Real numbers, real stories, real change in the lives of young people
Measurable outcomes that reflect the depth of our commitment
Personalized workbooks created and distributed to students in grades K–8
Grade-level programs designed: K–5 elementary and 6–8 middle school
Partnerships with schools, districts, and community organizations
Increase in college enrollment at Seaside High School through our advocacy framework
Combined leadership experience in strategic transformation and social impact
Community transformed: Monterey County, California—and growing
How our work creates ripple effects across individuals and communities
Through our student advocacy framework implemented with Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, Seaside High School saw a measurable increase in the number of students enrolling in four-year colleges.
This wasn't achieved through a single intervention—it was the result of a coordinated system of data-driven decision making, progress tracking, and accountability that helped educators identify and support students before they fell behind.
Increased 4-year college enrollment at Seaside High School
Dare To Dream Fund sponsored an opportunity for high school students to attend a talk by John Nash, the Nobel Prize-winning mathematician whose life story inspired the film A Beautiful Mind.
For many of these students, it was their first encounter with someone who had reached the highest levels of academic achievement. The organization's executive director at the time described how the experience opened up "a whole new world of possibilities" for the students who attended.
Expanding horizons through direct exposure to excellence
Our collaboration with Boys & Girls Clubs of Monterey County through the Be Great: Graduate initiative demonstrated the power of combining aspirational programming with practical support structures.
By integrating Dare To Dream Fund's goal-setting methodology with the Clubs' established mentoring and youth development infrastructure, we helped create a more comprehensive support system for at-risk youth—one that addressed both the emotional and practical dimensions of staying in school.
Combining strengths for greater community impact
When we published 527 personalized workbooks for K–8 students, each one represented a young person being asked—perhaps for the first time—"If everything were possible, who would you want to become?"
These workbooks didn't just collect on shelves. They became tools for ongoing conversation between students, educators, and mentors. Each page guided students through the journey from dreaming to planning, creating a tangible artifact of their aspirations and the steps they committed to taking.
Every workbook is a commitment to a young person's future
Impact at three levels: students, schools, and the community networks that support them
Personalized workbooks, goal-setting sessions, and direct mentoring that help individual young people discover their potential and build actionable plans for their futures.
Student advocacy frameworks, data-driven decision tools, and capacity-building support that help schools become more effective at identifying and supporting students who need it most.
Partnerships with nonprofits, Boys & Girls Clubs, and district-level organizations that create a coordinated safety net ensuring no young person falls through the cracks.
Key milestones in building a bridge from dreams to achievement
Co-founders Dawn Verdick and Nina Rosete begin exploring why students drop out, discovering that most don't lack dreams—they lack structured support to pursue them.
Dare To Dream Fund is officially established as a tax-exempt nonprofit educational organization in Monterey, California, with EIN 26-2767482.
Publication of 527 personalized workbooks for K–5 and 6–8 students in collaboration with local youth-serving nonprofits. Partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs begins.
Development and implementation of the student advocacy framework with Monterey Peninsula Unified School District, leading to increased college enrollment at Seaside High School.
Dare To Dream Fund sponsors high school students to attend a talk by Nobel Prize-winning mathematician John Nash, opening "a whole new world of possibilities."
Building on years of proven impact, Dare To Dream Fund continues to develop innovative educational solutions and expand partnerships across Monterey County and beyond.
Get in touch to learn how you can support our mission of empowering youth to dare to dream.
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