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The Keeping Dreams Alive program encourages abused children in the social services system to pursue their dreams, providing an invitation and opportunity to dream fearlessly and inspire all children, especially those who have endured the betrayal and atrocities of childhood abuse, to keep their dreams alive and ultimately become triumphant over their abusive pasts. 
Presented every other year at our Annual Awards Banquet, Keeping Dreams Alive Awards are presented to local children who are struggling through abuse and neglect. Designed as a sister program to the Triumph Awards, Keeping Dreams Alive is meant to encourage abused and neglected children in the social services system to follow their dreams and inspire them to make their dreams a reality. Many of the children we fight to protect fall into survival mode mentality and are more focused on where they will be living next week than on what they want to do when they grow up. We believe that if a child loses their dreams, they lose much more than the joy of pursuing them, they lose the innocent hope and excitement that is an inherent right of being a child. Children in placement may need their dreams more than anyone and if we are to see children Triumph they must first dream that they can.
Through this program we are bringing excitement to what is generally a difficult time in these children’s lives, by allowing children to express their dreams and hope for a wish come true. Children ages 6 through 15 years of age are nominated by our Affiliate Youth Agencies that directly serve these abused and at-risk children. Each child must provide two essay’s entitled:‘When I Grow Up My Dream Is’ and ‘My Dream for Today Is’. The first is to encourage them to pursue their dreams for a better future and the second, if selected, will be granted to illustrate that dreams can come true, they are worth pursuing and there are people out there that care enough about them to help make this happen.
Also granted during this magical evening of hopes and dreams are the remainder of our Human Services Awards, including: The Caseworker Awards, The Community Awards and the A Child’s Hero Award. Please read below for the 2012 award recipients!
The 2012 Realities For Children Awards
Beyond Business Award:
In honor of 10 years of service to children in Larimer County
Clay Pot CreativeLotus DesignMidtown Arts CenterScott Beasley with The GroupThe Rio Grande Restaurant
Volunteer of the Year Award:
In honor of 10 years of service to children in Larimer County
Heath Construction
Foster Parent of the Year Award:Awarded to the best overall caseworker team for performance
Kim & Craig Brunswick
Realities For Children Caseworker Award:
Awarded to the best overall caseworker team for performance
Michelle Walker - SupervisorVanessa Bondhus - CaseworkerLaura Brinks - CaseworkerNicole Brooks - CaseworkerAnja Fischlein - CaseworkerAlyssa Morrow - CaseworkerSarah Rudisill - CaseworkerShelle Novak - Dept. Specialist
A Child’s Hero Award:
Awarded to a member of law enforcement who was a superhero to a local child.
District Attorney Larry Abrahamson
Keeping Dreams Alive Award
Awarded to abused and neglected children to encourage them to never stop dreaming and achieving.
September: A young girl with an interest in science who’s biggest dream for today is to go to Elitch’s and have a whole weekend of nothing but fun. She one day hopes to be a scientist and show people what is poisonous to keep them safe. We granted her dream with a weekend trip to Denver, including a VIP tour of Elitch’s, a night’s stay at The Magnolia hotel, and a Sunday children’s workshop at the Denver Museum of Natural Science. Her trip includes limo transport for her and a guest!
Timmy: A strapping 12 year old with a passion for football, Timmy’s biggest today dream was to meet a football player so he could pick his brain about scholarships and the road to success. He one day hopes to be a professional athlete and he understands that he will have to work hard and get good grades so he can play in college and eventually be drafted in the NFL. We got former CSU player Kevin McDougal to come in and present Timmy with some signed football gear, as well as some words of advice. Timmy will also be going to Dove Valley to meet the Bronco’s and to The Edge sports camp to learn some new skills!
Lauren: A precocious seven year old, Lauren’s today dream was the same as her future dream. She simply wants to draw a lovely picture for you! She likes to draw: flowers and dogs and cats and houses and her family and her friends and rainbows and…. Half Moon Arts Studio presented Lauren with a one year long VIP arts program including mentorship, lessons, art outings and supplies!
B: A shy 14 year old, B dreams of taking the stage and singing her soul out loud. She hopes that wherever they are, her parents may hear her voice one day and be proud of her. We were honored to offer B vocal lessons for one year and the opportunity to perform with local artist, Wendy Woo.
Nadia: A tall 12 year old with a love for all things Japan, Nadia dreams of one day moving to Japan to be a vet AND an architect! For now, she wants to bring Japan to her, which is exactly what will happen when we give her a bedroom an EXTREME MAKEOVER!
Brendan: An intensely intelligent little guy, eight year old Brendan dreams of being a fireman. He says he will trust God to keep him safe, but he wants to help people escape from fires and make sure they have a home. For now, he would be quite content with a trip to Legoland to see some of the biggest lego firetrucks ever built, just like the models he builds at home BUT BIGGER! We brought in a team of firemen from Poudre Fire Authority to present Brendan with the trip of a lifetime, indeed, to LEGOLAND! While he waits for his trip he will enjoy the fire hat they brought him, that is a perfect complement to his custom fireman shield that announces to the world that he, Brendan, is an honorary fireman already!
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All submissions must be received by Friday, March 9, 2012.
- Be sure to include the following:
- Nomination Form
- Nominee Waiver Form
- Nominee Essay Pages.
Submissions can be mailed or hand-delivered to:
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Online: CLICK HERE
Phone: (970) 484-9090
Snail Mail or delivery:
Realities For Children Charities1610 South College AvenueFort Collins, CO 80525.Realities For Children Charities is a 501(c)3 charitable organization. All donations are tax deductible and directly serve the needs of abused, neglected and at-risk children in Larimer County.
