Bel Passi Baseball

The funds used from Make Dreams Real would subsidize the enrollment fees for low income players to keep the costs of registration affordable for youth players. Bel Passi baseball is a youth baseball recreation league in Modesto.

Robotics Summer Camp

The Patriot Robotics program was founded by Dr. Liliana Lazo and Heidi Pagani at Beyer High School in late 2011 and first competed in 2012 to motivate students future involvement in STEM fields. The after-school program is comprised of students ages 14 to 18 years old. The students participate in building, wiring, and programming of the robots for regional competitions. In the 2017-2018 season, the team officially added a business/outreach component. 

The Patriot Robotics teams include two FIRST Technical Challenge (FTC) teams and one FIRST Robotics Challenge (FRC) team. With the guidance of coaches and mentors, the students have had success at winning awards and qualifying for World Championships.

Outdoor Adventure! Camp

Webelos Adventure Camp is designed to provide a fun, educational, and memorable outdoor experience for older Cub Scouts and their families.  It serves as an introduction to more advanced scouting experiences, specifically to help bridge the gap to the Scouts BSA program. The program is specifically designed for Cub Scouts aged 9 and 10, typically in the 4th and 5th grades.

Summer Camp Programming

Since 2012, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stanislaus County operates club sites at C.F. Brown and Sylvan Elementary Schools, and Somerset Middle School and West Modesto. The outcomes for children and youth are embodied, enabling all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. The Boys and Girls Club does this by assisting with academic success, good character & citizenship, and adopt healthy lifestyles. Clubs are fun, safe places where youth learn new skills, connect with positive peers, and receive support and guidance from caring adults. Each Club provides a wide range of experiences for youth, offering them a foundation of support as they grown, develop and ultimately chart a path for their own adult lives. The grant money from Make Dreams Real goes directly to the Junior Staff program. The Junior Staff program Today is a practical small-group program that assists Club teens in exploring a career in youth development or other human services, with a particular focus on Boys & Girls Club work.

Camp Taylor

The money from Make Dreams Real provides a new camp experience for about 18 children battling heart disease. Camp Taylor operates a 5-day, medically supervised camp for children with high medical needs. At camp, they are able to participate in fun and challenging recreational activities, making them not longer feel “different” from their peers.

Discover Art Field Trips

In keeping with the Carnegie Arts Center’s mission to be the community’s resource for discovering and learning through the arts, a major component of our ongoing programming targets arts education through the schools. Our Discover Art field trips have brought students from Kindergarten through High School to see exhibitions every year since our opening in Fall 2011. Each school visit includes a gallery tour and a hands-on art lesson, allowing students to connect the ideas and concepts presented by the art they see in the gallery to an actual work of art they make themselves. 

With each new exhibition in our gallery, a new tour and art-making activity are developed. Field trips have introduced students to the works of Ansel Adams, Edgar Degas, Pablo Picasso and José Guadalupe Posada. Other exhibitions students have visited include Japanese ceramics, art quilts, and pastel paintings. Field trip lessons have covered elements in art such as the use of space, color, light, balance, and emphasis. Themes for discussions and projects are drawn from the exhibitions, such as developing narrative, use of graphic design in advertising, and exploring satire or caricature. 

Low Sensory/Special Needs Nutcracker

The Low Sensory/Special Needs Nutcracker is a production very dear to Central West Ballet.  They work with county and local special education departments to create a Nutcracker open for all school children with special needs, their families or caregivers to enjoy this holiday tradition in a non-judgmental environment. The production is uniquely different from the traditional Nutcracker: house lights are up 25%, volume is down 25% with no special effects used (no fog, snow or cannon shot sounds).  An ASL Interpreter signs the welcome and brief reading of The Nutcracker story and, time allowing, the Q&A afterwards. The performance is half the length of our regular Nutcracker and patrons are encouraged to move, walk around, clap, verbalize, etc. whenever they need or want to. 

Latino Leadership Initiative

The City Ministry Network’s Hispanic Youth Council is a group of young people from Hispanic backgrounds who come together to serve their communities and grow in their faith. The council is a part of the larger City Ministry Network, which seeks to empower urban churches to serve their communities more effectively.

The Hispanic Youth Council provides a platform for Hispanic youth to develop leadership skills, build relationships with other young people, and serve their communities through various outreach programs. The council members are encouraged to live out their faith by serving others and being positive role models in their communities.

Overall, the City Ministry Network’s Hispanic Youth Council aims to empower Hispanic youth to become leaders in their communities and grow in their faith, while also equipping churches and youth leaders to better serve Hispanic youth.

Camp Wokini

Camp Wokini, is a weekend overnight camping experience for children and teens aged 6 to 17 who have experienced the death of someone close to them in the recent past. Last year, 42 campers lost their immediate care giver. The most significant loss being a parent, sibling and grandparent. Campers come from diverse backgrounds, 56 are low-income and qualify for school lunch programs. More than half of the camper’s ethnicity identified as Hispanic. Formerly known as Camp Erin of the Central Valley, Camp Wokini has served hundreds of children over the past 10 years. The goal is to teach camp participants how to cope with the pain of losing a loved one through grief education and emotional support, while enjoying traditional camp experiences and activities geared towards healing. The unique program is led by grief support professionals and trained volunteers. The program provides them with a safe space to feel hard emotions and bond with others who find themselves facing those same tough situations.

Cricket’s Hope Summer Camp

The MDR grant will send 60 children to camp at Cricket’s Hope. The camp supports children who are tremendously underserved and have experienced immense trauma. The camp serves these children by teaching art therapy and coping mechanisms.  

Central Valley Youth Programs

First Tee is an international youth development organization introducing the game of golf and its inherent values to kids and teens. Through after-school and in-school programs, we help shape the lives of young people from all walks of life by reinforcing values like integrity, respect, and perseverance through the game of golf. And it’s making a difference. The funds from Make Dreams Real allows First Tee to increase the number of diverse participants in its DRIVE program.

YES Company!

The Gallo Center for the Arts (GCA) has recently partnered with the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE) to produce YES (Youth Entertainment Stage) Company, a nine-week theater intensive for youth, grades 7-12. This summer-long experience culminates in a full-scale Broadway-style musical for the community. Prior to 2018, YES Company was exclusively managed by SCOE, under the direction of Melanee Wyatt. Upon the announcement of her retirement, SCOE invited GCA to partner with them, in order to ensure the future of this program. After much deliberation, GCA agreed to expand its arts education programming to include YES Company, as it understood the value YES Company brought to the community, especially its youth. Under this new agreement, GCA oversees all of the artistic, administrative, and operational components of the program. SCOE provides some financial support, use of facility space and storage, as well as mentoring support.

Gratton School District is a one school, TK through eighth grade, rural school district. We serve 137 students that live in Denair and the surrounding areas. The unduplicated pupil count is 36 students or 26% of our student population. Due to being a small rural school district, the supplemental and concentration funding for extra expenses is very limited. The school will update and increase the safety of their school stage platforms and stair sets that are no longer stable. The stage is used to accommodate musical programs that are performed for the community, for our annual speech meet, our Stanislaus County small schools spelling bee, and for awards ceremonies where we honor our students’ academic achievement and eighth grade graduation.

HAVEN Program: Healthy Alternatives to Violent Environments

The money from Make Dreams Real would go to fund the HAVEN program- Healthy Alternatives to Violent Environments. It is a multi-week program for youth at risk of witnessing and/or experiencing intimate partner violence. HAVEN peer educators will improve the social and emotional competence of youth participants by supporting them to develop and engage in self-regulating behaviors; to interact positively with others; to use words and language skills; and to communicate emotions more effectively.

College Academy Program

The College Academy (CA) program offered in two South Modesto schools (1 middle & 1 high school) connects to other supplemental mentorship programs. This provides 12-year pipeline students can undergo as they progress through middle school, high school, higher education, and beyond. Through College Academy, over 4,000 student mentees nationwide have been served and currently employ over 200 Mentor Fellows who lead programming on the ground. They aim to align 4 separate events as core service-learning experiences that will enhance the College Academy and provide students with a unique slate of opportunities to serve a myriad of underserved populations and cultivate their bond with the environment. Roughly 40 of the students (20 from each school) will participate in each experience, led by the Mentors and Program Managers.

Empower Hour/Wellness Wednesday

Invest In Me’s mission is to foster empowerment, cultivate leadership, promote well-being, and encourage civic engagement among the diverse population of Stanislaus County. Through innovative programs, partnerships, and advocacy, they strive to create opportunities for personal growth, community collaboration, and positive social change. For over a decade, Invest In Me has served thousands of young individuals ages ranging from 11-26, through our flagship Leadership Cohort program for young women. In 2021, Invest In Me added Empower Hour, a networking opportunity for young people to meet local professionals, build their social capacity, and be exposed to interesting career opportunities. In 2022, Invest In Me birthed Wellness Wednesday, a program focused on encouraging the mental wellness of youth in our community. Through these programs they aim to educate, offer service-learning opportunities, and elevate the voices of young people.

Camp Jack Hazard

The Jack and Buena Foundation, through Camp Jack Hazard offers a teen leadership program called the Leader in Training program. Many teenagers are looking for programs that will help foster their leadership skills and give them volunteer opportunities to serve in this community. The Jack and Buena Foundation will find 10 – 15-17 year old (or sophomores in High School) who are interested in participating in this leadership program. The participants will be the underserved youth in our community who need the financial support to participate in a positive and educational experience. The Leaders in Training program is a two-week program at summer residential program, Camp Jack Hazard. The first week of the program is dedicated to our participants fostering their innate leadership skills, teach them pro-active communication and discipline strategies, train them to assist the Program Directors in facilitating various activities, and generally prepare them to assist in taking care of 8-10 youth, ages 8-15. During their second week, the participants will actively play the role of a staff member in a cabin setting. Their responsibilities will be to help provide safe, fun, character-based activities and programs for their cabins.

Everett School Outreach Dance Program

The money granted from Make Dreams Real made it possible for 15 classrooms of children to receive 8 hours of dance instruction for eight weeks. The eight weeks of dance instruction culminated in a performance showcasing the students at the Gallo Center for the Arts. Some exceptional students were also offered in-depth dance education classes during the school year as well.

‘Farm -to-Table’ Garden Program

Knights Ferry School will use funds for a “farm-to-table” garden program. They currently have five goats, six planted garden boxes and four young fruit trees. The garden requires a level of expertise and particular skills to maintain that are unavailable from anyone on site. They have begun developing the program by working with an outside garden expert who assists with appropriate planting for the season, soil maintenance, plant maintenance and instruction for students in the areas of soil health, providing for pollinators, organic pest control, irrigation and pruning practices. Additionally, they have plans to create a viable composting system. Students will learn about agricultural processes at the same time they are growing food for themselves. This is an innovative way to bring agriculture into the elementary school on a real-time basis.

Youth Center

Established in 1948, the Modesto Gospel Mission boasts a rich history of offering support and services to individuals in Stanislaus County. Going beyond typical assistance, the Mission extends a helping hand to some of the most vulnerable members of our community. The Youth Center is accessible to all local youth five days a week and offers a range of activities from 2:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. On Friday evenings, from 9 p.m. to 11 p.m., it hosts a program called G.A.T.E. (God’s Anointed Teen Event), providing a safe space for local teenagers to gather instead of being on the streets. The Youth Center aims to create a nurturing environment for children and families, focusing on their overall well-being. Collaborating with local organizations, it offers various activities like devotions, coping skill sessions, book clubs, and indoor and outdoor recreational activities. These activities aim to promote personal growth, self-esteem, and community engagement.

Recording Arts Music Summer Camp

The grant from Make Dreams Real Foundation pays for kids from low income families to be able to attend a music technology camp designed and run by the non-profit Modesto Sound (Recording | Live Sound | Education) organization.

 Activities include:

• Learning about microphones, recording, and interviewing people
• Writing and voicing a public service announcement for public radio
• Field trips
• Creating an original song
• Recording songs
• Learning about live sound
• Teamwork building
• Making a drum and having drum circles
• Holding a concert including performance of the original song

Before camp even begins Modesto Sound staff meet with campers and their families and perform community service work to get to know everyone while volunteering. During camp, they acquire valuable skills in leadership, teamwork, and communication as well as music and technology knowledge. 

Link-Up

The Modesto Symphony Orchestra’s Link Up program works with 3rd to 5th graders all over Stanislaus County by teaching them the recorder in the classroom. Using a student guide and with instruction from their teacher, students learn multiple recorder songs and later attend a concert performed by Modesto Symphony and get to interact with the musicians. This event is truly electric and it is such a fun time seeing the kids perform and love music!

The TOP Young Artists Program and all of its activities are the creation of the new Opera Modesto Leadership Team; General & Artistic Director, Roy Stevens, and Artistic Consultant, Annalisa Winberg, who believe in the power of the arts to inspire indelible cross-disciplinary learning. They also believe deeply in the power of “selfless” community collaborations; with traditional arts partners and especially with non-traditional partners. They have begun many successful, exciting community collaborations that are already paying dividends for the community partners and for Opera Modesto.

Outdoor Education:
Attending outdoor education at Foothill Horizons provides our students with unique learning experiences that they may not otherwise be able to access.  Many of our students come from lower-income backgrounds and are primarily from dairy farm communities and do not have vast experiences beyond home and school. Outdoor education offers opportunities for hands-on, nature-based educational experiences for students whose resources are limited.

Salida Unified School District- Because of the funding provided by Make Dreams Real, 50 additional students were able to attend Outdoor Education who would not have been able to attend without the scholarship opportunity.

Stanislaus Union School District- Stanislaus Union School District has a 70% poverty rate. Because of the funding provided from Make Dreams Real, no child is excluded from Outdoor Education due to a lack of ability to pay.

Sylvan Union School District- 58 students in the Sylvan Union School District were able to attend camp because of the grant given by Make Dreams Real. Without the grant, because of financial reasons, these children would have never been able to experience this highly collaborative experience.

Additional school districts:
Patterson Unified School District
Riverbank Language Academy
Mountain View Middle School

Roberts Ferry School is a small rural TK-8th grade school serving 200 students. Roberts Ferry has a mission to provide superior services in our comprehensive elementary school. The goal is to develop students that are competent, confident, and self-reliant life-long learners. A new Smart Board for the TK Classroom that will give students access to technology. The students and teacher will be able to use this to display work on the screen, access educational videos, play songs, use as a whiteboard, and so much more! There is currently 17 students enrolled in our TK class for next year and a waitlist!

Sierra Vista Child and Family Services Kirk Baucher Non-Public School and Sierra Vista Learning Center provides special education for children in kindergarten through eighth grade, serving our community for over 30 years. Our school specializes in providing educational and mental health services to students who qualify for special education under the primary disabilities of Autism, emotional disturbance and other health impairments. This specialized school setting offers individualized education services, social skills development, behavior management, crisis intervention, and family support. Our schools are certified by the California State Department of Education. The program provides full academic assessment, a specialized curriculum for students with learning disabilities, vocational education, crisis intervention, an activity program, and family counseling. Education plans are designed to fit the individual needs of each student. Social skills training, art, music, drama, and community outings are some of the self-esteem building activities of the school program. At Kirk Baucher, we take a “whole child” approach while using a nurtured heart approach to help students become successful not only at school, but also in their homes and communities. Our school enrollment is currently at 75 students. In the past, we have had an Activity Department on our campus that teaches hands on activities to students to support what they are learning in the classroom. We are looking for a community partner that could come alongside and help to financially support this team with a budget that allowed for community based instruction as well as get our subscription box dream off the ground which in turn will help to support this team on its own moving forward. We have dreamed of an opportunity for our students to make items, and assemble subscription boxes and distribute them to members in our 3 of 6 Program Budget (ALL) community that would bring awareness and understanding to special education and mental health needs. Having a budget to make this happen would give our students an incredible experience as we teach new skills that will in turn help others in our community. Thank you for taking the time to consider us as we cast vision to call out the greatness of our students by giving them a purpose for their gifts and talents. The funds from Make Dreams Real allow the schools to engage in more artistic and musical opportunities.

Adapted Bike Camp

We at Society want to thank everyone with Make Dreams Real for the continued support of our Adapted Bike Camp. The purpose of the camp is to provide an “immersion” experience in bicycling using specially designed equipment and teaching methods. Because of grants like Make Dreams Real, we are able to host a bike camp to teach individuals with diverse abilities how to ride a bike.

 We had two new campers that registered who were a little older than our usual participants. Upon talking to them a little more, we learned that they were sisters who wanted to learn to ride a bike to ride alongside their son/nephew. In the years prior, the son was a participant who learned to ride through our program and has successfully been riding on his own. The mom and her sister were determined to complete the camp so that they can ride alongside him. At the end of the week they both completed the camp successfully, riding a two-wheeled bike on their own. In a follow up survey, the daughter said that “They ride their bikes together all the time now, and I love seeing how happy and social that makes my brother. Thank you a million times over.”

The Salvation Army: Red Shield Youth Program

The Salvation Army Modesto Red Shield After-School programs provide children a safe haven from gang-ridden areas with positive mentors to help build character and establish positive role models. Because of the economic environment of South Modesto, many families struggle to provide adequate, nutritional meals for their families. The After-School program steps in and ensures that every child receives a snack when they arrive and a hot, nutritious meal before they leave. This program helps fill the gap for the families that cannot provide consistent, healthy meals to their children. The Red Shield also offers academic tutoring, computer literacy, teen gang prevention, water safety (swim lessons, junior lifeguarding certification), boxing, baseball, and basketball. As a result of the programs offered, children will increase their academic performance, become more food secure, and stay safe from dangerous environments. This grant would help us reach out to approximately 20 additional youth in the program we serve. This will help us to revitalize the program in a safe environment. 

Turlock Youth Theater

Turlock Youth Performing Arts Youth theater program is a performing arts program designed for children and youth in Turlock, California. The program provides a creative and supportive environment where young people can learn about and engage in all aspects of theater production, including acting, singing, dancing, and technical theater.

The Youth Theater Program offers a variety of classes and workshops throughout the year. Classes are taught by experienced theater professionals who help children develop their skills and confidence in a fun and nurturing environment. Workshops focus on specific aspects of theater production, such as audition techniques, improvisation, and stage makeup.

The program also produces several full-length productions each year, featuring children and youth in all roles both onstage and behind the scenes. These productions provide opportunities for young people to showcase their talents and build their confidence while working together as a team.

The Youth Theater Program is committed to creating a safe and inclusive environment where all children and youth can participate and feel valued. The program also seeks to provide affordable access to high-quality performing arts education for all children and youth in the community.

United Community Foundation

The United Community Foundation (UCF) serves school-aged children (ages 6-18) in the rural, low-income, and predominantly Latino communities of Grayson, Westley, and Vernalis. Many of these children come from farmworker families and face barriers to education, enrichment, and leadership opportunities. Our mission is to promote safety, wellness, learning, and leadership by creating spaces where young people can grow, thrive, and feel pride in their community. Our Student Mentorship Program provides one-on-one mentoring for students ages 6-18, focusing on life skills, mental health, academic support, and guidance for higher education and career paths. Mentors help students navigate challenges at school and in life, while building confidence and setting goals for their future. El Club de Las Mariposas is a leadership and emotional well-being program for girls ages 8-12, providing a safe, nurturing space to build self-esteem, develop social-emotional skills, and grow as leaders. Girls engage in group discussions and activities, and will participate in a field trip to the Great Valley Museum & Planetarium for hands-on STEM learning.

United Way of Stanislaus County – IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA Program)

The United Way of Stanislaus County in partnership with Downey High School juniors and seniors is offering free tap preparation to community members from low and moderate incomes through the IRS’ Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA program). The IRS’s VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) program for high school students has a significant impact on the community in several ways: financial literacy, community service, access to tax assistance, economic impact, and educational opportunities. Overall, the IRS’s VITA program for high school students plays a vital role in promoting financial empowerment, community engagement, and educational enrichment, ultimately contributing to the well-being and prosperity of the community. The 9-month academic year cohort will consist of 20-40 students who will spend the fall learning about each of the areas mentioned above as well as developing soft skills (empathy training) and the tax season completing tax returns for community members (approximately 10-15 hours a week).