Most of the 15,000 kids with disabilities in the Chicago public school system experience isolated summers in which they only dream of playing sports with children their own age. Dreams for Kids partners with the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago (RIC) to provide summer sports and recreation opportunities for severely disabled children. Most of the program’s participants are minorities come from low income/working poor families. All activities are provided free of charge and accessible transportation is included for those who would otherwise be unable to attend. Rather than sitting on the sidelines as their peers and siblings play summer sports, Dreams for Kids enables disabled children to get out of the house, form friendships with other children facing disabilities, build their confidence and experience the summer of a lifetime.

A $7,000 donation from The Mayflower Foundation to the RIC Dreams for Kids Sports Program will enable at least eight disabled children from Chicago to play sports three days a week for nine weeks this summer. For example, for the first time in his or her life, a quadruple amputee can go water skiing, a below elbow amputee will try rock climbing and kayaking, a child with cerebral palsy will go horseback riding and kids confined to wheelchairs can play baseball. The organization's historical 97% donation to program ratio shows that a contribution to Dreams for Kids will benefit the kids and not be lost in administrative expenses.

http://www.dreamsforkids.org