Adopt a Dream is a non-profit organization that gives back to underprivileged children who have diseases or disabilities. In their most recent event, the Bidding for Hope Auction, the club raised $2,525.
“Ninety percent of that goes to giving children their dreams and 10 percent is going to a charity called the Bald Beauties Project, a charity founded by the cousin of one of our members,” Lauren Asselta, the communications chair of Adopt a Dream, said. “[The founder] passed away from Leukemia a year ago.”
At the event, the organization auctioned off over 50 baskets, which included items such as Mets tickets, Victoria’s Secret merchandise and Vera Bradley bags.
Since the club’s founding in October 2011, they have granted the wishes of nine “dreamers.” Throughout the semester, the club organizes fundraisers and plans out what they will be doing for the children that they are working with.
Adopt a Dream assisted two dreamers this semester. The first was a 14-year-old boy named Christopher Cuban who has ADHD and suffers with dwarfism, but loves adventure and New York City buses.
“We gave him tickets for a New York City bus tour, day passes to [go] rock climbing, a gift card to go out to dinner with his mom and things for a movie day at home,” the club’s vice president, Jennifer Connelly said.
The second dreamer was 7-year-old Christopher Gonzalez, who has Down syndrome. His only wish was to have a great day with his siblings, so Adopt a Dream sent him a box that was filled with passes to Coney Island’s Luna Park, tickets to the New York Aquarium and a movie theater gift card.
“My favorite part of the club is the friendships I’ve made, the leadership qualities I’ve learned and have been able to pass on and, most importantly, being able to grant dreams to children who are so strong and deserving,” the club’s president, Samantha Pauleen Jean-Louis said.
The club is looking forward to working with the next dreamer. “No dream is too large or small for us,” Connelly said. “If we set our hearts to it, we can make things happen.”