Dear friends,

Many of you may not know that for the past six months I have been volunteering my time almost every Saturday and some days in between with the amazing nonprofit City of Dreams. The organization is by far one of the best I’ve volunteered for, due to the depth and dedication of service they provide. Even in such a short time, I feel that my heart will be forever tied to them, and don’t know how I could not have been giving back at this level before.

I want to share some very impressive numbers that show the potential of City of Dreams mentees:

1) 98% have stayed in school
2) 98% have avoided teen pregnancy
3) 96% have stayed away from gangs and violence
4) 92% have stayed free of drugs and alcohol

These numbers make you stop and think, don’t they? This is due to City of Dreams bold vision: To end the generational poverty cycle in our city’s most challenged neighborhoods. Some of you may have only driven through the Hunters/Baypoint/Sunnyside neighborhoods of San Francisco to go to a 49ers game or to see a concert at the Cow Palace, which is perfectly understandable. However, my mentee Markila lives in the public housing there. Walks those streets and goes to those schools. She told me the other day that she wants to challenge herself to do better, be better and dreams of achieving great things in her life. She has potential for all this and more. I hope you will help me make these dreams a reality for her and countless others by donating whatever amount you can. A little goes a long way to breaking the poverty cycle and making children’s dreams a reality.

Thank you ever so much,

Shira