Hurricane Relief UPDATE...

Great News.... California, Hawaii and Oregon have "Dream Teams" mobilizing to make a real difference for Hurricane Harvey victims! 

 

 

More GREAT News... we have longtime Dream of a Better World friend and supporter, Kelsey (Richvalsky) DeMarce, at ground zero directing our efforts!  

 

The NEEDS here are overwhelming.  But, we are now well positioned to guarantee that your donations will make a HUGE difference in the lives of the families living there!  In the next few days, we will communicate more about those lives and stories.  

Here's a HINT... from Dream of a Better World, where kids help kids... and students help teachers too! :)

Hurricane Harvey Relief - Here's What We Can Do to HELP!

Hurricane Harvey’s devastation is hard to put into words. As many people know now, severe flooding and 130+ mph winds have displaced over 30,000 people.

Thousands more are awaiting rescue and these numbers are rising. As those unaffected by Harvey, it’s important to realize that each and every one of these innocent people are counting on us for help.

Many are living without food, dry clothes and other essential supplies that are frequently taken for granted.

Here’s how YOU can support the victims of

Hurricane Harvey!

A quick and effective way to help is to donate.  If you'd like to donate through us, the "Hurricane Harvey Relief" DONATE button is on the right.

We will turn your generous donation into these desperately needed items.  Many different supplies are  needed in Texas relief shelters. By donating to Dream of a Better World’s Hurricane Harvey relief campaign, your funds will be used to buy necessary supplies for victims in need and for the tools used to clean up and restore damaged communities in Texas.

Below is a list of supplies needed.

Dehumidifiers

Portable Blowers and Air conditioners

Extension Cords

Ground Fault Protectors

Pop up Canopies

Shovels

Wheelbarrows

Crow Bars

Hammers

Utility Knives

Work Gloves

Dust Masks

Pressure Washers

Fans

Ladders

Buckets

Chainsaws

Clippers

Tools for Boarding Windows

Tarps

Rope

Portable Lights

Portable Generators

Nail Guns

Saw Horses

Spray Paint

Safety Glasses

Mops

Brooms

Deck Brooms

5-Gallon Resealing Bucket

Liquid Laundry Detergent

Liquid Household cleaner

Dish soap

Bleach

Scrub Brush

Cleaning Wipes

Sponges

Scouring Pads

Paper Towels

Disposable Rags

Air Freshener

Clothespins

Clotheslines

Heavy-Duty Trash Bags

Insect Repellant

Water

First Aide Kits

Toiletries

Rain Ponchos

There are many great organizations making a difference in the lives of Hurricane Harvey victims.  PLEASE pick one and JOIN in.   If you do decide to trust us with your donation, please let us know who inspired you to do in the comments section of your donation.  We would like to thank them personally in a future blog.

As always, we promise you that 100% of your donation through Dream of a Better World will go to needed items, needy families or organizations on the ground needing our help.  All of our overhead is DONATED or raised separately.

Thank your for helping!  The Dream Team

Sweet Shyne...

Hi Everyone!

Anyone who knows our mom, Diane Button, knows of her passion for community service and helping others. For the past 8 years, one of her most rewarding things that she does is working with Hospice Hawaii as a volunteer. She is constantly touched by the lives of the people she helps, but we don’t usually get to hear about these people because of patient confidentiality. But today we are writing you with a different story, one that we get to share.

For the past 8 months, my mom has been visiting a sweet little 12-year old boy with brain cancer.  She spends quality time with him, playing with trains, singing, watching movies, and communicating in their own special way since he is unable to talk.  I imagine it must be hard for my mom, but she always comes home with a full heart and a smile on her face after seeing him.

Here’s their story…meet my mom’s little friend, Shyne Aquino, and his dad, Vernon.

Shyne is like most boys, He loves cars, trains, and all things that move! His Dad, Vernon Aquino, is a single father, who has created a stable and loving home for his son. Shyne was not expected to learn, talk, walk, or even survive infancy. He is now 12 years old and Vernon says, “He is a miracle!”

This family is falling on some hard times and they need help. In May,  Shyne was hospitalized and unable to attend school, which prevented Vernon from working. Shyne is now back home with his dad, who is his full-time caregiver.

Here are some Little Things that we know will make a Big Difference to Shyne and Vernon: They need groceries, AAA batteries for Shyne's train set, Amazon, Walmart, Foodland or Costco gift cards. And as a huge surprise, we are hoping to get Shyne a new iPad!  

Help us spread the word! We will be collecting money to help them pay their bills so Shyne’s dad can relax and enjoy his time with his son. We will be collecting food and gift cards, too! Donations may be dropped off at our house or you can donate online for their ongoing expenses. Thank you SO, SO much!

You are all the BEST supporters we could ever hope for! Thank you for always being here for us and all of our projects!

Love, Hannah, Carly and Jack

 

Join in the FUN! Heroes & Remembrance Run 2017!

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 9th, 2017

It's the 6th running of the Hawaii Fisher House "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 “free” event because these fallen service members, and their families, have already paid the ultimate price!  

But, we NEED your help!

If you'd like to donate, 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. 

It is always a memorable, fun and fulfilling way to support our troops and make a difference!  

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

  

We will NEVER forget!

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.

You're Invited to Join DFAC and Dream of a Better World in 2018

Hi Everyone,
Thank you for all your enthusiasm about our work with Diving for a Cause! We love what they do, too, and plan to continue partnering with them in New Zealand and even maybe expanding globally into other areas of the world with them. It's such a win/win for everyone involved!  For those of you who don't know, Diving for a Cause takes spear fishermen and women on diving trips around the world. But this isn't just a diving trip; it's also a way to give back to the local communities. 

As a charitable organization, DFAC's main goals are:  

1) To serve impoverished communities by working with needy children, supplying food, school supplies and community improvements at no cost, and; 

2) to provide a means for spearfishermen to give back to those in need, using their unique skills."

The divers catch fish, and then bring the fish back and donate most of it to local food banks or needy families in the towns where they caught the fish. Since we have joined them, they also spend several days of their trip volunteering in the community doing work and helping

where needed. This is where we come in! Through our fundraising, they can make big changes for the local Maori kids, their school programs, the women's shelter, and for families in need. We hope you will join us later this year when we choose the projects for the 2018 excursian to Whakatane, New Zealand!

And for anyone interested in going along on this trip and fishing, please contact us and we will get you in touch with Diving For a Cause! We'd love to have one of our supporters go on an adventure with them! Here are some details!

Come join Diving For A Cause in New Zealand in February 2018, Feb 5-15

 

Find out more from their website: https://www.divingforacause.org/new-zealand.html

A Ten Year Anniversary Note

April 15th, 2017

Hi everybody, it's Hannah Button, and I just wanted to say thank you so much for all of your support. I also wanted to update our newer supporters with where we are currently in regards to our projects with Dream of a Better World.

As most of you know, Dream of a Better World was founded almost ten years ago when my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer. In fact, our first project was to write a fundraising cookbook to raise money for breast cancer research.  I am happy to report that she is doing well and we have not stopped volunteering and fundraising since then.  Thanks to Amazon, the book is still available and raising money  today!

Since then, we have raised over $300,000 in donations of money and needed items.  And, we have  completed over 50 projects, including at least one on every single continent. We have partnered with orphanages in Africa, South America, and Asia. We have worked with charities devoted to making safe places for abused women, tracking and conserving endangered species, establishing

homes and providing medical care for wounded or ill military families, finding shelters (an eventually, homes) for all types of animals, feeding the homeless, and everything in between. None of that would have been done without your support.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank some other very important people who have devoted countless hours to not only helping us dream big, but also by helping to pursue those dreams. Dreams of providing children with clean water, and of helping dogs find forever homes, and of injured or sick veterans receive the medical care they need while surrounded by the people they love. Dreams of a better world.

To Max and Natalie Burrous, and to Ruby and Emma Bowser. You have made our California team great, and have provided us with so many opportunities to help around your community, your state, and the world. Your love for animals and the environment have inspired us in more ways than you know.

To Elizabeth Lyons-Best, Madison Yamamura,

Shania and Rylyne Bravo, Logan Knight, and all of the other IPA volunteers. Your enthusiasm for every project we undertake gives us all hope that we can truly make the world better.  You all have some of the most giving and loving hearts to have ever existed. Your ability to see problems around you, then go out and make the change that you want to see in the world reminds me of why we started Dream of a Better World in the first place.

And of course, thank you to our entire community of supporters, volunteers and worldwide partners. You do so much to help our world, and you are always excited to see what you can do next. Our community of supporters is constantly growing, and with that, the amount of change that we can make is expanding.

Thank you for inspiring us all to be enthusiastic, generous, determined DREAMERS!