Butterfly Dreams is a nonprofit organization which will provide an opportunity for girls, women, boys and men with significant intellectual disabilities/developmental delays to participate in both an annual pageant and numerous yearly activities promoting the event. Our goal is to give every participant their moment to stand in the spotlight, showcase their abilities and not be defined by their di
sabilities. In short, each participant will be provided that "Miss or Mr. America" moment. Our vision also involves support from the community. A young man or woman, (known as Pageant Pals) will be assigned for each participant, to es**rt them through the event. These young ladies and gentlemen will preferably be working towards a career in Special Education, Speech Pathology or related field and come from the local colleges. This provides the students with real world experience, along with the promotion of inclusion and acceptance. Our hope is that our participants and pals will develop a friendship that extends beyond the borders of this day. We also want our participants to feel value in the community that supports them, and to realize the blessings they truly have been given. To expound upon this idea, instead of an entry fee, we will request that each participant bring an unwrapped toy to donate to the Marines “Toys for Tots” mission. This will bring a whole new awareness of people helping people. Butterfly Dreams is a journey of learning life skills and developing pride in self for all its participants and volunteers.
