Click HERE to watch and help support our National Ambassador and The Dream Factory.
Monday, June 29, 2015
Watch Dalton Cyr's new show on Amazon!
Dream Factory National Ambassador Dalton Cyr's new show, A History of Radness, has premiered on Amazon and is currently available to view for free! Make sure to watch it, rate it, comment and take the survey, and please SHARE with others.
Click HERE to watch and help support our National Ambassador and The Dream Factory.
Click HERE to watch and help support our National Ambassador and The Dream Factory.
Friday, June 26, 2015
'Your organization is truly making a difference'
From Abby's mother, Jan, following Abby's dream:
"The trip was fantastic and went off as smoothly as it could have gone! It was so awesome to have everything down to the last detail taken care of for us! We were totally overwhelmed from the start; but the extras that Stacie (volunteer from the Louisville Chapter) brought by the night before we left were the icing on the cake! We wore our Dream Factory shirts and our buttons and pins a lot and helped spread the word about your fantastic organization.
"I can't tell you what an amazing thing you are doing for children like Abby and families like ours. While Abby certainly suffers the most from her disease, it is so nice that you all remember that her diagnosis affects each and every member of the family. From the thousands and thousands of dollars for her medication and hospital visits that Michael and I deal with to the simple fact that for the last three years, Matthew has had to sometimes take a 'backseat' when Abby was ill and her needs just had to come first. Life with a chronic illness is so hard in so many ways. What you all are doing is fantastic because it gives the sick child as well as the rest of the family the opportunity to put all that aside, if only for a few days, and focus on fun family time together.
"I heard Abby say more than once on our trip: 'You know, we wouldn't be on this trip if it weren't for me!' It was so nice for her to be the center of attention for the 'right' reasons! She is one of the strongest children I know and is definitely my hero. It is unbelievable to me the grace with which she handles what she must endure.
"Please know how much we appreciate what you did for Abby and our family. Your organization is truly making a difference in the lives of children who deserve to have something positive be centered around them. We are so very humbled by what all you did for us and sincerely thank you again from the bottom of our hearts."
"The trip was fantastic and went off as smoothly as it could have gone! It was so awesome to have everything down to the last detail taken care of for us! We were totally overwhelmed from the start; but the extras that Stacie (volunteer from the Louisville Chapter) brought by the night before we left were the icing on the cake! We wore our Dream Factory shirts and our buttons and pins a lot and helped spread the word about your fantastic organization.
"I can't tell you what an amazing thing you are doing for children like Abby and families like ours. While Abby certainly suffers the most from her disease, it is so nice that you all remember that her diagnosis affects each and every member of the family. From the thousands and thousands of dollars for her medication and hospital visits that Michael and I deal with to the simple fact that for the last three years, Matthew has had to sometimes take a 'backseat' when Abby was ill and her needs just had to come first. Life with a chronic illness is so hard in so many ways. What you all are doing is fantastic because it gives the sick child as well as the rest of the family the opportunity to put all that aside, if only for a few days, and focus on fun family time together.
"I heard Abby say more than once on our trip: 'You know, we wouldn't be on this trip if it weren't for me!' It was so nice for her to be the center of attention for the 'right' reasons! She is one of the strongest children I know and is definitely my hero. It is unbelievable to me the grace with which she handles what she must endure.
"Please know how much we appreciate what you did for Abby and our family. Your organization is truly making a difference in the lives of children who deserve to have something positive be centered around them. We are so very humbled by what all you did for us and sincerely thank you again from the bottom of our hearts."
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Friday, June 5, 2015
Message from our National Director and President
The following is a message from Dream Factory National Director Todd Fairbanks and President Daniel Forrest as it appears on page 2 of our 2014 Annual Report. Click here to view the entire Annual Report.
It is a privilege to write this
letter as the new National Director/CEO of The Dream Factory, Inc. I started my
relationship with The Dream Factory’s group of wonderful volunteers in 2009
when I was Executive Director of Something mAAgic Foundation, a nonprofit
foundation made up of American Airlines employees. Ten Dream Factory chapters
participated in “mAAgicflight”, the marquee event of the foundation in which 10
seriously ill children and their families each experienced an unforgettable
vacation in Orlando, Florida. Over the following number of years, I learned
about the hard work and dedication the volunteers at our chapter level invest
daily to fulfill the dreams of children with critical and chronic illnesses.
When I found out that Anne Bunger,
past National Director/CEO, announced her retirement, I was able to pursue a
dream of my own - to be associated with a national organization that does great
things for seriously ill children and their families.
The last seven months have been a
whirlwind of activities. I have been able to meet some great people with huge
hearts and look forward to working with them as we move The Dream Factory into
its next phase of development.
Thank you for your interest in this
wonderful organization and please stay tuned as we grow this organization so we
may help more children with critical and chronic illnesses.
I am excited about the future of the
Dream Factory, and I hope you are as well.
Best regards,
Todd Fairbanks, National Director/CEO
This has been a remarkable year and I
would like to share what an honor it is to serve as the President of the Board
for the Dream Factory, Inc. We are the
preeminent, all-volunteer powered, dream granting organization in the
world. As we move from one fiscal year
to another we do so with a huge milestone of transitioning our National
Director. After 25 years of service, our
previous National Director, Anne Bunger, retired - but not before assisting us
in recruiting our new National Director, Todd Fairbanks. We are very fortunate to have Todd join our
team after a detailed national search. He comes as no stranger. During the past 6 years, The Dream Factory
has been privileged to be part of “mAAgic Flight” and get to know Todd in his
roll with the Something mAAgic Foundation.
We welcome Todd to our Dream Factory family.
In 2014 we celebrate several major
accomplishments. We established a great
partnership with Millennium Hotels and Resorts.
The partnership is part of the award winning Ask Alfred children’s
program launched last summer across 14 Millennium Hotels and Resorts properties
in North America. Since last year, we
have increased our revenue by 13% allowing us to increase our total dreams by
12% (272 dreams). We saw a large boost
in our social media footprint by almost 40%.
For the third consecutive year we have maintained our excellent 4-star
rating with Charity Navigator, the largest evaluator of charities in North
America. Last, but certainly not least,
in September 2014 we saw the formation of The Dream Factory Foundation, Inc., a
public foundation, established exclusively for the purpose of supporting the
programs and mission of The Dream Factory and its local chapters. While they are a separate 501(c)3
organization, we look forward to partnering with them as we take our strategic
planning to the next level.
We greet the coming year with a great
sense of optimism, as we continue the life changing work of granting dreams to
critically and chronically ill children across the US. We look forward to the formation of new
chapters, recruitment of new volunteers and continuing to serve our children
and their families.
Respectfully yours,
Daniel Forrest, President
Monday, May 18, 2015
Welcome our two newest chapters
We're excited to recently announce our two newest chapters to The Dream Factory family! Both of these chapters also give us a presence in two new states, as well.
The Iowa Chapter started in March of this year and hit the ground running, having a representative at our mid-year March Meetings in Louisville. They are located in Cedar Rapids. The contact information for our Iowa Chapter is PO Box 1133, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; 319-775-0794; iowa@dreamfactoryinc.org. Their chapter website is dreamfactoryinciowa.org.
The Nebraska Chapter started earlier this month (in May) and already has a strong board. They are located in Lincoln. The contact information for this chapter is PO Box 5672, Lincoln, NE 68505; nebraska@dreamfactoryinc.org. Their chapter website is dreamfactoryincneb.org.
With the formation of these two chapters, the Dream Factory now has 34 chapters and is represented in 19 states! Welcome to the Dream Factory our two newest chapters!!!
The Iowa Chapter started in March of this year and hit the ground running, having a representative at our mid-year March Meetings in Louisville. They are located in Cedar Rapids. The contact information for our Iowa Chapter is PO Box 1133, Cedar Rapids, IA 52401; 319-775-0794; iowa@dreamfactoryinc.org. Their chapter website is dreamfactoryinciowa.org.
The Nebraska Chapter started earlier this month (in May) and already has a strong board. They are located in Lincoln. The contact information for this chapter is PO Box 5672, Lincoln, NE 68505; nebraska@dreamfactoryinc.org. Their chapter website is dreamfactoryincneb.org.
With the formation of these two chapters, the Dream Factory now has 34 chapters and is represented in 19 states! Welcome to the Dream Factory our two newest chapters!!!
Friday, May 8, 2015
2014 Annual Report
This is the cover to our 2014 Annual Report...
And inside, you'll be able to find...
The entire Annual Report will be revealed soon!
#DreamFactory
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
24-Hour and Marathon/Half events announced
The Dream Factory is pleased to announce that two running events will be held in 2015. The second annual 24-Hour Run for Dreams is Aug. 7-8 and Louisville's Dream Factory Marathon and Half is Oct. 4.
The 24-Hour Run For Dreams will be at Red Orchard Park in Shelbyville, KY starting on Friday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. It will last until the following day at 8 p.m. There will also be two 12-hour options: Friday at 8 p.m. until Saturday at 8 a.m., and Saturday at 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. The course consist of a two-mile scenic loop of trails and grass. Our goal this year is to create a fun, festive atmosphere. Camping space is provided for all participants and family/friends.
The first annual Louisville's Dream Factory Marathon and Half was hosted in 2013. The event was canceled last year due to bridge construction in downtown Louisville, but will be back on in 2015! The new date is Sunday, Oct. 4, with both races starting at 8 a.m. The race starts/finishes at American Turners off River Road. It's a fast, fast course and a Boston Qualifier.
More information about these two events, including registration details, to be announced soon. Please share with family/friends/runners to help spread the word!!! Email tommie.kendall@dreamfactoryinc.org with any questions.
The 24-Hour Run For Dreams will be at Red Orchard Park in Shelbyville, KY starting on Friday, Aug. 7, at 8 p.m. It will last until the following day at 8 p.m. There will also be two 12-hour options: Friday at 8 p.m. until Saturday at 8 a.m., and Saturday at 8 a.m. until 8 p.m. The course consist of a two-mile scenic loop of trails and grass. Our goal this year is to create a fun, festive atmosphere. Camping space is provided for all participants and family/friends.
 |
| Start of the 2013 Marathon/Half |
The first annual Louisville's Dream Factory Marathon and Half was hosted in 2013. The event was canceled last year due to bridge construction in downtown Louisville, but will be back on in 2015! The new date is Sunday, Oct. 4, with both races starting at 8 a.m. The race starts/finishes at American Turners off River Road. It's a fast, fast course and a Boston Qualifier.
More information about these two events, including registration details, to be announced soon. Please share with family/friends/runners to help spread the word!!! Email tommie.kendall@dreamfactoryinc.org with any questions.
#RunForDreams
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