Dreams For Kids - Changing Lives One Kid At A Time - Dreams for Kids empowers at-risk youth and those with disabilities through dynamic leadership programs and life-changing activities.

Dear Ms. Metheny

Your request comes at a time when we were discussing Panera Bread and the possibility of a partnership for our Dream Leaders program and our expanding conferences and workshops in the Chicagoland area.

Dreams for Kids, celebrating its 20^th Anniversary this year, began its Dream Leaders program in 2007. Our mission is to reach the most isolated kids in the world – those who are poor and those with disabilities – and join them with their more fortunate peers to create world changing social projects. Diverse youth in every community are being united to each other and to service through Dream Leaders Conferences, workshops and a powerful global social networking platform. A generation is learning to live beyond the walls of

segregation while creating extraordinary lives as active members of their own communities and citizens of the world.

Each Dream Leaders Conference brings 50-75 diverse youth together to learn local and global social issues and to have the opportunity to work together for the next year on projects which they choose that will make a significant difference. The experience also allows them to overcome perceived differences and see past wheelchairs, skin color, and religious belief. The program has made a profound difference on the youth participating, who have organized support groups for fellow students, raised funds for homeless youth, made social awareness videos, and become active members of their communities.

Our partnership with Chicago Bread would be very powerful. Specifically:

Your support would supply the food for the Dream Leaders Conferences, purchased through Panera Bread franchises. We would also expand the number of conferences we offer in the city and suburbs with the available funding, substantially increasing the number of youth participating. Chicago Bread would become our principal sponsor in the Chicago area and would be promoted as such in our first of its kind program.
Our partnership benefits would also include Chicago Bread and its franchises, employees and families participating as our partner in the Chicago launch of our global DreamAthon in May 2010, which will be the largest youth day of service of its kind, with matching funds form the World Bank and United Nations. The event will have widespread media coverage and an expansive social networking plan.
In 2010, Dreams for Kids will launch social networking platform, expanding the existing MyDreamsforKids.org, connecting kids to each other and to project building locally and globally. Chicago Bread will be featured prominently on this site.
In 2010 Dreams for Kids will be announcing a coalition of Chicago partnerships such as Northwestern University, Kellogg School, KIN Global, Chicago Blackhawks, as well as one of the largest PR firms in the United States. Chicago Bread will be included in this Chicago group which will be responsible for expanding Dreams for Kids across Illinois, the United States, and in developing countries.
In October 2010, Dreams for Kids will host the first Dreams Leaders Day to be held in the United Center for 20,000 Illinois youth who have qualified to attend by participating in a year of service projects. The day will include a lineup of the best speakers and musical acts in the United States. This will be a day with the most widespread coverage and local municipal and corporate support, and would include Chicago Bread.
With a 20 year history in Chicago, our database of supporters and local partners are extensive. Our relationships with all major press outlets are deep and loyal. Our social networking platform will be developed by a major IT firm and will include a microfinancing and networking platform similar to Facebook, with capabilities to build projects online and reach hundreds of thousands of visitors. Chicago Bread will be featured on this site.
We also offer Chicago Bread the opportunity to participate in our other two programs. Holiday for Hope is the largest holiday celebration in the world for homeless and underprivileged kids, to be hosted in over 50 countries and 50 US cities in 2009. Our Chicago event brings over 1,000 kids to one location. We anticipate Chicago Bread being the principal food sponsor. Extreme Recess was founded in Chicago 10 years ago as the first sports and activities program in Illinois for kids with disabilities. With an event held each month, Chicago Bread franchises can be both involved both in the food and also the many volunteer opportunities for your employees.

As you can see, your request could not come at a better time. Last week we celebrated our 20^th Anniversary at the Adler Planetarium, and it marked a time where the possibilities of our local expansion and the impact on our communities are infinite. We could not be more excited having Chicago Bread as our partner as we move forward in this historic time.

Sincerely,

Tom Tuohy

President and Founder

Dreams for Kids