Dream Makers

06/02/2026

“I had something other to focus on instead of focusing on me being alone and having to start over,” Waters said. “I had somebody here with me to help me grow.”

https://wcti12.com/news/local/nc-foster-mom-whos-cared-for-30-plus-children-says-fostering-brought-healing-after-loss

NORTH CAROLINA — As Foster Care Awareness Month comes to an end, thousands of children across North Carolina are still waiting for safe and supportive homes.For

06/02/2026

Today, we’re celebrating not one, but two people who have reached the milestone of graduation! 🎓

Kristen and Elise, a mother-daughter duo, are both former foster youth and Dream Makers dream recipients. Their journeys have been marked by resilience, determination, and a commitment to creating brighter futures and helping to change the lives of others.

Their accomplishments are a powerful reminder that foster youth are capable of extraordinary things when they have the support, opportunities, and encouragement they deserve.

At Dream Makers, we believe dreams can be stepping stones to something greater. Seeing Kristen and Elise reach this milestone is a beautiful example of what can happen when young people are empowered to pursue their goals.

We can’t wait to see what comes next for this inspiring mother-daughter duo! 👏🏽

06/01/2026

Shelby’s dream has been waiting for for too long. Can you be the one to fulfill it today?

🔗 https://www.dreammakersproject.org/viewdreams/p/shelby-business

Shelby is dreaming of a laptop to support her college classes. Fulfilling this dream will provide the reliable technology she needs to complete assignments, stay organized, and fully engage in her studies as she works toward a more stable future.

After aging out of foster care at 18, Shelby has been slowly rebuilding stability completely on her own. Despite every obstacle, she kept pushing forward.

Today, Shelby balances multiple jobs while attending college, running a small cleaning business, and advocating for foster youth in her community. She uses her lived experience to help improve systems for others aging out of care.

Shelby is always showing up for others. We think it’s time to show up for her!

06/01/2026

For youth aging out of foster care, adulthood most often begins without the support system many of us take for granted. While their peers may have family to call for help, many former foster youth are navigating housing, education, employment, and life’s challenges on their own.

At Dream Makers, we believe no young person should have to carry that weight alone.

By helping fulfill dreams and meet critical needs, you’re providing more than an item or opportunity. You’re offering encouragement, stability, and a reminder that someone believes in their future.

Every dream granted is a tangible way to say, “You matter. We’re cheering you on.”

Join us in helping foster youth move beyond survival and toward the future they deserve.

🖤 DreamMakersProject.org

05/28/2026

“I’m grateful to everyone who has helped me along the way. Without those people, I wouldn’t be here today. It’s a little lonely, but it’s okay, I have those who truly care around me.”

🎥 zianna.g / TikTok

05/27/2026

𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 🚘

Amy dreamed of repairing her car because it was more than a vehicle; it was her way forward.

After aging out of foster care, she has worked hard to create a life filled with simple joys: gardening, cooking, baking, and spending time with people she loves. She hopes to attend culinary school and become a chef, but life’s challenges have often made her dreams feel out of reach. When her car broke down, it felt like her ability to move forward was gone too.

Amy never gave up hope. Thanks to a generous Dream Maker, her car is now running again! With it, her freedom and independence have returned.

She shared these words of gratitude:
“Thank you! My car is now running better. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!”

Fulfilling dreams does more than provide a car, a computer, or a tool. It changes lives. It restores independence, opens doors, and reminds young adults who have aged out of foster care that someone believes in them.

Amy’s story is proof that when we invest in their dreams, we help shape a brighter future!

🔗 DreamMakersProject.org

05/26/2026

Shelby’s dream has been waiting for for too long. Can you be the one to fulfill it today?

Shelby is dreaming of a laptop to support her college classes. Fulfilling this dream will provide the reliable technology she needs to complete assignments, stay organized, and fully engage in her studies as she works toward a more stable future.

After aging out of foster care at 18, Shelby has been slowly rebuilding stability completely on her own. Despite every obstacle, she kept pushing forward.

Today, Shelby balances multiple jobs while attending college, running a small cleaning business, and advocating for foster youth in her community. She uses her lived experience to help improve systems for others aging out of care.

Shelby is always showing up for others. We think it’s time to show up for her!

Help us fulfill Shelby’s dream and give her the tools she needs to succeed in school and continue building a stable future!

🔗 https://www.dreammakersproject.org/viewdreams/p/shelby-business

05/22/2026

We were honored to partner with this past weekend as they celebrated the graduation of their Spring cohort, an incredible group of resilient, talented young people working toward brighter futures. 🎓

During their resource reception, we had the opportunity to connect with graduates, share about our dream program for youth who have aged out of foster care, and celebrate a few students in a special way.

Thanks to the generosity of Integrity Growth Partners, graduates with perfect attendance received ThinkPads to support their next steps in school, work, and life!

We left the day feeling deeply encouraged and reminded of something important: no one nonprofit can do everything, but together we can make a lasting impact. We are so grateful to be in this work alongside organizations like Seen&Heard that are creating safe, empowering spaces for system-impacted youth to grow, heal, and thrive!

05/21/2026

When Summer received fulfilled dreams of a bedroom set, mattress, bedding, and a wedding dress through Dream Makers, it was more than just furniture and gifts. It was stability, comfort, and a reminder that someone believed in her future.

After spending three years in foster care and aging out at eighteen, Summer faced housing instability and mental health challenges that made pursuing education incredibly difficult. While many of her peers moved forward with support systems, she was fighting just to stay afloat.

Summer graduated with a Sociology degree and has been accepted into a Masters of Social Work program!

When young people have a safe place to sleep, a home that feels secure, and a community that shows up for them, dreams become possible. Education becomes possible. The future becomes possible.

Summer is now the first in her family to attend college and continue on to this level of education, and we could not be more proud to celebrate her! 🎓

05/18/2026

𝐃𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐅𝐔𝐋𝐅𝐈𝐋𝐋𝐄𝐃 📲

Some tools do more than just make life easier. They make forward possible.

For Briaunna, keeping up with school while working toward her goals meant needing something reliable, something she could depend on every single day.

After growing up in foster care, she fought hard to hold onto who she is and determined to build something meaningful from her story.

Now, as a first-generation college student, she’s working toward her associate’s degree with plans to transfer to a four-year university and pursue social work. She wants to show up for kids who are walking through the same experiences she once did.

But even with that kind of drive, the day-to-day demands of school can be overwhelming without the right support.

That’s where this changed things.

Because someone chose to give, Briaunna received an iPad and it’s become part of how she shows up for her future every day!

She shared, “I would like to pass on a thank you! This iPad has been a huge help to my everyday life!”

It’s helping her stay organized, keep up with assignments, and continue moving forward with confidence.

Step by step, she’s getting closer to the life she’s been working toward and the impact she’s ready to make.

Be part of a story like Briaunna’s: DreamMakersProject.org