 boots because we all worked together."

Thank you Rylyne and all of the volunteers, donors and participants!  Here are a few more photos of this incredible, memorable day!

Ps. - We will be back at Tripler Hospital's Fisher House this December for our annual Holiday Heros Event! We'll get the word out to you all!

Calling All Stuffed Animals!

#IPAGivesBack and Dream of a Better World are teaming up with Prevent Child Abuse Hawaii to collect NEW and "GENTLY USED" Teddy Bears and Stuffed Animals to be shared with children who have been affected by child abuse.

The distressing facts are that nearly 4,000 suspected cases of child abuse are reported each year in Hawaii.   And, the emotional and physical pain suffered can often lead to low self esteem, drug addiction, juvenile delinquency, crime and wasted lives.

With the simple act of DONATING a stuffed animal, you will show a child that you care by providing comfort and happiness during a confusing and difficult time.  And, we will be bringing awareness to this important issue!

Please bring your new or "gently used" DONATED stuffed animal to one of our three collection sites:

1) #IPAGivesBack - Island Pacific Academy - 909 Haumea Street, Kapolei, HI

 

2) Na Lio Kai Pony Club - Kawailoa Ranch, HI

 

3) 68-505 Crozier Drive, Waialua, HI

Or, please deliver your stuffed animal to a DREAM TEAM Member. You will make a difference in the life of a child!

"You're never too young, or too old to make a difference!" 

 

5TH ANNUAL HERO & REMEMBERANCE RUN

Calling ALL Volunteers and Supporters!  HELP US honor the over 7,000 soldiers killed in action since 9/11.  Let their families know "we will NEVER forget!"

September 10th, 2016 @ 6:30 a.m. is the 5th running of the Hero's & Remembrance Run, sometimes called: "Boots on the Bridge." Dream of a Better World is back again in a big way.  This is a “no cost” event because these fallen service members, and their families, have already paid the ultimate price!  So, Dream of a Better World is stepping up to be a lead sponsor for our 4th year. We are raising money for flags, utilities and the drinking water necessary to hold this memorial event.

We need donations... if you'd like to help, just CLICK on the "Support Our Troops" DONATE button.  We also need volunteers from 6 a.m. until noon to help hand out water to the thousands of race participants. It will be an emotional, special day to honor over 7,000 fallen U.S. soldiers, killed in action since 9/11. Words can not describe the appreciation that we have for the dedication and unbelievable sacrifice of the men and women who's 7,000 + boots lined the Ford Island bridge.

This is our 5th year in partnership with Fisher House Hawaii, and our 4th as lead sponsor of this event. We could not be more proud to support our troops in this way. We recognize and honor each and very one of our military families... and know that:

We will NEVER forget!

Thank you Theresa Johnson and Anita Clingerman and the staff at Tripler Fisher House for pouring so much of your life into helping all of us remember those heroes who gave their lives for us and our country!   We will never forget the nearly 7,000 killed in action since 9/11!  The boots, the names and faces and the many tearful participants are forever etched in our hearts and minds.

For those of you who don't know, we have an on-going relationship with Tripler Fisher House and it is always a huge blessing to be apart of something so special, and to help our military families who have sacrificed so much for us.  This project was a huge success.  Last year, the kids of Dream of a Better World, with the help of a large army of classmates and neighbors and donors and volunteers, got to help put an American flag in every boot.  And, every boot had the name and face of a hero killed in combat since 9/11.

This really is a community event where hundreds of volunteers and many different businesses have reached out to help. All this is possible because of volunteers, from moms with babies in tow, to  students, civilians, veterans and service members from all branches. This is bringing everybody together.”

Thank you to EVERYONE for showing up and giving your support!  

  

If you'd like to register for the run, you can do so at Fisher House Hawaii:

Register for T-shirts and "official race registration" at: www.eventbrite.com. 
email anita.f.clingerman.naf@mail.mil or call 436-5543 or 
email Theresa.m.johnson2.naf@mail.mil or call (931) 217-0800.

Fisher House Hawaii is one of 61 locations worldwide supporting America's military in their time of need.  Annually, the Fisher House program serves more than 22,000 families, and have made available over 5.2 million days of lodging to family members since the program originated in 1990.  Fisher House is funded by public donations and you can donate to Tripler Fisher House on-line at www.DreamOfaBetterWorld.org or mail donations to: Tripler Fisher Houses, 317 Krukowski Rd., Honolulu, HI  96819.

REMEMBER: Dogs Are People Too!

IPA GIVES BACK SUPPORTS OSPCA

Class of 2018 students from Island Pacific Academy join in the fun by raising awareness, supplies and  funds for the Oahu Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

The OSPCA rescues, rehabilitates and protects animals from abandonment and cruelty.  Their mission is: "Every healthy, treatable animal will find a forever home."  They care for approximately 200 dogs and cats per day and nearly 2,000 animals are rescued, rehabilitated, and placed in new homes each year!


Thank you to everyone who donated and thank you to our IPA Gives Back volunteers: Shania, Elizabeth, Matty and Hannah!

IPA GIVES BACK - A BIG SUCCESS!

We learned a long time ago that the best way to say: "THANK YOU," is to share the results. And, we are amazed by the results and community support from our partnership with Island Pacific Academy and their new organization: IPAGIVESBACK.org.  Also, a big mahalo to Target in Kapolei!

Graduation Gift of Giving!

Hey guys, it's Hannah!

So my big brother, fellow dream team member, and best friend, Jack, is a senior this year, which means that he's going off to college soon! He has been by my side for the past 16 years of my life, which is pretty amazing considering how loud I can be sometimes.

He is an amazing person who has a kind and generous heart, an outgoing and awe-inspiring personality, and a motivational and determined work ethic, and he has been one of my biggest supporters for my whole life. He also has the amazing ability to bring people together, make everyone feel welcome, and turn a group of people into a community and a family with nothing more than the gifts that God (and genetics) have given to him. Despite his occasional dumb jokes, obsession with pugs, and rare midnight drum practice while the rest of the family is sleeping, he is beyond a shadow of a doubt one of the most considerate, compassionate, and caring people I have ever met. Jack and his classmate's love of community service and helping others is the inspiration behind my graduation present to the bright, loving, and intelligent individuals in Island Pacific Academy's graduating class of 2016.

This IPA class is very giving, and has always been involved in community service activities and supporting their fellow students, so I want to raise funds to donate in their name to different organizations that Jack and his IPA classmates care about. But... SHHHH... I'd like to keep it a surprise as long as possible!



If you'd like to make a donation, it will be used for projects on Oahu including:

- Waianae Ridge Watershed
- The Hawaii Meth Project
- Oahu SPCA
- The Mauloa Food Bank
- Fisher House at Tripler Hospital

As always, thank you ALL for your ongoing support.  If you'd like to help with this SURPRISE PROJECT... please join in, by using the IPA Gives Back DONATE button on the upper right.  100% will go to charity!  Thank You!